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Business Intelligence · head to head

Anaplan vs Blue Prism

Anaplan logo

Anaplan

Business Intelligence

Connected planning platform with an in-memory calculation engine for large multidimensional models

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Blue Prism logo

Blue Prism

Automation Integration

The digital exchange for intelligent automation

From
$1000/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Anaplan workspace is licensed by memory consumed, so a model that grows as the business adds SKUs, regions or scenarios generates a bill increase without a single new user being added, and teams end up optimising models for licence cost rather than clarity.; Blue Prism no pricing displayed on the vendor homepage
  • They diverge on capability: Anaplan covers Hyperblock calculation engine, Blue Prism covers RPA platform.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Anaplan and Blue Prism actually diverge.

Attributes where Anaplan and Blue Prism differ
AttributeAnaplanBlue Prism
Starting priceOn request$1000/month
Pricing modelquotesubscription
PlatformsWeb, iOSWeb, Desktop
CategoryBusiness IntelligenceAutomation Integration
FoundedUnknown2001

Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Anaplan

  • Hyperblock calculation engine
  • Connected planning
  • Scenario and versioning
  • Model builder
  • Anaplan PlanIQ
  • Workflow and approvals
  • Application lifecycle management
  • Data integration

Only in Blue Prism

  • RPA platform
  • Intelligent automation
  • Robotic workers
  • Process intelligence
  • Monitoring
  • Analytics
  • Scalability
  • 100+ connectors

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Anaplan

  • Sales territory and quota planning across thousands of reps where a change to segmentation must reflow quota immediatelynot Blue Prism
  • Demand and supply planning at SKU and location level for a manufacturer with tens of thousands of itemsnot Blue Prism
  • Workforce planning that ties headcount, cost and capacity to a revenue plan across dozens of business unitsnot Blue Prism
  • Replacing a spreadsheet estate where the master planning model has become too large and too fragile for Excel to open reliablynot Blue Prism

Blue Prism

  • Workflow Automationnot Anaplan
  • Data Integrationnot Anaplan
  • Process Automationnot Anaplan
  • App Integrationnot Anaplan
  • API Connectivitynot Anaplan

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Anaplan

  • Workspace is licensed by memory consumed, so a model that grows as the business adds SKUs, regions or scenarios generates a bill increase without a single new user being added, and teams end up optimising models for licence cost rather than clarity.
  • Model building requires certified Anaplan modellers using a proprietary formula language, and the labour market for that skill is small, so most customers stay dependent on a systems integrator long after go-live.
  • Thoma Bravo took the company private in 2022 in a $10.7bn deal, and customers have since reported firmer renewal terms; a private-equity owner optimising for cash flow is a real factor in a multi-year planning contract.
  • Native reporting and visualisation are weak for anything beyond planning grids, so most customers push data out to Power BI or Tableau for executive reporting, adding another tool and another latency point.
  • Implementations are long. A connected planning programme across finance and supply chain routinely runs six to eighteen months before the first production plan, which is difficult to justify when the business wants a forecast this quarter.

Blue Prism

  • No pricing displayed on the vendor homepage
  • Enterprise automation platform typically requires custom pricing and implementation agreements

Pricing, plan by plan

Anaplan

On request
  • Anaplan$undefined/year
    • Licensed by user tier and by workspace capacity
    • Workspace charged on memory consumed by models, independent of user count
    • Multi-year enterprise agreements are the norm

Blue Prism

$1000/month
  • Starter$1000/month
    • 1 bot
    • Basic features
  • Professional$3000/month
    • 5 bots
    • Advanced features
  • Enterprise$10000/month
    • Unlimited bots
    • Dedicated support

Which should you pick?

Choose Anaplan if

  • You need hyperblock calculation engine.
  • You work on Web, iOS.
  • You also want connected planning.
Anaplan review

Choose Blue Prism if

  • You need rpa platform.
  • You work on Web, Desktop.
  • You also want intelligent automation.
Blue Prism review

Questions people ask

Is Anaplan or Blue Prism better?
Neither clearly leads. Anaplan starts at On request and Blue Prism at $1000/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Anaplan or Blue Prism?
Anaplan starts at On request and Blue Prism at $1000/month.
Does Anaplan or Blue Prism run on more platforms?
Anaplan runs on Web, iOS. Blue Prism runs on Web, Desktop.
What is Anaplan best used for?
Anaplan is most often used for sales territory and quota planning across thousands of reps where a change to segmentation must reflow quota immediately, demand and supply planning at sku and location level for a manufacturer with tens of thousands of items, workforce planning that ties headcount, cost and capacity to a revenue plan across dozens of business units, replacing a spreadsheet estate where the master planning model has become too large and too fragile for excel to open reliably. Of those, sales territory and quota planning across thousands of reps where a change to segmentation must reflow quota immediately and demand and supply planning at sku and location level for a manufacturer with tens of thousands of items are not what Blue Prism is typically brought in for.
What can Anaplan do that Blue Prism cannot?
Anaplan covers Hyperblock calculation engine, Connected planning, Scenario and versioning, Model builder. Blue Prism covers RPA platform, Intelligent automation, Robotic workers, Process intelligence.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Anaplan: Why is Anaplan expensive even when user counts are low?

Because workspace is licensed on the memory your models consume as well as on users. Large models cost money regardless of how many people log in.

Blue Prism: How much does SS&C Blue Prism cost?

SS&C Blue Prism does not publish pricing on their website. Platform pricing is customized based on deployment requirements, number of users, and selected modules. Organizations should contact their sales team or schedule a free trial to discuss pricing.

Source
Anaplan: Do we need a systems integrator?

Almost always for the first implementation. The proprietary modelling language and the scale of typical models make an experienced partner or an internal certified team effectively mandatory.

Anaplan: Who owns Anaplan?

Thoma Bravo, which took it private in 2022 for $10.7bn.

Anaplan: Can it replace our BI tool?

No. It is a planning and calculation platform; most customers still export to Power BI or Tableau for reporting and dashboards.

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