AWS Step Functions vs Prefect:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, AWS Step Functions had more branded searches than Prefect among workflow orchestration platforms worldwide. AWS Step Functions had about 14,800 branded searches, while Prefect had 1,600. AWS Step Functions made up 10.1% of all workflow orchestration platform searches we track, and Prefect accounted for 1.1%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about workflow orchestration platforms, Prefect appeared in all five answers and AWS Step Functions in two. Prefect was mentioned before AWS Step Functions in every answer.
Who do people search for more?
AWS Step Functions, about 9 searches for every 1 for Prefect
Who does AI mention more?
Prefect, mentioned in every answer we collected
Who does AI recommend more?
Prefect, named ahead of AWS Step Functions in every answer
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Top workflow orchestration platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Prefect appeared in all five answers. AWS Step Functions was mentioned in two out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Prefect was listed before AWS Step Functions in every answer.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Airflow1st
Dagster2nd- Prefect3rd
Temporal4th- AWS Step Functions5th
- Argo Workflows6th
Kestra7th
Argo CD–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Prefect5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Airflow5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Dagster4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Argo Workflows3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Kestra2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- AWS Step Functions2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Temporal2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Argo CD0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about workflow orchestration platforms
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which workflow orchestration platform should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best workflow orchestration platforms?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best workflow orchestration platform for data pipelines?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“workflow orchestration platforms”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“data workflow orchestration”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.
Is AWS Step Functions or Prefect more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for AWS Step Functions and Prefect by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all eight workflow orchestration platforms we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for AWS Step Functions, Prefect. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Argo CD | Kestra | Dagster | AWS Step Functions | Argo Workflows | Temporal | Prefect | Airflow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 46% | 15.1% | 15.1% | 12.4% | 5.5% | 3% | 1.6% | 1.3% |
| Nov 2025 | 50.7% | 13.6% | 13.6% | 11.1% | 5% | 3.3% | 1.5% | 1.3% |
| Dec 2025 | 46.7% | 15.3% | 15.3% | 10.2% | 5.6% | 3.7% | 1.7% | 1.4% |
| Jan 2026 | 50.1% | 13.4% | 13.4% | 11% | 4.9% | 4% | 1.8% | 1.4% |
| Feb 2026 | 50.2% | 13.5% | 13.5% | 11% | 4.9% | 4% | 1.5% | 1.4% |
| Mar 2026 | 46.9% | 15.4% | 15.4% | 10.3% | 5.6% | 3.1% | 1.4% | 2.1% |
| Apr 2026 | 50.1% | 16.4% | 13.5% | 9% | 4.9% | 3.3% | 1.5% | 1.4% |
| May 2026 | 50.2% | 16.5% | 13.5% | 9% | 4.9% | 3.3% | 1.5% | 1.2% |
| Jun 2026 | 50.5% | 16.5% | 13.5% | 9% | 4.9% | 3.3% | 1.2% | 1% |
| Jul 2026 | 46.9% | 17.7% | 14.5% | 9.7% | 5.3% | 3.5% | 1.2% | 1.1% |
| Aug 2026 | 49.9% | 18.9% | 12.6% | 8.4% | 4.6% | 3.1% | 1.1% | 1.4% |
| Sep 2026 | 49.1% | 18.6% | 12.4% | 10.1% | 4.5% | 3% | 1.1% | 1.1% |
How has the AWS Step Functions and Prefect comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- AWS Step Functions was ahead of Prefect in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, AWS Step Functions’ share of searches among workflow orchestration platforms worldwide moved from 12.4% to 10.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 22.2K to 14.8K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Prefect’s share of searches among workflow orchestration platforms worldwide moved from 1.6% to 1.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 2.9K to 1.6K.
How did search popularity change for workflow orchestration platforms worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, AWS Step Functions gained share of searches among workflow orchestration platforms worldwide, from 8.4% to 10.1%.
In September 2026, Prefect rose from 8th to 7th among workflow orchestration platforms worldwide.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using AWS Step Functions’ and Prefect’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
AWS Step Functions
1 branded search term
- aws step functions
Prefect
1 branded search term
- prefect python
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