Flowise vs 
Windmill
Flowise vs Windmill compared for 2026 — features, license, ease of use, performance and which one to choose. Drag-and-drop LLM flows vs Turn scripts into workflows and UIs.
Updated regularly · curated by OpenSourceAI.tech
Flowise vs Windmill at a glance
| Spec | Flowise | Windmill |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Low-code AI builder | Low-code AI builder |
| Type | Visual LLM builder | Workflow platform |
| License | Apache-2.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Runs locally | Self-hosted | Yes |
| Primary language | TypeScript | Rust |
| Ease of use | Beginner | Intermediate |
| Best for | builders who want fast visual prototyping | developer-first internal tooling |
| GitHub stars | 54.7k | — |
How Flowise and Windmill score
| Criterion | Flowise | Windmill |
|---|---|---|
| Popularity | 4.5 | n/a |
| Maintenance | 5.0 | n/a |
| Ease of use | 5.0 | 3.5 |
| Privacy | 4.5 | 5.0 |
| License freedom | 5.0 | 3.5 |
Scores are computed automatically from public signals — GitHub stars (popularity), recent commit activity (maintenance), license type (freedom), local-first design (privacy) and onboarding complexity (ease of use). Indicative, not a verdict.
What each one is
Flowise
Flowise is a drag-and-drop builder for LLM apps and agents, letting you assemble chains, tools and RAG visually on top of LangChain primitives.
- Fast drag-and-drop flow building
- Built on familiar LangChain primitives
- Quick to prototype chatbots and agents
Windmill
Windmill turns Python, TypeScript or SQL scripts into workflows, schedules and internal apps, with AI steps as first-class citizens.
- Scripts first, UI generated for you
- Very fast execution engine
- Self-hosted, no vendor lock-in
Key differences
Flowise is visual LLM builder, while Windmill is workflow platform. Their licenses differ (Apache-2.0 vs AGPL-3.0), which matters if you ship a commercial product. Flowise leans more beginner-friendly, whereas Windmill is more suited to intermediate users. They also differ in how they run (Self-hosted vs Yes). In short, Flowise fits builders who want fast visual prototyping, and Windmill fits developer-first internal tooling.
Which should you choose?
Choose Flowise for builders who want fast visual prototyping. Choose Windmill for developer-first internal tooling.
There is rarely one winner — many setups use both. The right pick depends on your hardware, your team's skills, and whether you value simplicity or control.
Frequently asked questions
Is Flowise or Windmill easier to use?
Flowise is generally the easier of the two to get started with, while Windmill rewards more setup with more control.
Are Flowise and Windmill free?
Flowise is free and open source (Apache-2.0), and Windmill is free and open source (AGPL-3.0). Neither charges for the core software.
Can I run Flowise and Windmill locally?
Flowise: self-hosted · Windmill: yes. Both can be used without sending your data to a third-party cloud where their setup allows.
Flowise vs Windmill — which should I pick in 2026?
Choose Flowise for builders who want fast visual prototyping. Choose Windmill for developer-first internal tooling.
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