Dify is an open-source LLM application development platform for building AI chatbots, agents, and workflows with a visual no-code interface. It supports RAG pipelines, multi-model routing (OpenAI, Claude, Mistral, Llama), prompt engineering, and deployment — all without requiring deep coding. Teams use Dify to build internal AI tools, customer support bots, and AI workflows faster than writing from scratch.
Dify
Open-source LLM app development platform with RAG and agents.
Best for: Development teams wanting an open-source, self-hostable platform for building and deploying AI applications.
- Free plan
4.5/5 ratingEditorial score 87/100dify.ai
Starts at
Free (200 OpenAI calls)
Get started free
Opens the official website in a new tab.
Editorial score87/100
The editorial note
What to know about Dify
Is it right for you?
Who Dify suits
Choose it if
- Development teams wanting an open-source, self-hostable platform for building and deploying AI applications.
Look elsewhere if
- Teams wanting a fully managed SaaS LLM platform with no infrastructure management — Botpress, Voiceflow, or LangSmith Cloud offer fully managed options
What you get
Key features
- Visual AI workflow and chatbot builder
- RAG knowledge base integration
- 50+ LLM model support
- Agent mode for tool-using AI
- Prompt engineering with versioning
- API and embedding deployment
- Observability and evaluation tools
- Self-hosting with Docker
Works with
Integrations9
What it costs
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Sandbox | Free (200 OpenAI calls)Billed monthly | Self-hosted or cloud sandbox with 200 OpenAI calls included |
| Professional | $59 / monthBilled monthly | 5,000 message credits, 50 apps, and team workspace features |
| Team | $159 / monthBilled monthly | Unlimited apps, log history, and 10 team members |
Prices are recorded from the vendor's public pricing page and can change. Check before you buy.
The trade-off
Pros and cons
Pros
- Open-source and self-hostable — full control over data and deployment
- Visual workflow builder for complex multi-step AI pipelines without code
- Support for 50+ LLMs: GPT-4o, Claude, Gemini, Mistral, and local models
- Built-in RAG pipeline for connecting knowledge bases to AI models
- Thousands of GitHub stars and active community development
Cons
- Self-hosting requires DevOps knowledge for production deployments
- Visual builder can become complex for advanced multi-agent workflows
- Fewer pre-built integrations compared to n8n or Zapier for non-AI workflows
- Documentation quality varies as the product evolves rapidly
Quick read
At a glance
- Category
- AI Tools
- Pricing model
- Freemium
- Entry plan
- Free (200 OpenAI calls)
- Free plan
- Available
- Free trial
- Not listed
- Website
- dify.ai
The verdict
Our take on Dify
The best open-source alternative to commercial AI app platforms — self-hosting and RAG capabilities are excellent.
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