What is Flowise?
Flowise is an open-source visual builder for LLM agents and RAG chatbots, with drag-and-drop nodes instead of writing LangChain code. It's bought by developers and small teams who want to self-host on their own infra but skip the boilerplate. The managed cloud tier exists for people who don't want to run Docker themselves.
Workflow automation platforms that connect business apps and reduce repetitive manual handoffs.
See the full Automation guide to compare more tools, buyer criteria, and related workflows.
Use cases to evaluate
Prototype a custom RAG chatbot before writing production code
Self-host an internal AI assistant on your own VPC
Build multi-agent workflows without LangChain boilerplate
Expose visual flows as API endpoints for your app
Fit to evaluate
Developers who want visual building plus self-hosting
Small teams prototyping LLM apps quickly
Privacy-conscious shops avoiding vendor lock-in
Open-source devs extending with custom nodes
Business fit
Right for you if you're a developer who wants to prototype agent workflows visually but keep full control by self-hosting (it's MIT-licensed on GitHub). Skip if you need non-technical operators to build and own flows, or if you want polished governance, evals, and SSO out of the box. The 100-prediction free cloud tier is really just for kicking the tires.
How to evaluate Flowise
Use this category when disconnected systems, missed follow-up, or manual handoffs are slowing operations.
Confirm the exact workflow
Map Flowise to one concrete workflow first, such as prototype a custom rag chatbot before writing production code. Avoid buying before the owner, trigger, output, and success metric are clear.
Check category fit
Map the trigger, action, owner, and failure path before choosing a tool.
Compare practical alternatives
Shortlist Flowise against Zapier, Make.com, n8n so the decision is based on fit, effort, and workflow ownership rather than brand recognition alone.
Validate cost and rollout effort
Self-hosted is free and open source. Cloud tiers: Free $0 (2 flows, 100 predictions/month, 5MB storage). Starter $35/mo (unlimited flows, 10K predictions, 1GB). Pro $65/mo (50K predictions, 10GB, multiple users). Also confirm implementation time, support needs, and whether the medium setup matches your team.
Compare Flowise with alternatives
Use this quick comparison before booking demos or moving data into a new system.
| Primary workflow | Prototype a custom RAG chatbot before writing production code, Self-host an internal AI assistant on your own VPC |
|---|---|
| Best-fit team | Developers who want visual building plus self-hosting, Small teams prototyping LLM apps quickly |
| Implementation effort | Medium setup and maintenance profile |
| Pricing check | Free plan + paid plans |
| Closest alternatives | ZapierMake.comn8nRelay.app |
Flowise pricing
| Model | Free plan + paid plans |
|---|---|
| Snapshot | Self-hosted is free and open source. Cloud tiers: Free $0 (2 flows, 100 predictions/month, 5MB storage). Starter $35/mo (unlimited flows, 10K predictions, 1GB). Pro $65/mo (50K predictions, 10GB, multiple users). |
| Checked |
Common questions about Flowise
What is Flowise?
Flowise is an open-source visual builder for LLM agents and RAG chatbots, with drag-and-drop nodes instead of writing LangChain code. It's bought by developers and small teams who want to self-host on their own infra but skip the boilerplate. The managed cloud tier exists for people who don't want to run Docker themselves.
What is Flowise used for?
Common use cases: Prototype a custom RAG chatbot before writing production code; Self-host an internal AI assistant on your own VPC; Build multi-agent workflows without LangChain boilerplate; Expose visual flows as API endpoints for your app.
How much does Flowise cost?
Self-hosted is free and open source. Cloud tiers: Free $0 (2 flows, 100 predictions/month, 5MB storage). Starter $35/mo (unlimited flows, 10K predictions, 1GB). Pro $65/mo (50K predictions, 10GB, multiple users).
Who is Flowise best for?
Flowise fits Developers who want visual building plus self-hosting, Small teams prototyping LLM apps quickly, Privacy-conscious shops avoiding vendor lock-in, Open-source devs extending with custom nodes. Right for you if you're a developer who wants to prototype agent workflows visually but keep full control by self-hosting (it's MIT-licensed on GitHub). Skip if you need non-technical operators to build and own flows, or if you want polished governance, evals, and SSO out of the box. The 100-prediction free cloud tier is really just for kicking the tires.
What are alternatives to Flowise?
Common alternatives to Flowise include Zapier, Make.com, n8n, Relay.app, Workato, Lindy.