Deploy and Host Managed Windmill Service with one click on Railway

Windmill is an open-source automation and workflow orchestration platform available on Windmill GitHub. It provides a fast, secure, and flexible environment for running scripts, automating tasks, and integrating APIs. With hosting windmill docker, you can deploy Windmill seamlessly on Railway and build automations without worrying about infrastructure.

About Hosting Windmill on Railway (Self Hosting Windmill on Railway)

Self-hosting Windmill ensures you retain full control of your automations, scripts, and sensitive data. Instead of relying on third-party cloud providers, you can configure Windmill software exactly to your needs. Using Windmill.dev and Docker, deployment becomes simple, Railway automates scaling, health checks, and environment setup so you can focus on workflows, not servers.

Why Deploy Managed Windmill Service on Railway

Deploying Windmill with Docker on Railway gives you:

• Zero-maintenance setup – no manual provisioning or server tuning.
• Automatic scaling – Railway adjusts resources based on usage.
• Secure containers – Run Windmill inside managed Docker environments.
• Ease of use – Click-to-deploy templates make automation accessible to everyone.

Railway vs DigitalOcean

With DigitalOcean, you’d manage droplets, firewall rules, and OS updates. On Railway, you just deploy Windmill docker in a few clicks with no sysadmin overhead.

Railway vs Linode

Linode requires detailed server setup and patching. Railway automates patching, SSL, and scaling while you focus on building Windmill automations.

Railway vs Vultr

Vultr expects manual configuration for Docker environments. Railway provides a simple UI and CI/CD integration for seamless Windmill application deployment.

Railway vs AWS Lightsail

Lightsail introduces complexity with networking and scaling. Railway removes friction with built-in orchestration and health monitoring for Windmill containers.

Common Use Cases for Windmill

Here are 5 practical uses for Windmill automation:

1. API Integrations – Connect services like Slack, GitHub, or Notion with automated workflows.
2. Data Processing – Run recurring scripts for ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) pipelines.
3. Task Scheduling – Automate repetitive jobs like report generation or email notifications.
4. AI-Powered Workflows – Combine Windmill AI scripts with external models for intelligent automation.
5. CI/CD Pipelines – Orchestrate development workflows for testing and deployments.

Dependencies for Windmill Hosted on Railway

To deploy Windmill with Docker on Railway, you need:

• Postgres Database – for workflow persistence and user data.
• Redis (optional) – for task queue management.
• Docker Environment – provided natively by Railway.

Deployment Dependencies

Railway manages your Postgres and Docker runtime automatically, so you don’t need to manually configure servers.

Implementation Details

Environment variables typically include:

DATABASE_URL=postgresql://${{Postgres.USER}}:${{Postgres.PASSWORD}}@${{Postgres.HOST}}:${{Postgres.PORT}}/${{Postgres.DATABASE}}
WINDMILL_PUBLIC_URL=https://${{RAILWAY_PUBLIC_DOMAIN}}

How does Windmill Compare to Alternatives?

When considering Windmill, it’s helpful to see how it stacks up against other popular automation platforms:

Windmill vs Temporal

Windmill is lightweight, script-friendly, and ideal for small to medium teams that need quick automation. Temporal is more enterprise-grade and geared towards companies managing very large distributed systems.

Windmill vs Airflow

Apache Airflow is widely used for data engineering pipelines but is notoriously complex to deploy and scale. Windmill simplifies this process with hosting Windmill Docker, offering faster setup and fewer dependencies.

Windmill vs N8N

N8N uses a drag-and-drop interface for building node-based workflows, making it great for non-developers. Windmill, on the other hand, appeals to developers who prefer writing scripts in Python, Node.js, or Go. N8N emphasizes visual simplicity, while Windmill offers deeper control and customization.

Windmill vs Huginn

Huginn automates online tasks like monitoring RSS feeds or sending notifications. While powerful for niche use cases, it lacks the extensibility and language support of Windmill. Windmill is broader, supporting Windmill AI and integrations with APIs, making it a more flexible alternative.

