Dify vs Flowise (2026)
Both are open-source LLM app builders you can self-host for free. But they serve different users: Dify is feature-rich and production-ready; Flowise is lighter and faster to set up.
Quick Verdict
Choose Dify if...
- You need advanced RAG and knowledge bases
- You have a team with multiple members
- You want multi-language UI support
- You're building production-grade AI apps
- You need fine-grained access control
Choose Flowise if...
- You have limited server resources (1 GB RAM)
- You prefer visual node-based editing
- You want the fastest possible setup
- You're a solo developer prototyping
- You're already in the LangChain ecosystem
Full Feature Comparison
| Feature | Dify | Flowise |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub Stars | ★134k+ | 32k+ |
| License | Apache 2.0 | Apache 2.0 |
| RAM Minimum | 4 GB | ★1 GB |
| Setup Complexity | Medium (docker-compose) | ★Easy (single container) |
| Interface | Modern, polished dashboard | Node-based visual editor |
| RAG / Knowledge Base | ★Advanced (multi-retrieval) | Basic |
| Multi-agent | ★Yes (complex workflows) | Yes (simple) |
| API Key Management | ★Built-in, per-app | Basic |
| Conversation History | ★Advanced (per user) | Basic |
| UI Languages | ★13+ languages | English only |
| Docker Setup | docker-compose (8 services) | ★Single docker run |
| Custom Models | Yes (many providers) | Yes (via LangChain) |
| Embeddable Chat | Yes (web widget) | Yes (embed component) |
| Team / Roles | ★Yes (workspace members) | Limited |
★ indicates the stronger option for that feature
Feature Deep Dives
RAG and Knowledge Bases
Dify RAG
- Visual knowledge base manager
- Multiple retrieval strategies
- Hybrid search (keyword + vector)
- Custom chunking rules
- Re-ranking support
- Citation display in chat
Flowise RAG
- Node-based document loaders
- Basic vector store integration
- Standard similarity search
- Default chunking settings
- Limited re-ranking options
Resource Usage
Flowise is dramatically lighter. On a 1 GB RAM VPS (like a $4/mo Hetzner CX11), Flowise runs fine. Dify cannot — it needs at least 4 GB and recommends 8 GB.
~1.5 GB
Dify idle RAM usage
~200 MB
Flowise idle RAM usage
Interface Style
Dify
Dashboard-style UI with dedicated sections for Apps, Knowledge, Tools and Settings. Workflows use a visual canvas but the overall UX is more familiar to business users.
Flowise
Entirely node-based canvas. Everything is built by dragging and connecting nodes. Developers and technical users who like visual programming tend to prefer it.
Migration Considerations
No migration path exists between Dify and Flowise. They use completely different workflow formats and data models. If you start with Flowise and later want to switch to Dify (or vice versa), you'll need to rebuild your flows manually.
Recommendation: choose based on your long-term needs. If you expect to grow into a team product with multiple members, start with Dify. If you're prototyping solo or need minimal resources, Flowise is faster to get started.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Flowise easier to self-host than Dify?
Yes. Flowise runs as a single Docker container on as little as 1 GB RAM. Dify requires docker-compose with 8 services and at least 4 GB RAM to run reliably.
Which has better RAG support?
Dify has significantly more advanced RAG capabilities: multi-retrieval strategies, hybrid search, custom chunking, re-ranking, and a visual knowledge base management UI.
Can I migrate from Flowise to Dify?
There is no automated migration tool. You would need to rebuild your flows manually in Dify's workflow editor. The architecture is fundamentally different.
Which is better for a non-technical team?
Dify. It has a more polished dashboard UI with role-based access control, conversation management, and a ready-made chat interface that non-technical users can interact with directly.