What Astronomer (Airflow) does
Astronomer provides a managed service for running Apache Airflow, an open-source platform widely used for orchestrating complex data pipelines and workflows. By offering Airflow as a service, Astronomer aims to reduce the operational overhead for data engineering teams, allowing them to automate, schedule and monitor data workflows without maintaining underlying infrastructure.
This solution fits teams that want the flexibility of Airflow but prefer not to handle upgrades, scaling, and maintenance themselves. It suits organisations building and managing data workflows across cloud and hybrid environments, helping them focus on pipeline logic rather than infrastructure.
What sets it apart
Handles all Airflow infrastructure, monitoring and upgrades, reducing day-to-day operations work.
Key features
- ◆Managed Apache Airflow hosting
- ◆Workflow scheduling and monitoring
- ◆Automatic scaling of resources
- ◆Centralised log management
- ◆Version upgrades handled
- ◆Role-based access control
What teams use it for
- Run scheduled ETL jobs
- Orchestrate multi-step data pipelines
- Monitor data workflow failures
- Automate reporting workflows
Pros
- +Removes Airflow infrastructure maintenance
- +Handles scaling and upgrades
- +Provides monitoring and security controls
- +Supports hybrid and multi-cloud setups
Cons
- −Fully reliant on Airflow's strengths and limitations
- −May require Airflow expertise to build complex DAGs
- −Platform flexibility limited to Airflow's features
Our verdict
Best for organisations committed to Apache Airflow who want its power without the hassle of self-hosting. Teams looking for orchestration with fewer dependencies or those not invested in Airflow's ecosystem may want a simpler or different solution.
Frequently asked questions
What is Astronomer’s core offering?+
Astronomer provides a managed service for running Apache Airflow, focusing on simplifying data pipeline orchestration and infrastructure management.
Does Astronomer support upgrades and scaling?+
Yes, Astronomer handles Airflow version upgrades and automatic scaling as part of its managed service.
Is Airflow expertise required to use Astronomer?+
Basic familiarity with Apache Airflow is helpful, especially when building and maintaining complex workflows (DAGs).
Where can I find detailed pricing information?+
All pricing details are available on the Astronomer pricing page on their official website.
Astronomer (Airflow) alternatives
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