Kestra vs n8n: Which Should You Self-Host?

Quick Verdict

n8n is the better fit for most self-hosters looking to automate tasks between services. Kestra is a newer, developer-oriented orchestration platform that combines YAML-based workflow definitions with a web UI — it sits between n8n’s visual simplicity and Airflow’s code-heavy approach. If you’re a developer who prefers writing workflows as code but wants a nicer UI than Airflow, Kestra is worth evaluating. For typical app-to-app automation, n8n wins on integrations and ease of use.

Overview

n8n is a visual workflow automation platform with 400+ pre-built integrations. You build workflows by connecting nodes in a browser-based editor, and it handles the execution, scheduling, and error handling. It runs as a single Node.js container.

Kestra is a declarative orchestration platform where workflows are defined in YAML. It supports plugins for various languages (Python, JavaScript, SQL, shell scripts) and can orchestrate tasks across infrastructure. Kestra provides a web UI for building, monitoring, and debugging workflows, but the workflow definition is always YAML — not a visual node graph.

Feature Comparison

Feature	Kestra	n8n
Workflow definition	YAML declarative files	Visual drag-and-drop + JSON
Interface	Web UI with YAML editor, topology view, execution logs	Visual canvas, node configuration panels
Pre-built integrations	600+ plugins (many are language runtimes, not app connectors)	400+ nodes (specific app integrations)
Integration focus	Infrastructure, databases, scripts, cloud services, data tools	SaaS tools, APIs, messaging, CRMs, productivity apps
Scheduling	Cron, event triggers, flow triggers, polling	Cron, webhook, polling, manual
Scripting	Native — Python, JavaScript, R, Julia, SQL, Shell (each in isolated containers)	Code nodes (JavaScript/Python) within visual workflow
Task isolation	Each script runs in its own Docker container	All nodes run in the n8n process
Minimum containers	2 (Kestra + PostgreSQL)	1 (n8n + optional PostgreSQL)
Minimum RAM	1-2 GB	256-512 MB
Namespace/multi-tenancy	Built-in namespaces with RBAC (Enterprise)	Folders, tags (Enterprise has RBAC)
Version control	Built-in — flows are versioned, Git sync available	Manual exports, Git sync via community tools
License	Apache 2.0	Sustainable Use License (source-available)
Backfill	Supported — replay historical executions	Not built-in

Installation Complexity

n8n is one container and a few environment variables. Production setup adds PostgreSQL.

Kestra requires two containers minimum: the Kestra server and PostgreSQL. The standalone mode (server standalone) runs scheduler, executor, and worker in a single process, which is suitable for self-hosting. The YAML-based configuration is passed through the KESTRA_CONFIGURATION environment variable or a mounted config file.

# Kestra standalone setup
services:
  kestra:
    image: kestra/kestra:v1.2.7
    ports:
      - "8080:8080"
      - "8081:8081"
    command: server standalone --worker-thread=128
    volumes:
      - kestra_data:/app/storage
      - /var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock
      - /tmp/kestra-wd:/tmp/kestra-wd
    environment:
      KESTRA_CONFIGURATION: |
        datasources:
          postgres:
            url: jdbc:postgresql://postgres:5432/kestra
            driverClassName: org.postgresql.Driver
            username: kestra
            password: kestra
        kestra:
          repository:
            type: postgres
          storage:
            type: local
            local:
              base-path: /app/storage
          queue:
            type: postgres
    depends_on:
      - postgres
    restart: unless-stopped

  postgres:
    image: postgres:16-alpine
    environment:
      POSTGRES_USER: kestra
      POSTGRES_PASSWORD: kestra
      POSTGRES_DB: kestra
    volumes:
      - postgres_data:/var/lib/postgresql/data
    restart: unless-stopped

volumes:
  kestra_data:
  postgres_data:

