# What’s the difference between DBTcloudoperator and DBT API to trigger DBT jobs via airflow and which one is recommended to use ?

**URL:** <https://discourse.getdbt.com/t/what-s-the-difference-between-dbtcloudoperator-and-dbt-api-to-trigger-dbt-jobs-via-airflow-and-which-one-is-recommended-to-use/19260>\
**Category:** Help\
**Tags:** best-practice, snowflake, dbt-cloud, devblog\
**Created:** [May 5, 2025, 12:39am UTC](https://discourse.getdbt.com/t/what-s-the-difference-between-dbtcloudoperator-and-dbt-api-to-trigger-dbt-jobs-via-airflow-and-which-one-is-recommended-to-use/19260 "2025-05-05T00:39:43Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Rishu1996](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/discourse.getdbt.com/rishu1996/32/5092_2.png) [@Rishu1996](https://discourse.getdbt.com/u/Rishu1996)\
**Post date:** [May 5, 2025, 12:39am UTC](https://discourse.getdbt.com/t/what-s-the-difference-between-dbtcloudoperator-and-dbt-api-to-trigger-dbt-jobs-via-airflow-and-which-one-is-recommended-to-use/19260/1 "2025-05-05T00:39:43Z")

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What’s the difference between DBTcloudoperator and dbt API to trigger dbt jobs via airflow and which one is recommended to use ? Please explain in detail with examples. My organization is expanding in dbt and hence needs an understanding of this orchestration