Dagster vs Kestra: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Dagster and Kestra side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, Kestra leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Dagster
Data orchestration platform for ML pipelines
Kestra
Open Source Declarative Data Orchestration for all engineers, simplifying workflows with Everything-as-Code.
Best for you if:
- • You want a free tier before you commit
| At a Glance | Dagster | Kestra |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | From $10/mo flat, billed monthly Solo plan | Free plan |
Category | ETL & Data Pipelines Workflow Automation | ETL & Data Pipelines Workflow Automation |
Rating | n/a | n/a |
Free plan | No | Yes |
Watch out for | Overage fees: $0.04/credit for Solo, $0.03/credit for Starter. | n/a |
Choose Dagster or Kestra?
Choose Dagster if
- You need ETL & data pipelines features specifically.
Choose Kestra if
- You want a free tier before you commit
- You want a tool that unifies orchestration for diverse engineering teams, breaking down silos
- You want a tool that offers both code-based and no-code interfaces for flexibility and ease of use
In-Depth Analysis
Dagster
Data orchestration platform for ML pipelines
Dagster's pricing model is fair and generous, especially with its robust Open Source offering and significant free credits in the Solo and Starter tiers.
Watch out
Overage fees: $0.04/credit for Solo, $0.03/credit for Starter.
Strengths
- Pro: Modern data orchestration
- Pro: Good DX
- Pro: Asset-centric
- Pro: Type system
- Pro: Good documentation
Weaknesses
- Con: Learning curve
- Con: Newer than Airflow
- Con: Cloud expensive
- Con: Ecosystem smaller
- Con: Resource intensive
Key features
Kestra
Open Source Declarative Data Orchestration for all engineers, simplifying workflows with Everything-as-Code.
Kestra offers a generous free open-source edition, making it highly accessible for individual developers and small teams.
Strengths
- Pro: Unifies orchestration for diverse engineering teams, breaking down silos.
- Pro: Offers both code-based and no-code interfaces for flexibility and ease of use.
- Pro: Supports deployment anywhere (on-prem, hybrid, cloud) with no vendor lock-in.
- Pro: Accelerates time to value with faster workflow completion and increased efficiency.
- Pro: Extensive plugin ecosystem and blueprints for quick integration and workflow creation.
Weaknesses
- Con: Requires familiarity with YAML for declarative workflow definition.
- Con: Enterprise features are likely behind a paid tier, not fully detailed on public pages.
Key features
Plans and prices: Dagster vs Kestra
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Dagster |
| dagster.io/pricing read Nov 4, 2026 |
| Kestra |
| kestra.io/pricing read Nov 3, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Dagster pricing and Kestra pricing.
Key Takeaways
Dagster
- Worth considering for ETL & data pipelines
Kestra
- Has a free plan
What the data shows
On the data below, Kestra leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- Dagster starts at $10/mo flat, billed monthly; Kestra has no public paid plan price on file.
- Only Kestra has a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Dagster and Kestra compare in 2026?
On the data below, Kestra leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. Dagster starts at $10/mo flat, billed monthly; Kestra has no public paid plan price on file. Only Kestra has a free plan.
What are Dagster and Kestra used for?
Dagster: Data orchestration platform for ML pipelines. Kestra: Open Source Declarative Data Orchestration for all engineers, simplifying workflows with Everything-as-Code.
What does Dagster cost vs Kestra?
Dagster's cheapest paid plan is Solo at $10/mo flat, billed monthly. Kestra has no public paid-plan price on file. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Nov 4, 2026.
What's the main difference between Dagster and Kestra?
Dagster's main strength: modern data orchestration. Kestra's main strength: unifies orchestration for diverse engineering teams, breaking down silos.
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