Dagster vs Airbyte
type: Article
description: Dagster is a data orchestration platform designed for complex workflow management and data pipelines with Python-first development, while Airbyte is an ELT platform focused on moving data from sources to destinations with low-code connectors. Dagster excels at orchestration complexity; Airbyte excels at rapid connector-based data movement.
language: en-US
date published: 2026-07-08T10:58:20.247Z
date created: 2026-07-08T10:58:20.247Z
date modified: 2026-07-08T10:58:20.321Z
content reference time: 2026-07-08T10:58:20.321Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
about: Dagster
about: Airbyte
abstract: Dagster is a data orchestration platform designed for complex workflow management and data pipelines with Python-first development, while Airbyte is an ELT platform focused on moving data from sources to destinations with low-code connectors. Dagster excels at orchestration complexity; Airbyte excels at rapid connector-based data movement.
text: Primary Use Case. Pre-built Connectors. Development Approach. Orchestration Capabilities. Data Transformation Focus. Learning Curve for Developers. Connector Development Effort
conclusion text: Choose Dagster if you need sophisticated workflow orchestration, complex data transformations, or dynamic pipeline logic with strong Python integration and dbt support. Choose Airbyte if your priority is rapidly deploying pre-built ELT connectors with minimal coding, moving data from 450+ sources to cloud data warehouses, and you need a low-code solution for data engineers with varying technical backgrounds.
additional property: Minimum Python Version Supported
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Dagster: Python 3.8 | Airbyte: N/A
additional property: Time to First Pipeline (learning curve)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Dagster: 45-60 minutes | Airbyte: N/A
additional property: Built-in Data Lineage
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Dagster: Automatic and built-in | Airbyte: N/A
additional property: Native Data Quality Checks
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Dagster: Yes - Dagster asset checks | Airbyte: N/A
additional property: Deployment Configurations Supported
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Dagster: 12+ (K8s, Docker, ECS, serverless) | Airbyte: N/A
additional property: SaaS Pricing (base tier)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Dagster: Free for self-hosted, $99/month for Dagster+ | Airbyte: N/A
additional property: First Release Date
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Dagster: 2019 | Airbyte: N/A
additional property: GitHub Stars (as of 2026)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Dagster: 8,400+ | Airbyte: N/A
additional property: Time to First Working Pipeline (typical)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Dagster: 4-6 hours | Airbyte: N/A
additional property: Minimum Infrastructure Cost (Monthly)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Dagster: $200-500 | Airbyte: N/A
additional property: Multi-Tenancy Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Dagster: Enterprise-grade built-in | Airbyte: N/A
additional property: Python Version Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Dagster: 3.8+ | Airbyte: N/A
additional property: Supported Deployment Platforms
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Dagster: 6+ (K8s, Docker, serverless, hybrid) | Airbyte: N/A
additional property: Documentation Quality (Page Count)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Dagster: 800+ | Airbyte: N/A
additional property: Time to First Workflow
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Dagster: 20-30 minutes | Airbyte: N/A
additional property: Minimum Code for Basic Workflow
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Dagster: ~200 lines | Airbyte: N/A
additional property: Asset Lineage Tracking Coverage
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Dagster: Native asset-level (100%) | Airbyte: N/A
additional property: Self-Hosted Feature Parity
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Dagster: 100% of features | Airbyte: N/A
additional property: Startup Overhead for Self-Hosted
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Dagster: 2 CPU / 4GB RAM minimum | Airbyte: N/A
additional property: Enterprise Governance Features
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Dagster: ~15+ features (full compliance suite) | Airbyte: N/A
additional property: Community GitHub Stars
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Dagster: ~9.2k stars | Airbyte: 11,500+
  value reference: Airbyte
additional property: First Release Year
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Dagster: 2019 | Airbyte: N/A
additional property: Available Integrations
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Dagster: 50+ | Airbyte: N/A
additional property: Minimum Python Version
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Dagster: 3.9+ | Airbyte: N/A
additional property: Type Safety Feature
