Comparison
airflow vs docker-airflow
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 docker-airflow if docker-airflow leverages Docker to provide streamlined management of Apache Airflow environments, making it easy for developers to maintain and deploy workflows.
Markdown twin · airflow alternatives · docker-airflow alternatives
GraphCanon updated Sep 20, 2026
9views this month
vs
Trust & integrity
| Signal | airflow | docker-airflow |
|---|---|---|
| Maintenance | Very active (0d since push) As of Sep 14, 2026 · github_public_v1 | Dormant (1294d since push) As of Sep 16, 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 16, 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
- docker-airflow
- Docker Apache Airflow
Stars
- airflow
- 47k
- docker-airflow
- 3.8k
Forks
- airflow
- 18k
- docker-airflow
- 591
Open issues
- airflow
- 2.1k
- docker-airflow
- 261
Language
- airflow
- Python
- docker-airflow
- Shell
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.
- docker-airflow
- docker-airflow leverages Docker to provide streamlined management of Apache Airflow environments, making it easy for developers to maintain and deploy workflows.
Persona
- airflow
- -
- docker-airflow
- -
Runtime
- airflow
- -
- docker-airflow
- -
License
- airflow
- Apache-2.0
- docker-airflow
- Apache-2.0
Last pushed
- airflow
- Sep 14, 2026
- docker-airflow
- Mar 1, 2023
Categories
- airflow
- Developer Tools
- docker-airflow
- Developer Tools
Trust and health
Maintenance
- airflow
- Very active (96%)
- docker-airflow
- Dormant (18%)
Days since push
- airflow
- 0d
- docker-airflow
- 1294d
Open issues (now)
- airflow
- 2.1k
- docker-airflow
- 261
Stars delta
- airflow
- +419 (30d)
- docker-airflow
- -1 (30d)
Open issues delta
- airflow
- +262 (30d)
- docker-airflow
- 0 (30d)
Owner type
- airflow
- Organization
- docker-airflow
- User
Full report
- airflow
- Trust report
- docker-airflow
- Trust report
Shared compatibility
- Python · airflow: Python runtime · docker-airflow: Python runtime
Choose airflow if…
- airflow is primarily Python; docker-airflow is Shell.
- Tags unique to airflow: apache, automation, dag, data-engineering.
- 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 docker-airflow if…
- docker-airflow is primarily Shell; airflow is Python.
- Pricing: Open source under the Apache-2.0 license, it is free of cost, but support and enterprise features might come at a premium..
- Requirements: Requires Docker.
- Tags unique to docker-airflow: docker.
- Opt for docker-airflow if you are already using Docker in your workflow setup, because it seamlessly integrates with existing infrastructure without needing additional configuration steps.
When NOT to use docker-airflow
- Avoid docker-airflow if you require a completely customized setup for your workflow management system and have limited experience or resources to understand and manage Docker configurations.
- Should be avoided in environments where there is no need for containerization benefits as using docker-airflow may introduce unneeded complexity.
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 (puckel/docker-airflow) · observed Sep 20, 2026
- GitHub forks (puckel/docker-airflow) · observed Sep 20, 2026
- Last push (puckel/docker-airflow) · observed Mar 1, 2023
- License file (Apache-2.0) · 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 · docker-airflow 3.8k (synced Sep 20, 2026).
Common questions
- What is the difference between airflow and docker-airflow?
- airflow: A platform to programmatically author, schedule, and monitor workflows. docker-airflow: Docker Apache Airflow. See the comparison table for live GitHub stats and shared categories.
- When should I choose airflow over docker-airflow?
- Choose airflow over docker-airflow when airflow is primarily Python; docker-airflow is Shell; Tags unique to airflow: apache, automation, dag, data-engineering; If you need to model complex workflow dependency graphs with Directed Acyclic Graphs (DAGs).
- When should I choose docker-airflow over airflow?
- Choose docker-airflow over airflow when docker-airflow is primarily Shell; airflow is Python; Pricing: Open source under the Apache-2.0 license, it is free of cost, but support and enterprise features might come at a premium.; Requirements: Requires Docker; Tags unique to docker-airflow: docker; Opt for docker-airflow if you are already using Docker in your workflow setup, because it seamlessly integrates with existing infrastructure without needing additional configuration steps.
- 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 docker-airflow?
- Avoid docker-airflow if you require a completely customized setup for your workflow management system and have limited experience or resources to understand and manage Docker configurations. Should be avoided in environments where there is no need for containerization benefits as using docker-airflow may introduce unneeded complexity.
- Is airflow or docker-airflow more popular on GitHub?
- airflow has more GitHub stars (46,844 vs 3,810). Stars measure visibility, not whether either tool fits your constraints.
- Are airflow and docker-airflow open source?
- Yes - both are open-source projects on GitHub (airflow: Apache-2.0, docker-airflow: Apache-2.0).
- Where can I find alternatives to airflow or docker-airflow?
- GraphCanon lists graph-backed alternatives at airflow alternatives and docker-airflow alternatives (airflow markdown twin, docker-airflow 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 docker-airflow?
- airflow: Very active. docker-airflow: 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 docker-airflow?
- GraphCanon publishes per-repo trust reports with dated maintenance, provenance, and scan summaries: airflow trust report; docker-airflow trust report.