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Automation Integration · head to head

Windmill vs Zoho Creator

Windmill logo

Windmill

Automation Integration

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zoho Creator logo

Zoho Creator

No-Code

Low-code app builder priced per user per month, bundled into the wider Zoho ecosystem

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Windmill free self-hosted tier caps SSO users at 10 and workspaces at 3, requiring Enterprise for larger teams.; Zoho Creator its component library, AI tooling and governance features are less sophisticated than OutSystems, Mendix or Appian, reflecting the order-of-magnitude lower price.
  • They diverge on capability: Windmill covers Script-to-workflow engine, Zoho Creator covers Visual form and workflow builder.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Windmill and Zoho Creator actually diverge.

Attributes where Windmill and Zoho Creator differ
AttributeWindmillZoho Creator
Pricing modelopen-sourcePer user per month, billed annually
Platformsweb, api, linux, windows, macWeb, iOS, Android
CategoryAutomation IntegrationNo-Code

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 Windmill

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

Only in Zoho Creator

  • Visual form and workflow builder
  • Deluge scripting
  • Native mobile apps
  • Zoho ecosystem integration
  • AI-assisted app building
  • Multi-app portfolio dashboards

What people use each for

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

Windmill

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

Zoho Creator

  • A small or mid-sized business already using Zoho CRM or Zoho Books wanting a low-code app that integrates natively at no extra connector costnot Windmill
  • A cost-sensitive team wanting low-code capability at a fraction of OutSystems or Mendix per-user pricingnot Windmill
  • A company building a single departmental app on the Standard tier without paying for unlimited-app capacity it does not neednot Windmill
  • An organisation that wants auto-generated native mobile apps from the same app definition without separate mobile developmentnot Windmill

Where each one falls short

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

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.

Zoho Creator

  • Its component library, AI tooling and governance features are less sophisticated than OutSystems, Mendix or Appian, reflecting the order-of-magnitude lower price.
  • Deluge, its scripting language for advanced logic, is proprietary to Zoho, so skills built on it do not transfer to other platforms the way JavaScript or Python skills would.
  • The real value case depends heavily on how many other Zoho products a buyer already runs; a company using no other Zoho software gets less benefit from the native ecosystem integration that is central to Creator's pitch.
  • Support responsiveness and documentation depth are generally weaker than Western enterprise vendors, reflecting Zoho's high-volume, lower-touch support model across its portfolio.
  • Complex, high-governance enterprise applications with strict compliance and audit requirements are a worse fit than they would be on a platform purpose-built for that, such as Appian or OutSystems.

Pricing, plan by plan

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)

Zoho Creator

Free
  • FreeFree
    • One custom app
    • Limited data sources and connectors
    • Suitable for individuals and very small teams
  • Standard$8/month
    • One application
    • 5 external data sources
    • 5 custom connectors
  • Professional$20/month
    • Unlimited applications
    • 15 external data sources
    • 10 custom connectors
  • Enterprise$25/month
    • Unlimited applications
    • 30 external data sources
    • 20 custom connectors, advanced governance

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Zoho Creator if

  • You need visual form and workflow builder.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want deluge scripting.
Zoho Creator review

Questions people ask

Is Windmill or Zoho Creator better?
Neither clearly leads. Windmill starts at Free and Zoho Creator at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Windmill or Zoho Creator?
Windmill starts at Free and Zoho Creator at Free.
Does Windmill or Zoho Creator run on more platforms?
Windmill runs on web, api, linux, windows, mac. Zoho Creator runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Windmill for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Windmill best used for?
Windmill is most often used for turning ad-hoc scripts into scheduled jobs and apis, building internal tools from existing python/typescript code, self-hosted automation for engineering teams, orchestrating multi-language workflows. Of those, turning ad-hoc scripts into scheduled jobs and apis and building internal tools from existing python/typescript code are not what Zoho Creator is typically brought in for.
What can Windmill do that Zoho Creator cannot?
Windmill covers Script-to-workflow engine, Auto-generated UIs, Self-hosted deployment, Git sync. Zoho Creator covers Visual form and workflow builder, Deluge scripting, Native mobile apps, Zoho ecosystem integration.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
Zoho Creator: Is Zoho Creator good value only if I use other Zoho products?

Its price is competitive on its own, but native integration with Zoho CRM, Books and People is a real added benefit for existing Zoho customers specifically.

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
Zoho Creator: What is Deluge?

Zoho's proprietary scripting language used for custom logic beyond what the visual workflow builder covers.

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
Zoho Creator: How does its pricing compare to OutSystems or Mendix?

Meaningfully lower per user per month; Standard starts around 8 US dollars versus OutSystems' tens of thousands of dollars in annual entry pricing.

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
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