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Dagster: Built-in Dagster Types with validation | Airbyte: N/A
additional property: Setup Time (Minutes)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Dagster: 15-20 | Airbyte: N/A
additional property: Automatic Lineage Detection
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Dagster: Yes, native support | Airbyte: N/A
additional property: Managed Cloud SLA
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Dagster: 99.9% | Airbyte: N/A
additional property: Pre-built Connectors
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Dagster: ~50 connectors | Airbyte: 300+
  value reference: Airbyte
additional property: Minimum Time to First Data Pipeline
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Dagster: 8-24 hours | Airbyte: 1-4 hours
  value reference: Airbyte
additional property: Orchestration Complexity Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Dagster: Enterprise-grade (dynamic, conditional) | Airbyte: Basic (scheduled, triggered)
additional property: Required Technical Skill Level
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Dagster: Advanced (Python/software engineering) | Airbyte: Beginner-Intermediate (UI-based)
additional property: Data Transformation Capabilities
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Dagster: 9/10 (advanced custom logic) | Airbyte: 3/10 (normalization only)
  value reference: Dagster
additional property: GitHub Stars
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Dagster: ~12,000 stars | Airbyte: ~13,000 stars
  value reference: Airbyte
additional property: Cloud Platform Pricing Model
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Dagster: Usage-based (compute units) | Airbyte: Seat + sync volume-based
additional property: Asset Lineage & Observability
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Dagster: Native, built-in with asset graph | Airbyte: Basic (connection-level monitoring)
additional property: Built-in Orchestration Engine
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Dagster: Yes - native DAG, scheduling, dynamic branching | Airbyte: N/A
additional property: Cloud Pricing (per compute unit/seat)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Dagster: $0.04-0.06 per compute hour (~$29-43/month at 40 hrs/week) | Airbyte: N/A
additional property: Primary Use Case
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Dagster: End-to-end pipeline orchestration and execution | Airbyte: Data Integration (ELT)
additional property: Supported Programming Languages
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Dagster: 5 languages (Python, Rust, Golang, SQL, Bash) | Airbyte: N/A
additional property: Data Warehouse Integrations (Native)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Dagster: Cloud-agnostic; works with 15+ systems | Airbyte: N/A
additional property: Time to Competency (for SQL analysts)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Dagster: 40-60 hours (requires Python learning) | Airbyte: N/A
additional property: GitHub Community Stars
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Dagster: 9,800+ stars | Airbyte: N/A
additional property: Enterprise Adoption (tracked companies)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Dagster: 2,000+ (estimated from public case studies) | Airbyte: N/A
additional property: GitHub Stars (Community Size)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Dagster: 8,500+ | Airbyte: N/A
additional property: Time Since First Release
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Dagster: 5 years (2019) | Airbyte: N/A
additional property: Pre-Built Integrations
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Dagster: 150+ | Airbyte: N/A
additional property: Built-in Data Quality Testing
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Dagster: Native assertions & sensors | Airbyte: N/A
additional property: Type Safety & Validation
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Dagster: Full type hints, static validation | Airbyte: N/A
interactivity type: active
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/entity/dagster
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/alternatives/dagster
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/entity/airbyte
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/alternatives/airbyte
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/answer/dagster-vs-airbyte)
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/v1/schema/dagster-vs-airbyte)
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/dagster-vs-airbyte
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/dagster-vs-metaflow
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/mlflow-vs-dagster
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/airbyte-vs-aws-glue
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/dagster-vs-mage
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/airbyte-vs-segment
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/dagster-vs-prefect
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/airbyte-vs-stitch
teaches: How to choose between Dagster and Airbyte
genre: Software

