Comparison
airflow vs CGraph
Verdict
Pick airflow if apache Airflow is a Python-based orchestrator for scheduling and monitoring workflows, suitable for tasks that require flexible DAG (Directed Acyclic Graph) definitions; pick CGraph if cGraph is a cross-platform Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) framework in pure C++, aiding developers in building custom operators and pipelines for various workflows without any third-party dependencies.
Markdown twin · airflow alternatives · CGraph alternatives
GraphCanon updated Sep 20, 2026
14views this month
Trust & integrity
| Signal | airflow | CGraph |
|---|---|---|
| Maintenance | Very active (0d since push) As of Sep 14, 2026 · github_public_v1 | Active (9d since push) As of Sep 17, 2026 · github_public_v1 |
| Provenance | Not a fork · Organization account As of Sep 14, 2026 · github_public_v1 | Not a fork · Personal account As of Sep 17, 2026 · github_public_v1 |
| OSV dependency advisories | No lockfile (source not queried) As of Jul 15, 2026 · osv@v1 | No lockfile (source not queried) As of Jul 15, 2026 · osv@v1 |
| deps.dev advisories | Not queried deps.dev@v1 | Not queried deps.dev@v1 |
| OpenSSF Scorecard | Not queried openssf-scorecard@v1 | Not queried openssf-scorecard@v1 |
Tagline
- airflow
- A platform to programmatically author, schedule, and monitor workflows
- CGraph
- A common used C++ & Python DAG framework
Stars
- airflow
- 47k
- CGraph
- 2.3k
Forks
- airflow
- 18k
- CGraph
- 390
Open issues
- airflow
- 2.1k
- CGraph
- 11
Language
- airflow
- Python
- CGraph
- C++
Adopt for
- airflow
- Apache Airflow is a Python-based orchestrator for scheduling and monitoring workflows, suitable for tasks that require flexible DAG (Directed Acyclic Graph) definitions.
- CGraph
- CGraph is a cross-platform Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) framework in pure C++, aiding developers in building custom operators and pipelines for various workflows without any third-party dependencies.
Persona
- airflow
- -
- CGraph
- -
Runtime
- airflow
- -
- CGraph
- -
License
- airflow
- Apache-2.0
- CGraph
- MIT
Last pushed
- airflow
- Sep 14, 2026
- CGraph
- Sep 7, 2026
Categories
- airflow
- Developer Tools
- CGraph
- Developer Tools
Trust and health
Maintenance
- airflow
- Very active (96%)
- CGraph
- Active (82%)
Days since push
- airflow
- 0d
- CGraph
- 9d
Open issues (now)
- airflow
- 2.1k
- CGraph
- 11
Stars delta
- airflow
- +419 (30d)
- CGraph
- +8 (30d)
Open issues delta
- airflow
- +262 (30d)
- CGraph
- -3 (30d)
Owner type
- airflow
- Organization
- CGraph
- User
Full report
- airflow
- Trust report
- CGraph
- Trust report
Shared compatibility
- Python · airflow: Python runtime · CGraph: Python runtime
Choose airflow if…
- airflow is primarily Python; CGraph is C++.
- License: airflow is Apache-2.0, CGraph is MIT.
- Tags unique to airflow: airflow, apache, automation, data-engineering.
- airflow ships Docker support for self-hosted deployment.
- If you need to model complex workflow dependency graphs with Directed Acyclic Graphs (DAGs).
When NOT to use airflow
- Avoid if you require Windows as the primary execution environment without using WSL2.
- If your project strictly adheres to MariaDB for database management, Airflow is not recommended because it is neither tested nor supported by the tool.
Choose CGraph if…
- CGraph is primarily C++; airflow is Python.
- License: CGraph is MIT, airflow is Apache-2.0.
- Pricing: Free and open-source software with a MIT license, offering gratis usage for all, including for commercial purposes..
- Requirements: Min 0.5 GB RAM; C++11 support is required in your compiler.; Python version 'pycgraph' package is supported for Python API usage..
- Tags unique to CGraph: ai, ai-agents, graph, pipeline.
- Use CGraph when you need a cross-platform DAG framework that supports constructing custom operators directly in C++.
