Softwr

Networking · head to head

Traefik vs Windmill

Traefik logo

Traefik

Networking

Modern cloud-native edge router and API gateway

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Windmill logo

Windmill

Automation Integration

Open-source developer platform for building scripts, workflows, and internal apps

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Traefik no transparent pricing displayed for Traefik Hub API Gateway or API Management products; Windmill free self-hosted tier caps SSO users at 10 and workspaces at 3, requiring Enterprise for larger teams.
  • They diverge on capability: Traefik covers API Gateway, Windmill covers Script-to-workflow engine.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Traefik and Windmill actually diverge.

Attributes where Traefik and Windmill differ
AttributeTraefikWindmill
Pricing modelfreemiumopen-source
PlatformsKubernetes, Docker, Cloudweb, api, linux, windows, mac
CategoryNetworkingAutomation Integration
Founded2015Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Traefik

  • API Gateway
  • Load Balancing
  • SSL/TLS Termination
  • Kubernetes
  • Docker
  • Consul
  • etcd
  • Linux support

Only in Windmill

  • Script-to-workflow engine
  • Auto-generated UIs
  • Self-hosted deployment
  • Git sync
  • SSO support
  • Audit logs

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Traefik

  • API gateway for microservices architecturenot Windmill
  • Kubernetes ingress controllernot Windmill
  • Container and VM traffic routingnot Windmill
  • Cloud-native application managementnot Windmill

Windmill

  • Turning ad-hoc scripts into scheduled jobs and APIsnot Traefik
  • Building internal tools from existing Python/TypeScript codenot Traefik
  • Self-hosted automation for engineering teamsnot Traefik
  • Orchestrating multi-language workflowsnot Traefik

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Traefik

  • No transparent pricing displayed for Traefik Hub API Gateway or API Management products
  • No subscription period specified for paid tiers
  • Traefik Hub products require contacting sales for pricing

Windmill

  • Free self-hosted tier caps SSO users at 10 and workspaces at 3, requiring Enterprise for larger teams.
  • Compute unit and seat-based pricing (developer vs. operator seats, worker compute units) adds pricing complexity beyond a flat monthly fee.
  • Email triggers are capped at 100/day on the free tier, limiting event-driven use cases without upgrading.
  • Smaller ecosystem of pre-built integrations compared to more established automation tools like n8n.

Pricing, plan by plan

Traefik

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Traefik review.

Windmill

Free
  • Free / Open-sourceFree
    • Unlimited executions
    • Self-hosted deployment
    • Max 10 users with SSO
  • Enterprise$120/month
    • Unlimited executions and workspaces
    • Uncapped SSO seats
    • 24/7 priority support (3-hour response)

Which should you pick?

Choose Traefik if

  • You need api gateway.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Kubernetes, Docker, Cloud.
  • You also want load balancing.
Traefik review

Choose Windmill if

  • You need script-to-workflow engine.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on web, api, linux, windows, mac.
  • You also want auto-generated uis.
Windmill review

Questions people ask

Is Traefik or Windmill better?
Neither clearly leads. Traefik starts at Free and Windmill at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Traefik or Windmill?
Traefik starts at Free and Windmill at Free.
Does Traefik or Windmill run on more platforms?
Traefik runs on Kubernetes, Docker, Cloud. Windmill runs on web, api, linux, windows, mac.
Can I use Traefik for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Traefik best used for?
Traefik is most often used for api gateway for microservices architecture, kubernetes ingress controller, container and vm traffic routing, cloud-native application management. Of those, api gateway for microservices architecture and kubernetes ingress controller are not what Windmill is typically brought in for.
What can Traefik do that Windmill cannot?
Traefik covers API Gateway, Load Balancing, SSL/TLS Termination, Kubernetes. Windmill covers Script-to-workflow engine, Auto-generated UIs, Self-hosted deployment, Git sync.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Traefik: Is Traefik Proxy free to use?

Yes, Traefik Proxy is completely free and open source. You can download and use it at no cost.

Source
Windmill: What does Windmill cost?

Windmill's Free and Open-source edition is $0/month for self-hosted use with unlimited executions, while Enterprise starts at $120/month with unlimited workspaces and uncapped SSO seats, priced further by developer/operator seats and compute units.

Source
Traefik: What pricing model does Traefik use for its paid products?

Traefik Hub products (API Gateway and API Management) use quote-based pricing. Specific rates are not published on the pricing page; you must contact sales to request pricing.

Source
Windmill: Is there a free plan and what are its limits?

The free self-hosted plan supports unlimited executions but caps SSO at 10 users, workspaces at 3, groups/permissions at 4, and email triggers at 100 per day.

Source
Windmill: How is usage metered on Windmill Enterprise?

Enterprise usage is metered through seats (developer seats at $20/month, operator seats at $10/month) and compute units, e.g. $100/month for 2 standard-worker compute units.

Source
Windmill: What happens to a self-hosted Windmill deployment if the company shuts down?

The pricing page addresses this directly as an FAQ topic, noting that self-hosted applications built on the open-source edition can continue running independently of Windmill the company.

Source
Share

Related pages

More on Traefik

More on Windmill

Keep looking

Other head to heads