primaryImage
type: ImageObject
width: 1200
height: 630
caption: Dagster vs Airbyte — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B

A Versus B
type: Organization

Dagster
type: SoftwareApplication
language: en-US
description: Python-first data orchestration platform for complex workflow and asset management
subject of: Dagster vs Airbyte

Airbyte
type: SoftwareApplication
language: en-US
description: Open-source ELT platform with 450+ pre-built connectors for rapid data integration
subject of: Dagster vs Airbyte

Dagster vs Airbyte — Structured Comparison Data
type: Dataset
description: Machine-readable comparison dataset for Dagster vs Airbyte. Contains 108 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
language: en-US
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
creator: A Versus B
distribution: JSON-LD knowledge graph
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json+ld
distribution: Raw comparison JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: Structured FAQ pairs JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: AI Answer API (citation-ready)
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: Related comparisons JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
variable measured: Minimum Python Version Supported
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Compatibility
variable measured: Time to First Pipeline (learning curve)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ease of Use
variable measured: Built-in Data Lineage
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Native Data Quality Checks
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Data Governance
variable measured: Deployment Configurations Supported
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Deployment
variable measured: SaaS Pricing (base tier)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: First Release Date
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Maturity
variable measured: GitHub Stars (as of 2026)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Community Adoption
variable measured: Time to First Working Pipeline (typical)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Developer Experience
variable measured: Minimum Infrastructure Cost (Monthly)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Cost
variable measured: Multi-Tenancy Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Python Version Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Compatibility
variable measured: Supported Deployment Platforms
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Deployment
variable measured: Documentation Quality (Page Count)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Learning Resources
variable measured: Time to First Workflow
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Developer Experience
variable measured: Minimum Code for Basic Workflow
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Developer Experience
variable measured: Asset Lineage Tracking Coverage
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Data Governance
variable measured: Self-Hosted Feature Parity
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Deployment
variable measured: Startup Overhead for Self-Hosted
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Infrastructure
variable measured: Enterprise Governance Features
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Enterprise
variable measured: Community GitHub Stars
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Community & Adoption
variable measured: First Release Year
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Maturity
variable measured: Available Integrations
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ecosystem
variable measured: Minimum Python Version
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Requirements
variable measured: Type Safety Feature
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Code Quality
variable measured: Setup Time (Minutes)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ease of Use
variable measured: Automatic Lineage Detection
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Managed Cloud SLA
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Production Readiness
variable measured: Pre-built Connectors
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Functionality
variable measured: Minimum Time to First Data Pipeline
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Implementation Speed
variable measured: Orchestration Complexity Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Required Technical Skill Level
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ease of Use
variable measured: Data Transformation Capabilities
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Transformation
variable measured: GitHub Stars
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Community
variable measured: Cloud Platform Pricing Model
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Cost Structure
variable measured: Asset Lineage & Observability
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Monitoring
variable measured: Built-in Orchestration Engine
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Architecture
variable measured: Cloud Pricing (per compute unit/seat)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Cost
variable measured: Primary Use Case
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Core Function
variable measured: Supported Programming Languages
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Language Support
variable measured: Data Warehouse Integrations (Native)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Integration
variable measured: Time to Competency (for SQL analysts)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Learning
variable measured: GitHub Community Stars
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Community
variable measured: Enterprise Adoption (tracked companies)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Adoption
variable measured: GitHub Stars (Community Size)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Community
variable measured: Time Since First Release
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Maturity
variable measured: Pre-Built Integrations
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ecosystem
variable measured: Built-in Data Quality Testing
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Type Safety & Validation
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Developer Experience
variable measured: Data Lineage Model
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Architecture
variable measured: Estimated Learning Curve (Hours to Productivity)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Onboarding
variable measured: Active Contributors (Monthly)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Community Activity
variable measured: Production Deployments (estimated)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Adoption
variable measured: Provider/Integration Count
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ecosystem
variable measured: Type Safety Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Developer Experience
variable measured: Community Slack Members
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Community Support
variable measured: Built-in Provider Integrations
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ecosystem
variable measured: First Official Release
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Maturity
variable measured: Native Asset Lineage Tracking
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Data Governance
variable measured: Type Safety Features
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Developer Experience
variable measured: Learning Curve Time (Average)
variable measured: Enterprise SaaS Option Available
variable measured: Maximum Daily Task Executions (Tested)
variable measured: Pre-built Data Connectors
variable measured: Minimum Learning Curve (1-10 scale)
variable measured: Time to Deploy First Integration
variable measured: Native dbt Integration
variable measured: Typical Time to Build Custom Connector
variable measured: Community Size (GitHub Stars)
is based on: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/dagster-vs-airbyte)

