Astro vs. Google Cloud Composer (GCC)
Airflow Infrastructure automation tools fall short in handling complex data operations at scale. Discover how Astro, a fully managed and supported Airflow service, ensures reliable delivery of your business-critical data.
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Let’s compare |  |  |
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Elastic Infrastructure at Scale | ||
Scale to 0 DeploymentsSchedule zero-cost hibernation to optimize development flexibility and cost savings on deployments. |  |  |
Task-optimized Worker QueuesAssign tasks to specific worker sets based on computational needs for optimized resource utilization. | | |
Dynamic WorkersWorkers automatically scale up, and back down to zero, based on the needs of your workloads. | | |
Set-up and Teardown TasksManage task resources with setup tasks for preparation and teardown tasks for dismantling, regardless of task success. | | |
High AvailabilityEnsure the dependable delivery of mission-critical data pipelines at any scale with multiple schedulers in separate availability zones. | | |
Optimized Airflow RuntimeA Docker-based runtime that enhances functionality with faster updates, task enhancements, and robust monitoring. | | |
Accelerated Developer Productivity | ||
Dedicated CLISpin up Airflow locally to run, parse, debug, and test DAGs in a dedicated environment with Docker or Podman. | | Limited |
Intuitive Cloud IDEWrite, test, and run Airflow pipelines with a cell-based user interface directly from your browser, with automated DAG generation to reduce boilerplate code. | | |
Branch-Based DeploysCreate isolated development environments for running, testing, and deploying your DAGs. | | |
Enhanced CI/CDAutomate reliable code deployment, enforce reviews, promote code across environments, and ensure testing. | | Limited |
GitHub IntegrationSimplify CI/CD by automating deployments from the UI | | |
The Astronomer RegistryEasily explore and use supported providers, modules, example DAGs, and tools within the Airflow ecosystem. | | |
Increased Operational Efficiency | ||
Advanced Connection ManagementStreamline Airflow connections setup in a centralized location with a built-in, native solution provided by a secrets backend. | | |
Dedicated APIEnable programmatic interactions and provide schemas for updating infrastructure and managing access control. | | Limited |
Deployment RollbacksEasily revert your Airflow deployments to any previous code deployment, allowing you to quickly undo any problematic changes made to your deployment, including issues with Airflow upgrades. | | |
Multi-Tenant AirflowEmpower teams to efficiently manage their own isolated Airflow environments, maximizing resource utilization and operational efficiency. | | Limited |
Seamless In-Place Airflow UpgradesUpgrade Airflow while preserving DAGs, configurations, and data to minimize downtime and data loss risks. | | |
Cosmos by AstronomerExecute dbt Core within Airflow, transforming projects into Task Groups or complete DAGs. | | |
Upgrade UtilitiesProactively identify and address common pitfalls and issues pre- and post-upgrade. | | Limited |
Visibility and Reporting | ||
Cross Deployment Visibility + HealthGain complete visibility of your DAGs and metadata across all of your Airflow deployments. | | Limited |
Data-Centric AlertingConfigure alerts based on SLA status, DAG run and task states, receiving real-time notifications for proactive monitoring. | | Limited |
ListenersWrite custom code that executes when specific events occur anywhere in your Airflow instance. | | |
Organizational ReportingGet a comprehensive overview of resource usage across all Workspaces in your organization. | | |
Enterprise-Grade Security and Governance | ||
Custom Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)Implement granular, role-based access control across workspaces, teams, and deployments. | | |
Multi-TenancyCollaborate within isolated spaces by utilizing workspaces and deployments for your DAGs. | | Limited |
Private NetworkingEstablish secure connections by VPC peering directly with your private networks. | | |
Compliance ReadinessMeet SOC 2, GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS security standards compliance. | | |
Secrets ManagementAutomate secret management across Airflow deployments, ensuring a unified interface for seamless handling of secrets. | | |
EncryptionAutomatically encrypts all data, both at rest and in transit, including databases, file systems, and network transmissions. | | |
Reuse service accounts across deploymentsReduce permissions sprawl by reusing privileged roles across Airflow deployments | | |
Committer-led Support | ||
24x7x365 SupportAccess to the world's leading Airflow experts and committers. | | |
Professional ServicesCustomize hands-on engagements to achieve your goals. | | |
Education, Enablement, and CertificationBuild Airflow expertise across your organization with diverse training and certification options. | | |
Of the three best known managed Airflow options (MWAA, Google Cloud Composer, Astronomer), Astronomer is the most streamlined and easy-to-use.
Verified Astro User
I love the easy CLI integrations, Docker-based deployments, and ease of development on Astro. These features make it a significant improvement over Google Cloud Composer.
Verified Astro User
With Astronomer we don't need to worry about the infrastructure, everything is abstracted to us. We just need to click a few times to implement a new deployment (very easy), and we are able to start doing things. This improved our team's speed, to develop new solutions, by a lot!
Verified Astro User
Why Choose Astro?
Deliver your data reliably.
Astro ensures that your data is delivered reliably and on time. Astro’s 99.5% SLA mitigates downtime risk, while GCC's SLA does not cover Apache Airflow®.
Tailor Airflow to your business.
Astro enables you to configure your Airflow environments with specificity, including 2x the worker compute power than GCC, ensuring tasks are efficiently assigned to worker queues for optimal resource use.
Scale dynamically with your workflows on Astro.
Astro provides advanced, customizable scaling that adapts dynamically to growing data needs across multi-cloud environments.
Astro supports your growth with expert services every step of the way.
With Astronomer’s Professional Services, companies get expert assistance migrating workflows, setting up environments, and ongoing Airflow support and training.
Customer Success Stories
The appeal of Astro was multifaceted. It not only promised an easier migration and maintenance process but was also up-to-date with the latest Airflow versions.
From the standpoint of stability and of being on the bleeding edge of what you can do with Airflow, Astronomer is far ahead of any other provider.
Tasks on Astro start 2x faster than GCC.
Lower mean task lag indicates better performance and more timely execution of tasks.
Mean task lag refers to the average delay between the scheduled start time and the actual start time of tasks within a workflow. The data on the left represents a scenario with 5000 tasks running on Airflow version 2.6.3.
FAQs
I’m using GCC today. How easy is it to migrate from GCC to Astro?
Migrating to Astro is designed to be straightforward and efficient. Our team provides comprehensive support throughout the process, including tools and documentation to ensure a smooth transition. For tailored guidance, Astronomer's Professional Services team is available to assist with specific migration strategies and best practices.
What's the easiest way to get started with Astro?
The best way to start with Astro is by signing up for our Developer tier, which offers a Pay-As-You-Go model. This allows you to get up and running quickly and be fully operational on your own. Alternatively, you can sign up for a trial or schedule a demo to explore our platform. We also recommend engaging with our extensive documentation and resource library, which offers tutorials and guides to help you set up your first project and understand how to maximize the platform's capabilities.
How does Astro's pricing compare to GCC?
Astro offers four product tiers with different levels of features and support to suit your team’s Airflow needs. The Developer tier offers pay-as-you-go pricing starting at $0.35/hr. Learn more about Astro pricing and product tiers here.