When NOT to use CGraph
- Avoid using CGraph when your workflow primarily involves tasks that are better suited for language ecosystems outside of C++ and Python, such as Java or JavaScript.
- Do not use this framework if you require specialized features provided by specific third-party libraries that enhance or tailor the capabilities beyond what pure C++ offers.
Explore
Sources
Every stat on this page traces to a dated GitHub sync, license file, enrichment field, or trust scan.
- GitHub stars (apache/airflow) · observed Sep 20, 2026
- GitHub forks (apache/airflow) · observed Sep 20, 2026
- Last push (apache/airflow) · observed Sep 14, 2026
- License file (Apache-2.0) · observed Sep 20, 2026
- Decision facts (enrichment) · observed Jul 16, 2026
- Trust scan (lockfile / OSV) · observed Jul 15, 2026
- GitHub stars (ChunelFeng/CGraph) · observed Sep 20, 2026
- GitHub forks (ChunelFeng/CGraph) · observed Sep 20, 2026
- Last push (ChunelFeng/CGraph) · observed Sep 7, 2026
- License file (MIT) · observed Sep 20, 2026
- Decision facts (enrichment) · observed Jul 17, 2026
- Trust scan (lockfile / OSV) · observed Jul 15, 2026
GitHub stars on cards: airflow 47k · CGraph 2.3k (synced Sep 20, 2026).
Common questions
- What is the difference between airflow and CGraph?
- airflow: A platform to programmatically author, schedule, and monitor workflows. CGraph: A common used C++ & Python DAG framework. See the comparison table for live GitHub stats and shared categories.
- When should I choose airflow over CGraph?
- Choose airflow over CGraph when airflow is primarily Python; CGraph is C++; License: airflow is Apache-2.0, CGraph is MIT; Tags unique to airflow: airflow, apache, automation, data-engineering; airflow ships Docker support for self-hosted deployment; If you need to model complex workflow dependency graphs with Directed Acyclic Graphs (DAGs).
- When should I choose CGraph over airflow?
- Choose CGraph over airflow when CGraph is primarily C++; airflow is Python; License: CGraph is MIT, airflow is Apache-2.0; Pricing: Free and open-source software with a MIT license, offering gratis usage for all, including for commercial purposes.; Requirements: Min 0.5 GB RAM; C++11 support is required in your compiler.; Python version 'pycgraph' package is supported for Python API usage.; Tags unique to CGraph: ai, ai-agents, graph, pipeline; Use CGraph when you need a cross-platform DAG framework that supports constructing custom operators directly in C++.
- When should I avoid airflow?
- Avoid if you require Windows as the primary execution environment without using WSL2. If your project strictly adheres to MariaDB for database management, Airflow is not recommended because it is neither tested nor supported by the tool.
- When should I avoid CGraph?
- Avoid using CGraph when your workflow primarily involves tasks that are better suited for language ecosystems outside of C++ and Python, such as Java or JavaScript. Do not use this framework if you require specialized features provided by specific third-party libraries that enhance or tailor the capabilities beyond what pure C++ offers.
- Is airflow or CGraph more popular on GitHub?
- airflow has more GitHub stars (46,844 vs 2,302). Stars measure visibility, not whether either tool fits your constraints.
- Are airflow and CGraph open source?
- Yes - both are open-source projects on GitHub (airflow: Apache-2.0, CGraph: MIT).
- Where can I find alternatives to airflow or CGraph?
- GraphCanon lists graph-backed alternatives at airflow alternatives and CGraph alternatives (airflow markdown twin, CGraph markdown twin), ranked by typed relationship edges rather than popularity votes.
- Is there a machine-readable version of this comparison?
- Yes. The markdown twin at this comparison mirrors this page for agents and LLM crawlers, with the same stats table and FAQ answers.
- Which is better maintained, airflow or CGraph?
- airflow: Very active. CGraph: Active. Compare maintenance labels, days since push, and release cadence in the trust section below - stars alone do not measure maintenance.
- Where are the full trust reports for airflow and CGraph?
- GraphCanon publishes per-repo trust reports with dated maintenance, provenance, and scan summaries: airflow trust report; CGraph trust report.