Dagster vs Airbyte — Attribute Category Vocabulary
type: DefinedTermSet
language: en-US
description: Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Dagster vs Airbyte.
has defined term: Compatibility
has defined term: Ease of Use
has defined term: Features
has defined term: Data Governance
has defined term: Deployment
has defined term: Pricing
has defined term: Maturity
has defined term: Community Adoption
has defined term: Developer Experience
has defined term: Cost
has defined term: Learning Resources
has defined term: Infrastructure
has defined term: Enterprise
has defined term: Community & Adoption
has defined term: Ecosystem
has defined term: Requirements
has defined term: Code Quality
has defined term: Production Readiness
has defined term: Functionality
has defined term: Implementation Speed
has defined term: Transformation
has defined term: Community
has defined term: Cost Structure
has defined term: Monitoring
has defined term: Architecture
has defined term: Core Function
has defined term: Language Support
has defined term: Integration
has defined term: Learning
has defined term: Adoption
has defined term: Onboarding
has defined term: Community Activity
has defined term: Community Support
has defined term: Performance & Scale
has defined term: Usability
has defined term: Speed
has defined term: Development
has defined term: Capabilities
has defined term: Scalability
has defined term: Licensing
has defined term: Performance
has defined term: Implementation
has defined term: Support
has defined term: Security & Compliance
has defined term: Time to Value
has defined term: Extensibility
has defined term: Complexity
has defined term: Platform Coverage
has defined term: Customization
has defined term: Transparency
has defined term: Development Model

Compatibility
type: DefinedTerm
term code: compatibility
in defined term set: Dagster vs Airbyte — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Ease of Use
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ease-of-use
in defined term set: Dagster vs Airbyte — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: features
in defined term set: Dagster vs Airbyte — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Data Governance
type: DefinedTerm
term code: data-governance
in defined term set: Dagster vs Airbyte — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Deployment
type: DefinedTerm
term code: deployment
in defined term set: Dagster vs Airbyte — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Pricing
type: DefinedTerm
term code: pricing
in defined term set: Dagster vs Airbyte — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Maturity
type: DefinedTerm
term code: maturity
in defined term set: Dagster vs Airbyte — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Community Adoption
type: DefinedTerm
term code: community-adoption
in defined term set: Dagster vs Airbyte — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Developer Experience
type: DefinedTerm
term code: developer-experience
in defined term set: Dagster vs Airbyte — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Cost
type: DefinedTerm
term code: cost
in defined term set: Dagster vs Airbyte — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Learning Resources
type: DefinedTerm
term code: learning-resources
in defined term set: Dagster vs Airbyte — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Infrastructure
type: DefinedTerm
term code: infrastructure
in defined term set: Dagster vs Airbyte — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Enterprise
type: DefinedTerm
term code: enterprise
in defined term set: Dagster vs Airbyte — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Community & Adoption
type: DefinedTerm
term code: community-&-adoption
in defined term set: Dagster vs Airbyte — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Ecosystem
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ecosystem
in defined term set: Dagster vs Airbyte — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Requirements
type: DefinedTerm
term code: requirements
in defined term set: Dagster vs Airbyte — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Code Quality
type: DefinedTerm
term code: code-quality
in defined term set: Dagster vs Airbyte — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Production Readiness
type: DefinedTerm
term code: production-readiness
in defined term set: Dagster vs Airbyte — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Functionality
type: DefinedTerm
term code: functionality
in defined term set: Dagster vs Airbyte — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Implementation Speed
type: DefinedTerm
term code: implementation-speed
in defined term set: Dagster vs Airbyte — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Transformation
type: DefinedTerm
term code: transformation
in defined term set: Dagster vs Airbyte — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Community
type: DefinedTerm
term code: community
in defined term set: Dagster vs Airbyte — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Cost Structure
type: DefinedTerm
term code: cost-structure
in defined term set: Dagster vs Airbyte — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Monitoring
type: DefinedTerm
term code: monitoring
in defined term set: Dagster vs Airbyte — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Architecture
type: DefinedTerm
term code: architecture
in defined term set: Dagster vs Airbyte — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Core Function
type: DefinedTerm
term code: core-function
in defined term set: Dagster vs Airbyte — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Language Support
type: DefinedTerm
term code: language-support
in defined term set: Dagster vs Airbyte — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Integration
type: DefinedTerm
term code: integration
in defined term set: Dagster vs Airbyte — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Learning
type: DefinedTerm
term code: learning
in defined term set: Dagster vs Airbyte — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Adoption
type: DefinedTerm
term code: adoption
in defined term set: Dagster vs Airbyte — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Onboarding
type: DefinedTerm
term code: onboarding
in defined term set: Dagster vs Airbyte — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Community Activity
type: DefinedTerm
term code: community-activity
in defined term set: Dagster vs Airbyte — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Community Support
type: DefinedTerm
term code: community-support
in defined term set: Dagster vs Airbyte — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Performance & Scale
type: DefinedTerm
term code: performance-&-scale
in defined term set: Dagster vs Airbyte — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Usability
type: DefinedTerm
term code: usability
in defined term set: Dagster vs Airbyte — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Speed
type: DefinedTerm
term code: speed
in defined term set: Dagster vs Airbyte — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Development
type: DefinedTerm
term code: development
in defined term set: Dagster vs Airbyte — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Capabilities
type: DefinedTerm
term code: capabilities
in defined term set: Dagster vs Airbyte — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Scalability
type: DefinedTerm
term code: scalability
in defined term set: Dagster vs Airbyte — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Licensing
type: DefinedTerm
term code: licensing
in defined term set: Dagster vs Airbyte — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Performance
type: DefinedTerm
term code: performance
in defined term set: Dagster vs Airbyte — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Implementation
type: DefinedTerm
term code: implementation
in defined term set: Dagster vs Airbyte — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Support
type: DefinedTerm
term code: support
in defined term set: Dagster vs Airbyte — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Security & Compliance
type: DefinedTerm
term code: security-&-compliance
in defined term set: Dagster vs Airbyte — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Time to Value
type: DefinedTerm
term code: time-to-value
in defined term set: Dagster vs Airbyte — Attribute Category Vocabulary
name: Time-to-Value

