Prefect
Prefect is a workflow orchestration platform for data, machine learning, and agent workflows written in Python.
What Prefect is
Prefect is a workflow orchestration platform for data, machine learning, and agent workflows written in Python. Its open-source framework can turn existing Python code into workflows with decorators, without requiring a rigid DAG structure or a separate DSL. Execution features include state tracking, retries, caching, and recovery from failures. Run timelines, logs, and alerts help track failures, missed SLAs, and late runs. Workflows can use cron or event-driven schedules, backfills, and triggers from webhooks, cloud events, or state changes. Deployment options include managed serverless execution, hybrid execution in a customer’s infrastructure, and self-hosted orchestration. In hybrid setups, workers connect outbound while code and data remain in the customer’s infrastructure; Prefect Cloud hosts the control plane and metadata. Integrations include AWS, Azure, Databricks, dbt, Docker, GCP, GitHub, Kubernetes, Slack, and Snowflake.
Good
- Build workflows from Python using decorators.
- Retries, caching, and failure recovery are included.
- Supports cron and event-driven scheduling.
- Offers serverless, hybrid, and self-hosted execution.
- Hobby plan is free.
Watch out
- Hobby is limited to two users.
- Hobby includes five deployments.
- Hobby run retention is seven days.
Who it suits
Prefect suits teams building Python workflows for data, machine learning, or agents, especially those needing scheduling, monitoring, and retry or recovery features. Its self-hosted and hybrid options may suit teams that want code and data to remain in their infrastructure.
Verdict
Prefect combines Python-based workflow creation with scheduling, observability, and multiple execution models. The free Hobby plan has defined user, deployment, and retention limits; paid plans start at $100/mo.
Plans and prices
From Prefect's own pricing page, checked 30 Sep 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Hobby | Free | 2 users · 1 workspace · 5 deployments · 500 min/mo Prefect Serverless · 7 days run retention · Community support · Free forever |
| Starter | $100 a month | 3 users · Up to 20 deployments · 75 hours of Prefect Serverless · 1,250 API requests/min · $100/mo |
| Team | $100 a month | 4–8 users · Up to 100 deployments · 225 hours of Prefect Serverless · 24 hour audit log · $100/user/mo |
| Enterprise | Priced on request | Unlimited deployments · SSO (SAML/OIDC) · RBAC + ACLs · Multiple workspaces · Directory Sync (SCIM) · IP allowlisting & PrivateLink · Custom |
The facts
Each one read from Prefect's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Durable execution
- Prefect describes durable execution features including state tracking, automatic retries, caching, and recovery from failures.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Execution options
- Prefect Cloud offers managed serverless execution or hybrid execution in a customer's infrastructure, and Prefect also offers self-hosted orchestration.checked 30 Sep 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.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Integrations
- The integrations directory lists AWS, Azure, Bitbucket, Dask, Databricks, dbt, Docker, GCP, GitHub, Kubernetes, Slack, Snowflake, and other integrations.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Monitoring
- Prefect provides workflow observability with run timelines, logs, and alerts for failures, SLA misses, and late runs.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Open-source license
- Prefect says its open-source engine is licensed under Apache 2.0 and can be used, modified, and distributed commercially.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Purpose
- Prefect is a workflow orchestration platform for data, machine learning, and agents, with workflows written as plain Python.checked 30 Sep 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.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Scheduling and automation
- The platform supports cron and event-driven scheduling, backfills, and workflow triggers from webhooks, cloud events, or state changes.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Security
- Prefect states that it is SOC 2 Type II certified and GDPR compliant, and describes itself as HIPAA ready.checked 30 Sep 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.checked 30 Sep 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.checked 30 Sep 2026
The company
- Founded
- 2018checked 28 Sep 2026
Money
- 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.checked 30 Sep 2026
Alternatives to Prefect
- 1
Windmill
Free planOpen sourceWebAPILinuxSelf-hosted8.3From $120 a month - 2
Flyte
Free planOpen sourceWebAPILinuxSelf-hosted8.0Free plan - 3
Kestra
Free planOpen sourceWebAPILinuxmacOS7.9Free plan - 4
ActiveBatch
AndroidiOSWebAPI7.6$10,000 one-time - 5
Apache DolphinScheduler
Free planOpen sourceWebAPILinuxSelf-hosted7.3Free plan - 6
Argo Workflows
Free planWebAPILinuxmacOS7.0Free plan