# n8n with PostgreSQL
services:
  n8n:
    image: n8nio/n8n:2.9.1
    ports:
      - "5678:5678"
    environment:
      DB_TYPE: postgresdb
      DB_POSTGRESDB_HOST: postgres
      DB_POSTGRESDB_DATABASE: n8n
      DB_POSTGRESDB_USER: n8n
      DB_POSTGRESDB_PASSWORD: n8n
    volumes:
      - n8n_data:/home/node/.n8n
    depends_on:
      - postgres
    restart: unless-stopped

  postgres:
    image: postgres:16-alpine
    environment:
      POSTGRES_USER: n8n
      POSTGRES_PASSWORD: n8n
      POSTGRES_DB: n8n
    volumes:
      - postgres_data:/var/lib/postgresql/data
    restart: unless-stopped

volumes:
  n8n_data:
  postgres_data:

Both require PostgreSQL in production, but Kestra also needs Docker socket access for its isolated script execution — each script task spawns a Docker container. This is powerful for isolation but means Kestra needs Docker-in-Docker or socket access.

Performance and Resource Usage

Metric	Kestra	n8n
Idle RAM	1-1.5 GB (Java-based)	150-250 MB
CPU	Medium (JVM overhead)	Low
Disk	2-5 GB (storage + database)	500 MB - 2 GB
Script isolation	Each task in its own container	In-process
Scalability	Horizontal — separate scheduler, executor, worker services	Vertical — queue mode for worker separation

Kestra is Java-based, so it has higher baseline resource consumption than n8n’s Node.js runtime. The script isolation feature (running each task in a Docker container) adds latency per task but provides stronger isolation.

Community and Support

Aspect	Kestra	n8n
GitHub stars	15,000+	65,000+
First release	2022	2019
License	Apache 2.0	Sustainable Use License
Backing	Kestra Technologies (VC-funded)	n8n GmbH (VC-funded)
Documentation	Good — growing quickly	Good — extensive node docs
Community	Slack, growing	Forum, Discord, large community node ecosystem
Update cadence	Frequent (weekly/biweekly)	Frequent (weekly)

Use Cases

Choose Kestra If…

• You prefer defining workflows as code (YAML) with version control
• You need script isolation — each Python/SQL/Shell task running in its own container
• You’re orchestrating data pipelines with mixed languages (Python, SQL, R, Shell)
• You want built-in workflow versioning and Git sync
• You need namespace-based multi-tenancy
• You want an Apache 2.0 licensed alternative to n8n

Choose n8n If…

• You want to automate connections between apps and services
• Non-developers need to build and maintain workflows
• You need 400+ pre-built app integrations (Slack, email, CRMs, etc.)
• You prefer visual workflow building over writing YAML
• You want minimal resource usage on a home server
• You’re replacing Zapier or Make

Final Verdict

n8n is the right choice for typical self-hosting automation — connecting services, reacting to events, and building workflows that non-developers can maintain. Its 400+ app-specific integrations make it the best Zapier replacement.

Kestra is a strong platform for developers who want code-first (YAML) workflow orchestration with a good UI. It’s particularly compelling for data engineering workflows where you need script isolation, multiple languages, and version-controlled pipeline definitions. Its Apache 2.0 license is also an advantage over n8n’s Sustainable Use License for organizations that care about licensing.

If you’re choosing between the two for general automation, pick n8n. If you’re orchestrating data pipelines and scripts, Kestra is a modern alternative to Airflow that’s significantly easier to self-host.

FAQ

Is Kestra a Zapier alternative?

Not directly. Kestra’s plugin ecosystem is oriented toward infrastructure and data tools, not SaaS integrations. It can call APIs via HTTP tasks, but you won’t find dedicated Slack, Gmail, or CRM nodes like n8n provides. For SaaS-to-SaaS automation, n8n or Activepieces are better fits.

Can I use Kestra without Docker socket access?

Yes, but you lose script isolation. Without Docker socket access, Kestra runs scripts in-process (process runner) instead of spawning containers. This is less isolated but simpler to set up.

Which has better monitoring and observability?

Both have solid web UIs for execution monitoring. Kestra edges ahead with built-in metrics on port 8081 (Prometheus-compatible), topology visualization, and namespace-level dashboards. n8n’s execution log is simpler but sufficient for most automation needs.

Related

• How to Self-Host n8n
• n8n vs Node-RED
• n8n vs Activepieces
• Airflow vs n8n
• Windmill vs n8n
• Best Self-Hosted Automation Tools
• Self-Hosted Alternatives to Zapier