n8n
RetoolAbout Windmill
Windmill starts from a different premise than visual automation tools: developers already know how to express logic — in code. So instead of dragging nodes, you write a TypeScript, Python, Go or Bash script and Windmill instantly turns it into a runnable workflow step, a scheduled job, a webhook endpoint or an internal app with an auto-generated UI.
Under the hood is a Rust execution engine that benchmarks among the fastest in the category, with queues, retries, error handling and approval steps built in. A visual flow editor exists too — but every flow remains code you can version, review and test like the rest of your stack.
Self-host the whole platform with Docker or use Windmill Cloud. For teams that outgrew n8n's node canvas or don't want to pay Retool per seat for internal tools, Windmill covers both jobs with one AGPL-licensed platform.
What makes it different
Write TypeScript, Python, Go or Bash — Windmill wraps it with a UI, schedule, webhook and permissions automatically.
Chain scripts into flows with retries and approvals, or drag an app UI over them for your team.
One of the fastest workflow engines measured — thousands of jobs per second on modest hardware.
Full platform on your infrastructure, with SSO, permissions and audit logs on the enterprise tier.
How to install Windmill
A hands-on walkthrough of getting Windmill up and running — follow along and you'll have it self-hosted in one sitting.
Rust
TypeScript
Svelte
PostgreSQLThe honest read
- Code-first: workflows are versionable, testable scripts
- Extremely fast Rust execution engine
- Also replaces internal-tool builders like Retool
- Generous open-source core (AGPL-3.0)
- Very active development and responsive team
- Requires developers — not for no-code users
- AGPL license needs review for embedded commercial use
- Smaller integration library than n8n's 400+ nodes
- UI density takes a few sessions to learn
Quick answers
Yes — Windmill's core is open source under AGPL-3.0 and free to self-host without seat limits. Windmill Cloud has a free tier, and paid plans add SSO, audit logs and support.
n8n is visual-first: you build workflows by wiring nodes. Windmill is code-first: you write scripts and it handles the workflow plumbing — scheduling, retries, UIs and permissions. Developers who find node canvases limiting usually prefer Windmill.
Largely, yes. Windmill auto-generates UIs from scripts and includes a drag-and-drop app builder, so internal dashboards and admin panels can live on the same platform as your automations.
Yes — a docker-compose stack (server, workers, Postgres) runs the whole platform. It's the standard way teams deploy it.
More open-source picks
MIT-licensed no-code automation with 280+ pieces and AI support.
Declarative YAML orchestration for data and event pipelines.
Background jobs and workflows in plain TypeScript.
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