Side by side
Prefect vs YAWL
Both stand on workflow orchestration software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan APISelf-hostedWeb
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.
Visit Prefect Free plan APILinuxMac+2
Choose YAWL if you need a free, self-hosted BPM system with broad control-flow support, adaptable workflows, and automated verification. Look elsewhere if you cannot meet its Java 21-or-later requirement or need a hosted deployment.
Visit YAWLThe facts
| Prefect | YAWL | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | API, Self-hosted, Web | API, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Starter: $100 a month | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 4 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | prefect.io | yawlfoundation.org |
| On workflow orchestration software | #22 of 38 | #26 of 38 |
Prefect: 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.
YAWL: what it does well
- Free, open-source software released under the LGPL licence.
- Visual workflow builder with execution observability.
- Supports XML Schema, XPath, XQuery, and drag-and-drop data mappings.
- Worklets allow workflows to evolve as requirements change.
- Tasks can involve people, web services, external applications, or Java code.
What to know first
- Requires Java 21 or later.
- Deployment is self-hosted.
- No free trial is offered.