Extensibility
type: DefinedTerm
term code: extensibility
in defined term set: Dagster vs Airbyte — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Complexity
type: DefinedTerm
term code: complexity
in defined term set: Dagster vs Airbyte — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Platform Coverage
type: DefinedTerm
term code: platform-coverage
in defined term set: Dagster vs Airbyte — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Customization
type: DefinedTerm
term code: customization
in defined term set: Dagster vs Airbyte — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Transparency
type: DefinedTerm
term code: transparency
in defined term set: Dagster vs Airbyte — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Development Model
type: DefinedTerm
term code: development-model
in defined term set: Dagster vs Airbyte — Attribute Category Vocabulary

faq
type: FAQPage
language: en-US
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
date modified: 2026-07-08T10:58:20.321Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
is part of: dagster-vs-airbyte)
main entity: When should I use Dagster vs Airbyte?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Use Dagster when you need sophisticated orchestration, complex multi-step transformations, conditional logic, or dynamic pipelines with full Python control. Use Airbyte when your primary goal is rapidly moving data from external sources to your warehouse using pre-built connectors with minimal transformation complexity.
    language: en-US
main entity: Can Dagster and Airbyte work together?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Yes. Many teams use Airbyte for ELT data movement (Extract-Load) and Dagster for orchestrating downstream transformations, quality checks, and complex workflows. Dagster can orchestrate Airbyte jobs as tasks within larger pipelines.
    language: en-US
main entity: How many connectors does each platform support?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Airbyte offers 450+ certified connectors covering major SaaS and data platforms. Dagster has ~50 built-in integrations but emphasizes custom connector development via Python, supporting any data source through code.
    language: en-US
main entity: Which is better for non-technical users?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Airbyte is significantly more accessible for non-technical users with its visual UI and no-code connector configuration. Dagster requires Python programming knowledge and is designed for data engineers and software engineers.
    language: en-US
main entity: Can I do complex transformations in Airbyte?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Airbyte focuses on ELT and provides basic normalization. For complex transformations, integrate it with dbt, SQL, or Python transformation layers. Dagster has advanced transformation capabilities built-in via Python and dbt integration.
    language: en-US

