Comparison
airflow vs crane
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 crane if crane is a Go-based tool for container orchestration that simplifies managing Docker containers.
Markdown twin · airflow alternatives · crane alternatives
GraphCanon updated Sep 20, 2026
13views this month
Trust & integrity
| Signal | airflow | crane |
|---|---|---|
| Maintenance | Very active (0d since push) As of Sep 14, 2026 · github_public_v1 | Dormant (1152d since push) As of Sep 20, 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 20, 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
- crane
- Crane - Lift containers with ease
Stars
- airflow
- 47k
- crane
- 993
Forks
- airflow
- 18k
- crane
- 61
Open issues
- airflow
- 2.1k
- crane
- 14
Language
- airflow
- Python
- crane
- Go
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.
- crane
- Crane is a Go-based tool for container orchestration that simplifies managing Docker containers.
Persona
- airflow
- -
- crane
- -
Runtime
- airflow
- -
- crane
- -
License
- airflow
- Apache-2.0
- crane
- MIT
Last pushed
- airflow
- Sep 14, 2026
- crane
- Jul 25, 2023
Categories
- airflow
- Developer Tools
- crane
- Developer Tools
Trust and health
Maintenance
- airflow
- Very active (96%)
- crane
- Dormant (18%)
Days since push
- airflow
- 0d
- crane
- 1152d
Open issues (now)
- airflow
- 2.1k
- crane
- 14
Stars delta
- airflow
- +419 (30d)
- crane
- +5 (30d)
Open issues delta
- airflow
- +262 (30d)
- crane
- 0 (30d)
Owner type
- airflow
- Organization
- crane
- User
Full report
- airflow
- Trust report
- crane
- Trust report
Choose airflow if…
- airflow is primarily Python; crane is Go.
- License: airflow is Apache-2.0, crane is MIT.
- Tags unique to airflow: airflow, apache, automation, dag.
- 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 crane if…
- crane is primarily Go; airflow is Python.
- License: crane is MIT, airflow is Apache-2.0.
- Tags unique to crane: docker, go.
- Use Crane when you are working with Go and require an efficient way to manage multiple Docker containers within your projects.
When NOT to use crane
- Avoid using Crane if your project does not involve or need management of Docker containers through a Go-based application.
- Do not use Crane when your primary development language is not Go and you are looking for more general-purpose container orchestration solutions with broader support.
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 (michaelsauter/crane) · observed Sep 20, 2026
- GitHub forks (michaelsauter/crane) · observed Sep 20, 2026
- Last push (michaelsauter/crane) · observed Jul 25, 2023
- 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 · crane 993 (synced Sep 20, 2026).
Common questions
- What is the difference between airflow and crane?
- airflow: A platform to programmatically author, schedule, and monitor workflows. crane: Crane - Lift containers with ease. See the comparison table for live GitHub stats and shared categories.
- When should I choose airflow over crane?
- Choose airflow over crane when airflow is primarily Python; crane is Go; License: airflow is Apache-2.0, crane is MIT; Tags unique to airflow: airflow, apache, automation, dag; 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 crane over airflow?
- Choose crane over airflow when crane is primarily Go; airflow is Python; License: crane is MIT, airflow is Apache-2.0; Tags unique to crane: docker, go; Use Crane when you are working with Go and require an efficient way to manage multiple Docker containers within your projects.
- 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 crane?
- Avoid using Crane if your project does not involve or need management of Docker containers through a Go-based application. Do not use Crane when your primary development language is not Go and you are looking for more general-purpose container orchestration solutions with broader support.
- Is airflow or crane more popular on GitHub?
- airflow has more GitHub stars (46,844 vs 993). Stars measure visibility, not whether either tool fits your constraints.
- Are airflow and crane open source?
- Yes - both are open-source projects on GitHub (airflow: Apache-2.0, crane: MIT).
- Where can I find alternatives to airflow or crane?
- GraphCanon lists graph-backed alternatives at airflow alternatives and crane alternatives (airflow markdown twin, crane 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 crane?
- airflow: Very active. crane: Dormant. 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 crane?
- GraphCanon publishes per-repo trust reports with dated maintenance, provenance, and scan summaries: airflow trust report; crane trust report.