Unmeshed vs Temporal
A simpler Temporal alternative, with pricing you can predict.
Unmeshed gives you Temporal-grade durable execution, built by the creators of Netflix Conductor. That means less boilerplate to learn, no consumption-unit billing to model, and the option to self-host.
Free tier · No credit card required
Three reasons teams compare
Predictable pricing
You won't need to model per-action or per-unit fees before you know your bill. Temporal Cloud bills on consumption tied to how much your workflows run. Unmeshed uses flat, predictable plans instead, with a free tier and no credit card to start.
See our pricingLess ceremony
Define steps in plain Java, Go, Python, or TypeScript. Durable state, retries, and scheduling are handled by the platform, so your first workflow runs in minutes. No framework deep-dive required.
Explore the SDKsRun it your way
Use Unmeshed Cloud, or self-host it on your own VM or Kubernetes cluster with enterprise role-based access controls. Same platform, wherever you choose to run it.
Security & access controlsHow each platform approaches it
Both platforms deliver durable execution. The differences are in how workflows are expressed, how the bill is calculated, and how much infrastructure you operate.
| Area | How Temporal approaches it | How Unmeshed approaches it |
|---|---|---|
| Programming model | Workflows are code written with Temporal SDKs. Workflow code must stay deterministic, and workers replay event history to rebuild state, so changes to running workflows use versioning or patching strategies. | Steps are plain functions in Java, Go, Python, or TypeScript. The platform stores workflow state and handles retries, so there's less orchestration boilerplate to write and maintain. |
| Pricing model | Temporal Cloud is a managed service billed on consumption, tied to usage such as actions and retained history. Self-hosting is free to license but you operate the infrastructure. | Flat, predictable plans with no per-action or per-unit fees. Free tier to start, no credit card required. |
| Self-hosting | The open-source Temporal service can be self-hosted. Production setups run a database such as Cassandra, MySQL, or Postgres, plus Elasticsearch/OpenSearch for advanced visibility. | Self-host on your own VM or Kubernetes cluster with enterprise RBAC, or use Unmeshed Cloud. |
| SDK languages | SDKs for Go, Java, Python, TypeScript, .NET, PHP, and Rust. | SDKs for Java, Go, Python, and TypeScript/JavaScript. |
| Scheduling latency | Timers and schedules are core features; scheduling behavior depends on cluster configuration and load. | Standard 5-field cron scheduling, down to one-minute intervals, is built into the platform. |
| Human-in-the-loop tasks | Human steps are typically modeled with signals and application code built around workflows. | Human-in-the-loop tasks are built in for approvals and manual steps. |
| MCP & AI-agent orchestration | AI use cases are built as standard workflows and activities using the SDKs. | MCP-native, with AI-agent orchestration running alongside regular workflows. |
| Operational footprint | Temporal Cloud, or a self-hosted Temporal service with database persistence and visibility infrastructure to operate and upgrade. | One platform handles definitions, execution, and observability, whether that's managed cloud or a self-hosted install on your infrastructure. |
Comparing more tools? See our full comparison of Unmeshed with Camunda, n8n, Temporal, Kestra, and similar tools, or the Unmeshed vs AWS Step Functions deep-dive. Coming from Conductor? See the migration guide.
Your workflow, in the language you already write
Workers are plain functions. Register them, start a process, and the platform takes care of the durable-execution machinery.
import { UnmeshedClient } from '@unmeshed/sdk';
const client = new UnmeshedClient({ /* endpoint + client credentials */ });
// A worker is just a function — durable state, retries,
// and scheduling are handled by the platform.
client.startPolling([
{
namespace: 'default',
name: 'charge-customer',
worker: async (input) => chargeCustomer(input),
},
]);
// Start a durable workflow run
await client.runProcessAsync({
namespace: 'default',
name: 'order-fulfillment',
input: { orderId: 'ord_1042' },
});Retries, state, and scheduling come built in, so there's no extra worker choreography to hand-roll.
Know your bill before you scale.
No per-action or per-unit fees. A free tier to start, no credit card, and flat, predictable plans as you grow.
Need help sizing a plan? Contact us.
Frequently asked questions
Still have questions? Talk to us, or see how teams migrate from Conductor.