Astro vs. Amazon
Managed Workflows for Apache Airflow® (MWAA)
Airflow infrastructure automation is not enough to reliably deliver your data. Learn how Astro, a fully managed and supported Airflow service, can help.
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Tasks on Astro start over 3x faster than MWAA.
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 10,000 tasks running on Airflow version 2.8.1.
Astro and AWS MWAA Comparison |  |  |
|---|---|---|
Elastic Infrastructure at Scale | ||
Scale to Zero DeploymentsSchedule zero-cost hibernation to optimize development flexibility and cost savings on deployments. |  | Limited |
Task-optimized Worker QueuesAssign tasks to specific worker sets based on computational needs for optimized resource utilization. | |  |
Dynamic Worker AutoscalingWorkers 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. | | |
Ephemeral StorageTemporary storage allocated for task execution, automatically cleaned up once the task or container lifecycle ends. | | |
Accelerated Developer Productivity | ||
Dedicated CLISpin up Airflow locally to run, parse, debug, and test DAGs in a dedicated environment with Docker or Podman. | | |
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 DeploysAutomatically deploy branches to development Deployments using a CI/CD pipeline. | | |
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 ManagementA flexible, dedicated console for managing Airflow secrets and support for custom secrets stores. | | Limited |
Dedicated APIAutomate all parts of your Airflow operations, including infrastructure management via Terraform. | | Limited |
Deployment RollbacksEasily revert Airflow deployments to any previous version, allowing quick rollbacks of problematic changes, including upgrades. | | |
Multi-Tenant AirflowEmpower teams to efficiently manage isolated Airflow environments with custom roles, organizational dashboards, and support for multi-cloud deployments, maximizing resource utilization and operational efficiency. | | |
Seamless In-Place Airflow UpgradesUpgrade Airflow while preserving DAGs, configurations, and data to minimize downtime and data loss risks. | | |
First-class dbt IntegrationExecute dbt Core within Airflow, transforming projects into Task Groups or complete DAGs, with full visibility and control over the elements of your DBT project and models from within your Airflow environment. | | |
Upgrade UtilitiesProactively identify and address common pitfalls and issues pre- and post-upgrade. | | |
Visibility and Reporting | ||
Cross Deployment VisibilityView all Airflow deployments across clouds in a single interface. | | |
DAG Visibility Across EnvironmentsGain visibility into DAGs across multiple environments in one view. | | |
Data-Centric AlertingConfigure alerts based on SLA status, DAG run and task states, receiving real-time notifications for proactive monitoring. Supports both pre-existing Airflow alerts and SLA-based custom alerts for proactive monitoring. | | |
ListenersWrite custom code that executes when specific events occur anywhere in your Airflow instance. | | |
Organizational ReportingTrack Airflow versions, operator usage, and other key metrics across environments. | | |
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. | | |
Private NetworkingEstablish secure connections by VPC peering directly with your private networks. | | Limited |
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. | | |
Committer-led Support | ||
24x7x365 Airflow 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. | | |
SLA for AirflowMeet SLAs tied to your critical data workflows. | | |
Our per deployment costs were cut in half relative to AWS MWAA. Additionally it greatly increases ease of use, so non-engineering teams can make use of it, and customer service is excellent.
Verified Astro User
I've worked with Airflow for the last 6 years, both administering it myself and using managed services like AWS MWAA. In my opinion Astronomer is the only feasible managed service currently available for Airflow.
Verified Astro User
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
Choose Astro if you want to:
Deliver your data reliably.
Astro ensures that your data is delivered reliably and on time. Astro’s 99.5% SLA mitigates downtime risk, while MWAA’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 MWAA, ensuring tasks are efficiently assigned to worker queues for optimal resource use.
Scale dynamically.
Astro provides advanced, customizable scaling with the KubernetesExecutor, dynamically adapting to growing data needs across multi-cloud environments.
Get expert support at every step.
With Astronomer’s Professional Services, companies get expert assistance migrating workflows, setting up environments, and ongoing Airflow support and training.
Customer 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.
FAQs
I’m using MWAA today. How easy is it to migrate from MWAA 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 MWAA?
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. Amazon MWAA uses a pay-as-you-go model, starting at $0.49/hr, with pricing scaling up based on environment usage and additional resources. Learn more about Astro pricing and product tiers here.