Windmill vs Zapier / Make.com

Zapier and Make.com are no-code SaaS automation tools, but they come with subscription fees and data limits. Windmill is open-source and self-hosted, offering cost savings and greater privacy. With Railway, you can deploy Windmill at a fraction of the Windmill pricing offered by SaaS competitors.

How to Use Windmill?

1. Deploy Windmill on Railway using the Docker template.
2. Access the dashboard at your Railway public domain.
3. Create scripts in Python, Node.js, or Go directly inside Windmill.
4. Schedule or trigger workflows with HTTP endpoints.
5. Monitor execution logs from the dashboard.

How to Self Host Windmill on Other VPS?

Clone the Repository

git clone https://github.com/windmill-labs/windmill.git

Install Dependencies

Ensure Docker and Postgres are installed.

Configure Environment Variables

DATABASE_URL=postgresql://user:password@localhost:5432/windmill

Run with Docker Compose

docker-compose up -d

Access the Dashboard

Visit http://your-vps-ip:8000 to manage workflows.

Features of Windmill

Windmill comes packed with features that make it ideal for modern automation:

• Multi-language scripting – Write workflows in Python, Node.js, or Go.
• Built-in scheduler – Automate tasks on a recurring basis without cron setup.
• Event-driven triggers – Start workflows from HTTP requests or external events.
• Role-based access control – Ensure secure multi-user collaboration.
• Reusable components – Save and share scripts across teams.
• Real-time monitoring – Logs and execution history for debugging workflows.
• Open-source flexibility – Extend and customize from windmill.dev.
• AI integrations – Use Windmill AI to connect scripts with LLMs or AI APIs.
• Scalable backend – Powered by Postgres, Windmill scales with your data and workload.
• Version control support – Sync workflows with Git for reproducibility.

Official Pricing of Windmill

Windmill offers two primary pricing models:

• Open-source self-hosted (Free): Available on Windmill GitHub, where you manage hosting and scaling yourself.
• Managed windmill.dev service: Starts with a free tier for small projects and scales with paid tiers offering advanced features such as team collaboration, priority support, and higher execution limits.

Enterprise users can contact Windmill for custom pricing, making it competitive for both startups and large organizations. [Updated Sep’25]

Self Hosting Windmill vs Paid Plans

• Self Hosting (via Railway): Free software with hosting cost only (typically $5–$15/month on Railway depending on usage). You manage scaling and updates but retain full control.
• Paid Windmill.dev Plans: Subscription-based with advanced features like collaboration, dedicated support, and enterprise-grade scaling. Better suited for teams who want zero maintenance.

Monthly Cost of Hosting Windmill on Railway

On Railway, expect $5–$15/month for compute plus Postgres hosting. This is significantly more affordable than SaaS plans, while giving you the freedom to configure your own environment.

FAQs

What is Windmill?

Windmill is an open-source workflow and automation platform designed to run scripts, connect APIs, and automate tasks securely.

How do I self host Windmill?

You can self host Windmill using Docker on Railway or deploy it on a VPS with Postgres.

What programming languages does Windmill support?

Windmill supports Python, Node.js (JavaScript/TypeScript), and Go for writing workflows, giving developers flexibility to use familiar languages.

Can Windmill integrate with AI services?

Yes, Windmill AI enables workflows to integrate with machine learning APIs, LLMs, and data-driven automations.

Is Windmill suitable for teams?

Yes, Windmill supports role-based access control, allowing multiple team members to collaborate securely on automations.

How much does it cost to host Windmill?

Self-hosting Windmill on Railway costs $5–$15/month, while managed Windmill.dev offers free and premium tiers based on usage.

Can I use Windmill for CI/CD?

Yes, Windmill can orchestrate builds, testing, and deployment pipelines similar to GitHub Actions or Jenkins.

What are the alternatives to Windmill?

Alternatives include Temporal, Apache Airflow, N8N, Huginn, Zapier, Make.com, and GitHub Actions, each with different strengths. Windmill stands out for its script-first, developer-friendly approach.

Does Windmill have monitoring and logging?

Yes, Windmill provides detailed execution logs, monitoring dashboards, and error tracking built into its interface.

Where can I find the Windmill source code?

The official repository is on Windmill GitHub.