Dify
Visual platform for building LLM apps, RAG chatbots, agents and workflows.
Quick answer
Dify is a visual platform for building LLM apps, RAG chatbots, agents and workflows, listed under AI app & agent builders. A typical small-business use: customer-support bot answering from your product manuals and FAQ. Official hardware: minimum 2 vCPU · 4 GB RAM. That fits a Hetzner Cloud CPX22 server at about €19.99/month (server only, excl. VAT). License: Dify Open Source License (modified Apache-2.0), which allows internal business use.
Last updated · facts verified against official docs on · sources
Activity data comes from GitHub and was last refreshed Oct 22, 2026.
What is Dify?
Dify is a web console where you design chatbots, knowledge-base Q&A apps, agents and multi-step AI workflows, then publish them for your team or call them through an API. It connects to hosted model providers or self-hosted models, so the AI itself can stay outside or inside your network.
Where it fits in a 10–200 person business
- Customer-support bot answering from your product manuals and FAQ
- Internal assistant that drafts quotes or emails from a template workflow
- One central place where non-developers build and share small AI tools
These use cases are our editorial suggestions, not claims made by the project.
Can a business use Dify? (license)
| License | Dify Open Source License (modified Apache-2.0) |
|---|---|
| Type | Custom / conditional: Apache- or BSD-based with extra conditions (branding, multi-tenant SaaS, derivatives). |
| Internal business use | Allowed under the license text |
| What to watch | Commercial use is allowed, including as a backend for your own apps. Extra conditions: you may not run a multi-tenant service (one tenant = one workspace) without written permission, and you may not remove or modify the Dify logo or copyright in the frontend. |
This is a plain-English summary of the license text, not legal advice. Third-party models you run with it have their own licenses.
What hardware does Dify need?
| Minimum | 2 vCPU · 4 GB RAM |
|---|---|
| Recommended | Not published |
On macOS, Dify asks for a Docker VM with at least 2 vCPUs and 8 GiB of memory.
Source: docs.dify.ai/en/self-host/deploy/quick-start/docker-compose
How much does it cost to host Dify per month?
| Minimum spec | 2 vCPU · 4 GB RAM → CPX22 (2 vCPU, 4 GB, 80 GB disk) €19.99/mo |
|---|
How we got this: we took the cheapest Hetzner Cloud Regular Performance (shared AMD vCPU) plan with at least the RAM and vCPU the project lists, using prices read from www.hetzner.com/cloud/regular-performance on 2026-10-22. "From" monthly price cap shown by Hetzner, excluding VAT. Prices vary by location. Covers the server only; it excludes LLM API usage, backups, extra storage, GPUs and your time. Disk is not matched; add a volume if you need more than the plan includes.
How to deploy Dify
Method: Docker Compose
git clone https://github.com/langgenius/dify.git
cd dify/docker
cp .env.example .env
docker compose up -d
# then open http://localhost/installFrom the official instructions: github.com/langgenius/dify#quick-start. Always check the source for the current version before you run it.
Known gotchas when self-hosting Dify
Alternatives in AI app & agent builders
- Langflow Visual builder for AI agents and RAG flows that you can deploy as APIs or MCP servers. Compare Dify vs Langflow
- Flowise Drag-and-drop builder for LLM agents and chatflows (archived August 2026).
- Coze Studio Open-source edition of ByteDance's Coze agent-building platform. Compare Coze Studio vs Dify
Dify FAQ
How much RAM does Dify need?
The official minimum is 2 vCPU · 4 GB RAM. On macOS, Dify asks for a Docker VM with at least 2 vCPUs and 8 GiB of memory.
How much does it cost to self-host Dify?
The software is free to download. Based on the official minimum 2 vCPU · 4 GB RAM: That fits a Hetzner Cloud CPX22 server at about €19.99/month (server only, excl. VAT). That covers the server only, not LLM API usage, backups, extra storage or your time.
Is Dify free for commercial use?
Dify is licensed under Dify Open Source License (modified Apache-2.0) (Custom / conditional). Internal business use is allowed under the license text. Commercial use is allowed, including as a backend for your own apps. Extra conditions: you may not run a multi-tenant service (one tenant = one workspace) without written permission, and you may not remove or modify the Dify logo or copyright in the frontend. This is a summary, not legal advice.
What are common problems when self-hosting Dify?
Needs Docker Compose v2.24.0 or later. The license forbids operating a multi-tenant (multi-workspace) service or removing the Dify branding from the web console without a commercial license.
Is Dify still maintained?
Yes, it is actively developed. Last commit: Oct 22, 2026. Latest release: 1.17.1 (Sep 10, 2026). Checked Oct 22, 2026.
How do I install Dify?
The official method is Docker Compose. The exact commands are in the "How to deploy" section above and in the official instructions: https://github.com/langgenius/dify#quick-start
What are self-hosted alternatives to Dify?
Other apps in AI app & agent builders: Langflow, Flowise, Coze Studio.
Sources
- GitHub repository: github.com/langgenius/dify
- Official documentation, Hardware requirements: docs.dify.ai/en/self-host/deploy/quick-start/docker-compose
- License text, Gotcha 2: github.com/langgenius/dify/blob/main/LICENSE
- Deploy instructions, Gotcha 1: github.com/langgenius/dify#quick-start
- Hetzner Cloud pricing (cost estimate): www.hetzner.com/cloud/regular-performance
- GitHub stars, commits and releases: GitHub REST API, fetched
Facts on this page were checked against the project's own repository and docs on 2026-10-22. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.