What is the main difference between Apache Airflow and Mage?

Apache Airflow and Mage are both workflow orchestration tools but differ in their approach, features, and target audience. Compare their GitHub stats, technology stack, and community adoption to make the best choice.

Which is better: Apache Airflow or Mage?

The choice between Apache Airflow and Mage depends on your specific needs, technical requirements, and team preferences. Both are quality open source solutions with active communities.

Can I migrate from Apache Airflow to Mage?

Migration between Apache Airflow and Mage is possible but requires careful planning. Consider data export/import capabilities, feature parity, and potential workflow changes.

Openlane – Open-source, developer-first platform for automated compliance, risk management, and built-in Trust Center.

Learn more

Apache Airflow vs Mage

Learn how Apache Airflow and Mage differ in their key features, development activity, technology stack and community adoption, so you can decide which of these workflow orchestration tools is best for you.

Apache Airflow

Python-based workflow orchestration platform for scheduling, monitoring, and managing data pipelines at any scale.

Visit Apache Airflow Read more

47,279stars+293(+0.6%)

Last 30 days

Last commit
7 hours ago
Repository age
12 years
Version
3.3.2
License
Apache-2.0
Self-hosted
Yes
Repository
apache/airflow

Mage

Open-source data pipeline platform for effortless data integration, transformation, and orchestration using Python, SQL, and R.

Visit Mage Read more

8,837stars+11(+0.1%)

Last 30 days

Last commit
3 days ago
Repository age
4 years
Version
0.9.80
License
Apache-2.0
Self-hosted
Yes
Repository
mage-ai/mage-ai

Detailed Comparison

Apache Airflow appears to have several advantages over Mage, particularly in popularity, growth and maturity. Consider your specific needs regarding popularity, growth, activity, maturity, licensing and features when making your decision.

Apache Airflow wins

Community & Popularity

Apache Airflow significantly outpaces Mage in community adoption with 47,279 stars compared to 8,837 stars on GitHub. This 5.4x difference suggests Apache Airflow has a much larger and more active community. In terms of developer contributions, Apache Airflow has 18,151 forks, indicating strong developer engagement.

Apache Airflow wins

Growth Momentum

Apache Airflow is growing faster, adding 293 stars in the last 30 days (+0.6%) against adding 11 stars for Mage (+0.1%). Apache Airflow is both larger and pulling further ahead.

Comparable

Development Activity

Both projects show recent activity, with Apache Airflow last updated 7 hours ago and Mage 3 days ago.

Apache Airflow wins

Project Maturity

Apache Airflow has been in development longer, starting 12 years ago, compared to Mage which began 4 years ago. This 7.2-year head start suggests Apache Airflow may have more mature features and established processes.

Comparable

Licensing

Both projects use the Apache-2.0 license, providing identical terms for usage and distribution.

Comparable

Use Cases & Features

Both tools serve similar use cases in Workflow Orchestration. However, they also have distinct specializations: Mage extends into ETL & Data Integration.

Comparable