How to Choose Between Dagster and Airbyte
type: HowTo
description: Dagster is a data orchestration platform designed for complex workflow management and data pipelines with Python-first development, while Airbyte is an ELT platform focused on moving data from sources to destinations with low-code connectors. Dagster excels at orchestration complexity; Airbyte excels at rapid connector-based data movement.
language: en-US
total time: PT3M
step: Consider: Primary Use Case
step: Consider: Pre-built Connectors
step: Consider: Development Approach
step: Consider: Orchestration Capabilities
step: Consider: Data Transformation Focus
step: Consider: Learning Curve for Developers
step: Consider: Connector Development Effort
tool: A Versus B Comparison Guide
tip: HowToTip
  text: Choose Dagster if you need sophisticated workflow orchestration, complex data transformations, or dynamic pipeline logic with strong Python integration and dbt support. Choose Airbyte if your priority is rapidly deploying pre-built ELT connectors with minimal coding, moving data from 450+ sources to cloud data warehouses, and you need a low-code solution for data engineers with varying technical backgrounds.

Consider: Primary Use Case
type: HowToStep
position: 1
text: Primary Use Case: Dagster has Data orchestration & workflow management, while Airbyte has ELT data integration & movement.

Consider: Pre-built Connectors
type: HowToStep
position: 2
text: Pre-built Connectors: Dagster has 50+ connectors, while Airbyte has 450+ connectors.

Consider: Development Approach
type: HowToStep
position: 3
text: Development Approach: Dagster has Python-first, code-based, while Airbyte has Low-code UI with YAML config.

Consider: Orchestration Capabilities
type: HowToStep
position: 4
text: Orchestration Capabilities: Dagster has Enterprise-grade with dynamic pipelines, while Airbyte has Basic scheduling and triggering.

Consider: Data Transformation Focus
type: HowToStep
position: 5
text: Data Transformation Focus: Dagster has Advanced (dbt integration, custom logic), while Airbyte has Limited (normalization only).

Consider: Learning Curve for Developers
type: HowToStep
position: 6
text: Learning Curve for Developers: Dagster has Moderate (requires Python knowledge), while Airbyte has Shallow (UI-driven, no-code option).

Consider: Connector Development Effort
type: HowToStep
position: 7
text: Connector Development Effort: Dagster has High (requires custom Python coding), while Airbyte has Low (visual connector builder).

claimreview
type: ClaimReview
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
claim reviewed: Dagster vs Airbyte
review body: Dagster is a data orchestration platform designed for complex workflow management and data pipelines with Python-first development, while Airbyte is an ELT platform focused on moving data from sources to destinations with low-code connectors. Dagster excels at orchestration complexity; Airbyte excels at rapid connector-based data movement.
review rating: Rating
  rating: 5
  worst rating: 1
  best rating: 5
  alternate name: Verified Comparison
author: A Versus B
item reviewed: Dagster vs Airbyte

Data Lineage Model
type: PropertyValue
value: Dagster: Asset-centric with lineage tracking | Airbyte: N/A

Estimated Learning Curve (Hours to Productivity)
type: PropertyValue
value: Dagster: 40-60 hours | Airbyte: N/A

Active Contributors (Monthly)
type: PropertyValue
value: Dagster: 40+ | Airbyte: N/A

Production Deployments (estimated)
type: PropertyValue
value: Dagster: 500+ | Airbyte: N/A

Provider/Integration Count
type: PropertyValue
value: Dagster: ~50 | Airbyte: N/A

Type Safety Support
type: PropertyValue
value: Dagster: Strong (compile-time + runtime) | Airbyte: N/A

Community Slack Members
type: PropertyValue
value: Dagster: 2,500+ | Airbyte: N/A

Built-in Provider Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value: Dagster: 50+ | Airbyte: N/A

First Official Release
type: PropertyValue
value: Dagster: 2018 | Airbyte: N/A

Native Asset Lineage Tracking
type: PropertyValue
value: Dagster: Full asset-level lineage | Airbyte: N/A

Type Safety Features
type: PropertyValue
value: Dagster: First-class type definitions | Airbyte: N/A

Learning Curve Time (Average)
type: PropertyValue
value: Dagster: 3-4 weeks to proficiency | Airbyte: N/A

Enterprise SaaS Option Available
type: PropertyValue
value: Dagster: Dagster Cloud (official) | Airbyte: N/A

