Windmill

windmill.dev
Workflow Automation
Weekend Project

Open-source workflow engine for internal tools and automation

How to Replace Windmill

Overview

Windmill is an open-source platform for building internal tools, APIs, and workflows with a visual builder and code editor. It enables teams to automate business processes without extensive backend development.

Features

41 features across 18 categories

API Management(3)

API Documentation Generation

Auto-generate interactive API documentation from workflows and scripts.

Rate LimitingPremium

Control API rate limiting and request throttling per user or resource.

REST API Generation

Automatically generate REST APIs from workflows and scripts.

Analytics(2)

Performance AnalyticsPremium

Analyze workflow performance metrics including execution time and resource usage.

Workflow AnalyticsPremium

Track workflow usage patterns, success rates, and business metrics.

Also in: Hugging Face, Notion, Smartsheet

Automation(1)

Job Scheduling

Schedule workflows to run on recurring intervals or specific times.

Also in: monday.com, Notion, Airtable

Collaboration(1)

Team Collaboration

Collaborative workspace for teams to build and share workflows.

Also in: Notion, Airtable, Obsidian

Configuration(2)

Resource Management

Define and manage shared resources for database connections, API keys, and credentials.

Variable Management

Centralized management of variables, secrets, and environment-specific configurations.

Data Processing(2)

Data Transformation

Transform and map data between different formats using built-in functions.

File Upload Handling

Handle file uploads and downloads within workflows and forms.

DevOps(1)

Deployment ManagementPremium

Deploy workflows to staging and production environments with approval workflows.

Also in: MuleSoft, Jira, Jira

Development(5)

Code Editor

Inline Python, TypeScript, and SQL editor for custom logic within workflows.

Custom OperatorsPremium

Create custom operators and extensions for domain-specific workflow logic.

Multi-language Support

Execute scripts in Python, TypeScript, Go, PHP, Bash, and other languages.

Script Library

Reusable script library for sharing common functions across workflows.

Version Control Integration

Native Git integration for version control of workflows and scripts.

Also in: Kissflow, Lattice, WordPress.com

Hosting(2)

Custom Domain SupportPremium

Host Windmill on a custom domain for branded internal tool deployments.

Self-Hosted DeploymentPremium

Deploy Windmill on-premises or in your private cloud infrastructure.

Integration(4)

Database Connections

Built-in support for connecting to PostgreSQL, MySQL, and other databases.

GraphQL Support

Execute GraphQL queries and mutations from workflows.

OpenAPI Schema Support

Import and use OpenAPI schemas to auto-generate API integrations.

Webhook Triggers

Trigger workflows via HTTP webhooks from external systems.

Monitoring(3)

Advanced Filtering

Filter workflow executions and logs by status, date, user, and other criteria.

Execution History

View detailed execution history with inputs, outputs, and timing information.

Flow Monitoring Dashboard

Real-time monitoring and visualization of workflow executions and performance metrics.

Notification(2)

Email Notifications

Send email notifications at workflow completion or failure.

Notification ChannelsPremium

Multi-channel notifications via Slack, Teams, email, and webhooks.

Performance(2)

Bulk Operations

Process large datasets with built-in support for batch operations and pagination.

ParallelizationPremium

Execute multiple workflow steps in parallel to improve execution speed.

Reliability(1)

Error Handling

Built-in error handling with retry logic and fallback workflows.

Security(4)

Audit Logs

Complete audit trails of all workflow executions and modifications.

RBACPremium

Role-based access control for managing user permissions and team collaboration.

SSO AuthenticationPremium

Single sign-on support for SAML and OAuth authentication.

Webhook Signatures

Verify webhook authenticity with HMAC-SHA256 signatures.

Support(1)

Enterprise SupportPremium

Dedicated enterprise support with SLA and priority incident handling.

UI(1)

User Forms

Generate dynamic user interfaces for capturing input and triggering workflows.

Workflow Design(4)

Branching Logic

Conditional branching and control flow within workflows based on data.

Loops and Iteration

Support for looping over arrays and bulk processing in workflows.

Visual Workflow Builder

Drag-and-drop interface for designing complex workflows without coding.

Workflow Templates

Pre-built workflow templates for common business processes and integrations.

Pricing

Community

Free
  • Self-hosted
  • open-source

Starter

$99/mo
  • Cloud-hosted
  • team collaboration

Professional

Popular
$299/mo
  • Advanced features
  • SSO

Enterprise

Contact Sales
  • Custom pricing
  • dedicated support

Cost Calculator

Keep Paying Windmill

Monthly$99/mo
Yearly$1.2k/yr
5-Year Total$5.9k

Build It Yourself

Est. Build Time~3 hrs
Hosting$20/mo
DifficultyVery Easy

Total Cost Comparison

1 YearSave $948
SaaS
$1.2k
DIY
$240
3 YearsSave $2.8k
SaaS
$3.6k
DIY
$720
5 YearsSave $4.7k
SaaS
$5.9k
DIY
$1.2k

DIY hosting estimate based on Vercel + Supabase free/pro tiers (~$20/mo). Build time estimated from 41 features at very easy complexity.

Build vs Buy

Should you build a Windmill alternative or buy the subscription? Estimate based on 41 features.

Buy Windmill

Better Value
Monthly cost$990/mo
3-year total$35,640
Time to deployDays

Build Your Own

Development cost$24,000
Maintenance$360/mo
3-year total$36,960
Dev time~2 months

Buying Windmill saves ~$1,320 over 3 years vs building.

Estimates based on 41 features and a BuildScore of 5/5. Actual costs vary.

Integrations

30 known integrations