Dify
by LangGenius · Menlo Park, USA
Open-source platform for agentic workflows and RAG apps
Reviewed by the the30top research team · Last reviewed 2026-10-27
Overview
Dify combines a drag-and-drop workflow builder, retrieval pipelines and model management in one platform, and it can run as hosted SaaS, a private enterprise deployment or a free self-hosted community edition. That range makes it popular with developers and with enterprises that need data to stay on their own infrastructure. The learning curve is steeper than pure chat-bot builders, the free Sandbox tier is small at 200 message credits, and the community edition carries its own open-source licence terms for commercial use.
Our verdict
One of the most capable open-source choices for building workflow-style agents, especially if self-hosting matters. Non-technical teams may find the setup heavier than lighter builders.
Best for
Developer-led teams and enterprises that want an open-source agent and RAG platform they can host themselves.
Avoid if
You want a quick no-setup chatbot for a website with a flat monthly price.
Pros
- Free community edition and free cloud Sandbox
- Self-hosting for teams with data control needs
- Broad model support and a plugin marketplace
Cons
- More technical than simple chatbot builders
- Sandbox credits run out quickly
- Enterprise features need a sales conversation
Key capabilities
Frequently asked questions
Is Dify free?
Yes. The community edition is free to self-host and the cloud Sandbox is free with 200 message credits. Paid cloud plans add credits, apps and seats.
Can I self-host Dify?
Yes. The community edition deploys with Docker and an enterprise edition adds SSO, multiple workspaces and support.
Which models does Dify support?
Dify lists OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, xAI and Tongyi models for its message credits, and you can switch to your own API key.