Maximum Daily Task Executions (Tested)
type: PropertyValue
value: Dagster: 100K+ (typical deployments) | Airbyte: N/A

Pre-built Data Connectors
type: PropertyValue
value: Dagster: 50+ connectors | Airbyte: 450+ connectors
value reference: Airbyte

Minimum Learning Curve (1-10 scale)
type: PropertyValue
value: Dagster: 7/10 (Python required) | Airbyte: 3/10 (UI-driven)
value reference: Airbyte

Time to Deploy First Integration
type: PropertyValue
value: Dagster: 24-48 hours (development needed) | Airbyte: 1-2 hours (pre-built connector)
value reference: Airbyte

Native dbt Integration
type: PropertyValue
value: Dagster: Full native integration | Airbyte: Limited via custom connectors

Typical Time to Build Custom Connector
type: PropertyValue
value: Dagster: 5-10 days | Airbyte: 2-3 days (visual builder)
value reference: Airbyte

Community Size (GitHub Stars)
type: PropertyValue
value: Dagster: 9,200+ stars | Airbyte: 13,500+ stars
value reference: Airbyte

Starting Price (Monthly)
type: PropertyValue
value: Dagster: N/A | Airbyte: $0 (open-source)

Monthly Cost (Small Organization)
type: PropertyValue
value: Dagster: N/A | Airbyte: $0 (self-hosted) or $100+

Native Transformation Language Support
type: PropertyValue
value: Dagster: N/A | Airbyte: SQL, dbt, Python (limited)

AWS Service Integration Points
type: PropertyValue
value: Dagster: N/A | Airbyte: 3-5 native

Maximum Concurrent Jobs Supported
type: PropertyValue
value: Dagster: N/A | Airbyte: Unlimited (self-hosted dependent)

Open-Source Availability
type: PropertyValue
value: Dagster: N/A | Airbyte: Yes (ELv2 license)

Minimum Monthly Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Dagster: N/A | Airbyte: $0 (open-source) / $500 (cloud)

Minimum Sync Frequency
type: PropertyValue
value: Dagster: N/A | Airbyte: Real-time (CDC) or 1+ min

Setup Time (Typical)
type: PropertyValue
value: Dagster: N/A | Airbyte: 30-120 (self-hosted) / 5-15 (cloud)

Deployment Models
type: PropertyValue
value: Dagster: N/A | Airbyte: Self-hosted, Cloud, Hybrid

Transformation Capability
type: PropertyValue
value: Dagster: N/A | Airbyte: dbt + Python/SQL + APIs

Enterprise Support Included
type: PropertyValue
value: Dagster: N/A | Airbyte: Paid add-on (community default)

Compliance Certifications
type: PropertyValue
value: Dagster: N/A | Airbyte: SOC 2 (cloud), depends on self-hosting

Setup Time (Simple Pipeline)
type: PropertyValue
value: Dagster: N/A | Airbyte: 2-3 days

Starting Cost (Monthly SaaS)
type: PropertyValue
value: Dagster: N/A | Airbyte: $99-199/month

Open Source License
type: PropertyValue
value: Dagster: N/A | Airbyte: Proprietary core + BSL source-available

Community Size
type: PropertyValue
value: Dagster: N/A | Airbyte: 50,000+

Deployment Options
type: PropertyValue
value: Dagster: N/A | Airbyte: Self-hosted, cloud, hybrid

Enterprise SLA Support Available
type: PropertyValue
value: Dagster: N/A | Airbyte: Yes (dedicated + SLA)

Open Source Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Dagster: N/A | Airbyte: Free (Community Edition)

Cloud SaaS Starter Price
type: PropertyValue
value: Dagster: N/A | Airbyte: $100/month

Ecosystem Packages
type: PropertyValue
value: Dagster: N/A | Airbyte: 100+ custom connectors

Time to First Data Load
type: PropertyValue
value: Dagster: N/A | Airbyte: 5-15 (UI setup)

SQL Knowledge Required
type: PropertyValue
value: Dagster: N/A | Airbyte: Minimal (1/5)

GitHub Stars (2026)
type: PropertyValue
value: Dagster: N/A | Airbyte: 11,000+

Number of Pre-built Connectors
type: PropertyValue
value: Dagster: N/A | Airbyte: 350+ connectors

