Appian vs Flowable (2026): Pricing, Features & Which to Choose

Who comes out ahead

Based only on the facts in our directory. The right pick still depends on the job you need done.

Lower starting price
Not comparable
Not comparable: Appian does not list a price
Free plan
Tie
Both have one
Higher rating
Appian
4.4 against 4.2
Same job?
Yes
Both are Automation tools

Side by side

Compared on	Appian	Flowable
Our rating	4.4Better	4.2
Starts at	Free	Free
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Category	Automation	Automation
Plans	Community Edition$0 StandardQuote only (priced per user, per month, per app) AdvancedQuote only PremiumQuote only	Free
Key features	Low-code visual application designer Business process management and orchestration AI-assisted process automation Case management for complex workflows Native mobile app generation	BPMN 2.0, CMMN, and DMN engines for modeling processes, case management, and decision logic Open-source Community Edition under Apache License 2.0 Low-code app builder for forms and task UIs Agentic automation for combining AI agents with deterministic workflow steps Built-in analytics and process-monitoring dashboards
Pros	Over two decades of enterprise process automation experience Publicly traded with transparent financial reporting (NASDAQ: APPN) Recognized as a Gartner Magic Quadrant Leader	Built on open standards (BPMN/CMMN/DMN), reducing vendor lock-in Free, permissively licensed core engine available for production use Handles complex, long-running case management alongside standard workflows
Cons	Per-user enterprise pricing is higher-priced for small teams Full platform capabilities carry a real learning curve Implementation costs can run from $20,000 to over $100,000	Enterprise pricing is not published, requiring a sales conversation for cost estimates Steeper learning curve than no-code automation tools aimed at business users Full enterprise feature set (high availability, advanced analytics) requires the paid edition
Company	Appian Corporation, founded 1999	Flowable, founded 2016

Prices come from each vendor's pricing page, last checked 20260810. Check the vendor before you buy.

FAQ

Questions people ask

Is Appian better than Flowable?

In our reviews Appian scores 4.4 and Flowable scores 4.2. The better pick depends on the job. Appian: Low-code automation platform for building enterprise applications and orchestrating business processes. Flowable: Open-source business process automation platform for modeling, running, and monitoring enterprise workflows.

Which is cheaper, Appian or Flowable?

Appian: free. Flowable: free.

Do Appian and Flowable have free plans?

Yes, both have a free plan.

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