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Prefect

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What Prefect is

Prefect is a workflow orchestration platform for data, machine learning, and agent workflows written in Python. Its open-source framework turns existing Python code into workflows using decorators, without requiring a fixed DAG structure or a separate workflow language. Execution features include state tracking, retries, caching, and recovery from failures. Run timelines, logs, and alerts cover failures, missed SLAs, and late runs. Workflows can run on cron schedules or event-driven triggers, with support for backfills and triggers from webhooks, cloud events, or state changes. Execution choices include managed serverless, hybrid operation in a customer's infrastructure, and self-hosted orchestration. In hybrid use, workers connect outbound while code and data stay in the customer environment; Prefect Cloud hosts the control plane and metadata. The free Hobby plan allows 2 users, 1 workspace, 5 deployments, 500 minutes of Serverless credits monthly, and 7 days of run retention. Paid plans start at $100/mo.

Who it suits

Prefect suits teams building data, machine learning, or agent workflows in Python, especially those needing scheduled or event-driven runs. Its self-hosted and hybrid options may suit teams that want code and data to remain in their own infrastructure.

What it does well

Build workflows from Python with decorators.
Retries, caching, and failure recovery are included.
Supports cron and event-driven scheduling.
Offers managed, hybrid, and self-hosted execution.
Open-source engine uses the Apache 2.0 license.

What to know first

Hobby is limited to 2 users.
Hobby retains runs for 7 days.
Hobby includes 5 deployments.
Team costs $100/user/mo.

Limits

Hobby includes 2 users, 1 workspace, 5 deployments, 500 minutes per month of Prefect Serverless credits, and 7 days of run retention. Team is $100/user/mo and includes 4–8 users, up to 100 deployments, 225 hours of Prefect Serverless, and a 24 hour audit log; Starter is $100/mo and includes 3 users, up to 20 deployments, 75 hours of Prefect Serverless, and 1,250 API requests per minute.

Plans

Plan	Billed and limits	Price
Hobby	Free forever · 2 users · 1 workspace · 5 deployments · 500 min/mo Prefect Serverless · 7 days run retention · Community support	Free
Team	$100/user/mo · 4–8 users · Up to 100 deployments · 225 hours of Prefect Serverless · 24 hour audit log	$100 a month
Starter	$100/mo · 3 users · Up to 20 deployments · 75 hours of Prefect Serverless · 1,250 API requests/min	$100 a month
Enterprise	Custom · Unlimited deployments · SSO (SAML/OIDC) · RBAC + ACLs · Multiple workspaces · Directory Sync (SCIM) · IP allowlisting & PrivateLink	On request

As prefect.io lists them, read 30 Sept 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Getting started

Visit https://www.prefect.io/.
Choose the open-source framework, Prefect Cloud, or self-hosted orchestration route.
Start with Hobby, which is free forever, or review the paid plans.
Write workflows in Python and add decorators to existing code.
Connect integrations such as AWS, GitHub, Slack, or Snowflake as needed.

Verdict

Prefect combines Python-based workflow creation with monitoring, scheduling, and several execution models. The free Hobby plan has defined user, deployment, and retention limits; paid plans start at $100/mo.

Questions

Does Prefect have a free plan?

Yes. Hobby is free forever and includes 2 users, 1 workspace, 5 deployments, 500 minutes per month of Prefect Serverless credits, and 7 days of run retention.

How much do the paid plans cost?

Team is $100/user/mo. Starter is $100/mo. Enterprise has custom pricing.

Is Prefect open source?

Yes. Prefect says its open-source engine is licensed under Apache 2.0 and can be used, modified, and distributed commercially.

Can I run Prefect in my own infrastructure?

Yes. Prefect offers hybrid execution in a customer's infrastructure and self-hosted orchestration. In hybrid execution, code and data stay in that infrastructure while Prefect Cloud hosts the control plane and metadata.

What integrations are available?

The integrations directory lists AWS, Azure, Bitbucket, Dask, Databricks, dbt, Docker, GCP, GitHub, Kubernetes, Slack, Snowflake, and others.

What security features does Prefect describe?

Prefect lists TLS 1.2 or higher, encryption at rest, workspace-unique encryption keys, RBAC, SSO, SCIM, audit logs, and IP allowlisting. It says it is SOC 2 Type II certified and GDPR compliant, and HIPAA ready.

Facts from Prefect's own pages

Durable execution: Prefect describes durable execution features including state tracking, automatic retries, caching, and recovery from failures. · prefect.io, 30 Sept 2026
Execution options: Prefect Cloud offers managed serverless execution or hybrid execution in a customer's infrastructure, and Prefect also offers self-hosted orchestration. · prefect.io, 30 Sept 2026
Founded: 2018 · prefect.io, 28 Sept 2026
Hybrid data control: In hybrid execution, workers poll through outbound-only connections while code and data remain in the customer's infrastructure; Prefect Cloud hosts the control plane and metadata. · prefect.io, 30 Sept 2026
Integrations: The integrations directory lists AWS, Azure, Bitbucket, Dask, Databricks, dbt, Docker, GCP, GitHub, Kubernetes, Slack, Snowflake, and other integrations. · docs.prefect.io, 30 Sept 2026
Monitoring: Prefect provides workflow observability with run timelines, logs, and alerts for failures, SLA misses, and late runs. · prefect.io, 30 Sept 2026
Open-source license: Prefect says its open-source engine is licensed under Apache 2.0 and can be used, modified, and distributed commercially. · prefect.io, 30 Sept 2026
Plan limits: The Hobby plan includes 2 users, 1 workspace, 5 deployments, 500 minutes per month of Serverless credits, and 7 days of run retention. · prefect.io, 30 Sept 2026
Purpose: Prefect is a workflow orchestration platform for data, machine learning, and agents, with workflows written as plain Python. · prefect.io, 30 Sept 2026
Python framework: The open-source Prefect framework lets users turn existing Python code into workflows by adding decorators, without rigid DAG structures or a custom DSL. · prefect.io, 30 Sept 2026
Scheduling and automation: The platform supports cron and event-driven scheduling, backfills, and workflow triggers from webhooks, cloud events, or state changes. · prefect.io, 30 Sept 2026
Security: Prefect states that it is SOC 2 Type II certified and GDPR compliant, and describes itself as HIPAA ready. · prefect.io, 30 Sept 2026
Security controls: The security page lists TLS 1.2 or higher, encryption at rest, workspace-unique encryption keys, RBAC, SSO, SCIM, audit logs, and IP allowlisting. · prefect.io, 30 Sept 2026
Support: The pricing comparison lists Community as Hobby's support channel, and the homepage says every enterprise plan has a 30-minute response SLA. · prefect.io, 30 Sept 2026

Where Prefect stands on Freedom251

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