Starting Monthly Cost (Single Connector)
type: PropertyValue
value: Dagster: N/A | Airbyte: $0 (self-hosted), $50-150 (cloud)

Average Time to Production
type: PropertyValue
value: Dagster: N/A | Airbyte: 3-6 weeks

Enterprise Support SLA
type: PropertyValue
value: Dagster: N/A | Airbyte: Community (best-effort), paid enterprise optional

Custom Connector Development Complexity
type: PropertyValue
value: Dagster: N/A | Airbyte: Low-code Python/Java SDK

Source Code Access
type: PropertyValue
value: Dagster: N/A | Airbyte: Open-source (Apache 2.0)

Data Lineage Tracking
type: PropertyValue
value: Dagster: N/A | Airbyte: Available in cloud/enterprise plans

Minimum Monthly Cost (Self-Managed)
type: PropertyValue
value: Dagster: N/A | Airbyte: $0 (self-hosted)

Setup Time (Managed Cloud)
type: PropertyValue
value: Dagster: N/A | Airbyte: 30-60 minutes

Data Catalog Built-in
type: PropertyValue
value: Dagster: N/A | Airbyte: No (requires Collibra, Alation, etc.)

Open Source
type: PropertyValue
value: Dagster: N/A | Airbyte: Yes (100% open source)

Multi-cloud Deployment Support
type: PropertyValue
value: Dagster: N/A | Airbyte: Yes (AWS, GCP, Azure, on-prem)

Typical Setup Complexity (1-5 scale)
type: PropertyValue
value: Dagster: N/A | Airbyte: 3-4 (self-hosted) / 2 (cloud)

Typical Data Transfer Sync Latency
type: PropertyValue
value: Dagster: N/A | Airbyte: 300-600 (batch)

SpeakableSpecification
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Dagster — Wikipedia
type: CreativeWork

Airbyte — Wikipedia
type: CreativeWork

Compare Dagster vs Airbyte
type: Action
additional type: CompareAction
target: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/dagster-vs-airbyte)
object: Dagster
object: Airbyte

Learning Curve Time (Average)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Developer Experience

Enterprise SaaS Option Available
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Deployment

Maximum Daily Task Executions (Tested)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance & Scale

Pre-built Data Connectors
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Integration

Minimum Learning Curve (1-10 scale)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Usability

Time to Deploy First Integration
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Speed

Native dbt Integration
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Transformation

Typical Time to Build Custom Connector
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Development

Community Size (GitHub Stars)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Community

Starting Price (Monthly)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Monthly Cost (Small Organization)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Native Transformation Language Support
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Capabilities

AWS Service Integration Points
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ecosystem

Maximum Concurrent Jobs Supported
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Scalability

Open-Source Availability
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Licensing

Minimum Monthly Cost
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Minimum Sync Frequency
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Setup Time (Typical)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Implementation

Deployment Models
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Infrastructure

Transformation Capability
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Enterprise Support Included
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Support

Compliance Certifications
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Security & Compliance

Setup Time (Simple Pipeline)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Time to Value

Starting Cost (Monthly SaaS)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Open Source License
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Licensing

Community Size
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Community

Deployment Options
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Infrastructure

Enterprise SLA Support Available
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Support

Open Source Cost
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Cloud SaaS Starter Price
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Ecosystem Packages
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Extensibility

Time to First Data Load
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Time-to-Value

SQL Knowledge Required
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Complexity

GitHub Stars (2026)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Community

Number of Pre-built Connectors
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Platform Coverage

Starting Monthly Cost (Single Connector)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Average Time to Production
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Implementation

Enterprise Support SLA
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Support

Custom Connector Development Complexity
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Customization

Source Code Access
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Transparency

Data Lineage Tracking
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Data Governance

Minimum Monthly Cost (Self-Managed)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Setup Time (Managed Cloud)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Implementation

Data Catalog Built-in
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Open Source
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Development Model

Multi-cloud Deployment Support
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Architecture

Typical Setup Complexity (1-5 scale)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ease of Use

Typical Data Transfer Sync Latency
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance