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Automation Integration · head to head

Celigo vs Flowable

Celigo logo

Celigo

Automation Integration

The iPaaS platform for mid-market and enterprise

From
$400/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Flowable logo

Flowable

Automation Integration

Apache 2.0 BPMN, CMMN and DMN engine from the team that originally built Activiti

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Flowable has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Celigo prices are not published on any of the three editions; Flowable the open source engine is genuinely usable but ships without the modelling studio, work application and admin console, so an open source deployment means building your own user interfaces before anyone can use it.
  • They diverge on capability: Celigo covers App integration, Flowable covers BPMN 2.0 engine.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Celigo and Flowable actually diverge.

Attributes where Celigo and Flowable differ
AttributeCeligoFlowable
Starting price$400/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionquote
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, MobileLinux, Windows, Docker, Kubernetes, Cloud
Founded2008Unknown

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Automation Integration).

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 Celigo

  • App integration
  • Process automation
  • Master data management
  • API management
  • Workflow builder
  • Error handling
  • Analytics
  • 800+ apps

Only in Flowable

  • BPMN 2.0 engine
  • CMMN case management
  • DMN decision tables
  • Spring Boot integration
  • Modelling studio
  • Task and case application
  • REST APIs
  • History and audit

What people use each for

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

Celigo

  • Integrating NetSuite with ecommerce and CRM systemsnot Flowable
  • Prebuilt integration templates between common business applicationsnot Flowable
  • Building custom flows between internal systemsnot Flowable
  • Governance and auditability over integrations on the higher editionsnot Flowable

Flowable

  • An insurer automating claims handling where each case follows a different path and BPMN alone cannot express itnot Celigo
  • A bank embedding process orchestration inside an existing Spring Boot estate rather than buying a separate platformnot Celigo
  • A team leaving Activiti or jBPM that wants the same API family with active commercial maintenancenot Celigo
  • A regulated organisation needing complete process history and decision table audit trails for supervisorsnot Celigo

Where each one falls short

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

Celigo

  • Prices are not published on any of the three editions
  • Billed on endpoints and flows, so the cost is driven by how many systems you connect rather than by volume through them
  • API Builder, lookup caching and a sandbox all require the Professional edition
  • Single sign-on is optional on Standard and included from Professional up
  • Unlimited endpoints and the full governance features are Enterprise only

Flowable

  • The open source engine is genuinely usable but ships without the modelling studio, work application and admin console, so an open source deployment means building your own user interfaces before anyone can use it.
  • It expects Java engineering capacity; teams looking for a business-user low-code automation tool will find the modelling and deployment cycle far too technical.
  • Enterprise pricing is not published and is quoted per deployment, leaving buyers without a benchmark against Camunda or IBM alternatives.
  • The Activiti fork left three engines with related APIs and overlapping documentation in circulation, and search results routinely return advice for the wrong one.
  • Flowable AG is a small Swiss company relative to its competitors, so the partner network, training market and pool of engineers with production experience are all limited outside Europe.

Pricing, plan by plan

Celigo

$400/month
  • Growth$400/month
    • 50 integrations
    • Basic support
  • Scale$1200/month
    • Unlimited integrations
    • Priority support
  • Enterprise$3000/month
    • Custom solutions
    • Dedicated support

Flowable

Free
  • Flowable Open SourceFree
    • Apache 2.0 licensed BPMN, CMMN and DMN engines
    • Embeddable Java library or standalone apps
    • No modelling studio or enterprise applications
  • Flowable Enterprise$undefined/year
    • Modelling studio, work application and admin console
    • Connectors, forms and advanced identity management
    • Support with SLA and version maintenance

Which should you pick?

Choose Celigo if

  • You need app integration.
  • You work on Web, Mobile.
  • You also want process automation.
Celigo review

Choose Flowable if

  • You need bpmn 2.0 engine.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Windows, Docker, Kubernetes, Cloud.
  • You also want cmmn case management.
Flowable review

Questions people ask

Is Celigo or Flowable better?
Neither clearly leads. Celigo starts at $400/month and Flowable at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Celigo or Flowable?
Flowable has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $400/month for Celigo and Free for Flowable.
Does Celigo or Flowable run on more platforms?
Celigo runs on Web, Mobile. Flowable runs on Linux, Windows, Docker, Kubernetes, Cloud.
Can I use Flowable for free?
Yes. Flowable has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Celigo starts at $400/month.
What is Celigo best used for?
Celigo is most often used for integrating netsuite with ecommerce and crm systems, prebuilt integration templates between common business applications, building custom flows between internal systems, governance and auditability over integrations on the higher editions. Of those, integrating netsuite with ecommerce and crm systems and prebuilt integration templates between common business applications are not what Flowable is typically brought in for.
What can Celigo do that Flowable cannot?
Celigo covers App integration, Process automation, Master data management, API management. Flowable covers BPMN 2.0 engine, CMMN case management, DMN decision tables, Spring Boot integration.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Celigo: How much does Celigo cost?

Celigo pricing is not publicly disclosed; the vendor requires direct contact with sales to obtain pricing quotes based on your endpoint and workflow requirements.

Source
Flowable: Is Flowable open source?

Yes, the BPMN, CMMN and DMN engines are Apache 2.0. The modelling studio and enterprise applications are commercial.

Celigo: What is Celigo's pricing model?

Celigo uses a flat-rate subscription model based on endpoints and flows, not per-transaction costs; customers must contact sales for actual pricing for each tier.

Source
Flowable: How does it relate to Activiti and jBPM?

The same core developers built jBPM, then Activiti, then forked Activiti in 2016 to create Flowable.

Celigo: Is there a free trial for Celigo?

Yes, Celigo offers a 30-day free trial with unlimited access to the platform; no credit card is required to start the trial.

Source
Flowable: What does Flowable Enterprise cost?

Nothing is published. It is quoted per deployment by the vendor.

Celigo: What are the Celigo pricing tiers?

Celigo offers Standard, Professional, and Enterprise editions; specific pricing for each is not published and requires sales contact, with Enterprise including unlimited endpoints and premium support.

Source
Flowable: Why choose it over Camunda?

CMMN case management is a first-class engine, which matters when work is exception-driven rather than a fixed sequence.

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