Dify vs Langflow
Short answer
Dify: Visual platform for building LLM apps, RAG chatbots, agents and workflows. Langflow: Visual builder for AI agents and RAG flows that you can deploy as APIs or MCP servers. Both are in our AI app & agent builders category.
Choose Langflow if you want: cheaper to host (from €11.99/mo vs €19.99/mo), lighter official minimum (1.5 GB vs 4 GB RAM), fewer license conditions (Permissive vs Custom / conditional) and simpler deploy (one container vs a multi-container stack).
Last updated · computed from each project's official docs and live GitHub data · sources
Dify vs Langflow side by side
| Dify | Langflow | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | AI app & agent builders | AI app & agent builders |
| What it is | Visual platform for building LLM apps, RAG chatbots, agents and workflows. | Visual builder for AI agents and RAG flows that you can deploy as APIs or MCP servers. |
| License | Dify Open Source License (modified Apache-2.0) | MIT |
| License type | Custom / conditional | Permissive |
| License conditions | Commercial use is allowed, including as a backend for your own apps. Extra conditions: you may not run a multi-tenant service (one tenant = one workspace) without written permission, and you may not remove or modify the Dify logo or copyright in the frontend. | Permissive. Internal and commercial use allowed; keep the copyright notice. |
| Status | Active | Active |
| GitHub stars | 159k | 156k |
| Last commit | Oct 22, 2026 | Oct 21, 2026 |
| Latest release | 1.17.1 | v1.12.7 |
| Minimum hardware | 2 vCPU · 4 GB RAM | 1 vCPU · 1.5 GB RAM |
| Recommended hardware | Not published | 2 vCPU · 4 GB RAM |
| GPU | Not required / not stated | Not required / not stated |
| Est. server cost | from €19.99/mo | from €11.99/mo (recommended spec: €19.99/mo) |
| Deploy method | Docker Compose | Docker |
| Known gotchas | 2 listed | 2 listed |
| Details | Full Dify guide → | Full Langflow guide → |
Key differences
- License: Dify: Dify Open Source License (modified Apache-2.0) (Custom / conditional). Langflow: MIT (Permissive).
- Official hardware: Dify: minimum 2 vCPU · 4 GB RAM. Langflow: minimum 1 vCPU · 1.5 GB RAM (recommended 2 vCPU · 4 GB RAM).
- Est. server cost: Dify: from €19.99/mo. Langflow: from €11.99/mo.
- Deploy: Dify: Docker Compose · multi-container stack. Langflow: Docker · single container.
- GitHub stars: Dify: 159k. Langflow: 156k.
- Last commit: Dify: Oct 22, 2026. Langflow: Oct 21, 2026.
- Latest release: Dify: 1.17.1 (Sep 10, 2026). Langflow: v1.12.7 (Oct 21, 2026).
Same for both: Category: AI app & agent builders; GPU: not required or not stated; Status: Active.
Dify vs Langflow: FAQ
Dify or Langflow: which should a small business choose?
Choose Langflow if you want: cheaper to host (from €11.99/mo vs €19.99/mo), lighter official minimum (1.5 GB vs 4 GB RAM), fewer license conditions (Permissive vs Custom / conditional) and simpler deploy (one container vs a multi-container stack).
Which is cheaper to self-host, Dify or Langflow?
Langflow: cheaper to host (from €11.99/mo vs €19.99/mo).
How much hardware do Dify and Langflow need?
Dify: minimum 2 vCPU · 4 GB RAM. Langflow: minimum 1 vCPU · 1.5 GB RAM (recommended 2 vCPU · 4 GB RAM).
What is the license difference between Dify and Langflow?
Dify: Dify Open Source License (modified Apache-2.0) (Custom / conditional). Commercial use is allowed, including as a backend for your own apps. Extra conditions: you may not run a multi-tenant service (one tenant = one workspace) without written permission, and you may not remove or modify the Dify logo or copyright in the frontend. Langflow: MIT (Permissive). Permissive. Internal and commercial use allowed; keep the copyright notice. This is a summary, not legal advice.
Is Dify or Langflow more actively maintained?
Dify: Active, last commit Oct 22, 2026. Langflow: Active, last commit Oct 21, 2026. GitHub data refreshed Oct 22, 2026.
Which is easier to deploy, Dify or Langflow?
Dify installs via Docker Compose (multi-container stack); Langflow via Docker (single container). Dify lists 2 known gotchas and Langflow lists 2; see each app page.
Related
- Dify self-hosting guide · Langflow self-hosting guide
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Sources
- Dify GitHub repository: github.com/langgenius/dify
- Dify documentation, Dify hardware requirements: docs.dify.ai/en/self-host/deploy/quick-start/docker-compose
- Dify license: github.com/langgenius/dify/blob/main/LICENSE
- Dify deploy instructions: github.com/langgenius/dify#quick-start
- Langflow GitHub repository: github.com/langflow-ai/langflow
- Langflow documentation, Langflow deploy instructions: docs.langflow.org/deployment-docker
- Langflow license: github.com/langflow-ai/langflow/blob/main/LICENSE
- Langflow hardware requirements: docs.langflow.org/deployment-prod-best-practices
- Hetzner Cloud pricing used for cost estimates (read 2026-10-22): www.hetzner.com/cloud/regular-performance
- GitHub REST API (stars, commits, releases): docs.github.com/en/rest
Every value is generated from the same verified data as the app pages. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.