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Automation Integration · head to head

Celigo vs jBPM

Celigo logo

Celigo

Automation Integration

The iPaaS platform for mid-market and enterprise

From
$400/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
jBPM logo

jBPM

Automation Integration

Long-running Java BPMN engine, now developed inside Apache KIE with commercial support from IBM

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only jBPM 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; jBPM the project moved to the Apache Software Foundation as Apache KIE and is still in incubation, which is a weaker governance signal than a vendor-owned product and a harder case to make to an architecture board.
  • They diverge on capability: Celigo covers App integration, jBPM covers BPMN 2.0 execution.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Celigo and jBPM actually diverge.

Attributes where Celigo and jBPM differ
AttributeCeligojBPM
Starting price$400/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionOpen source, no licence fee
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, MobileLinux, Windows, Docker, Kubernetes
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 jBPM

  • BPMN 2.0 execution
  • Drools integration
  • Human task service
  • Kogito compilation
  • Process designer
  • Timers and signals
  • REST and Java APIs
  • Case management

What people use each for

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

Celigo

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

jBPM

  • A Java organisation already running jBPM 7 that needs to decide between the Apache KIE line, Kogito or migration awaynot Celigo
  • A team that wants BPMN processes and Drools business rules executing in one runtime without integrating two productsnot Celigo
  • A government or banking system with long-running processes needing durable timers and full audit history at no licence costnot Celigo
  • A Quarkus estate adopting Kogito to run compiled processes with container-appropriate startup timesnot 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

jBPM

  • The project moved to the Apache Software Foundation as Apache KIE and is still in incubation, which is a weaker governance signal than a vendor-owned product and a harder case to make to an architecture board.
  • The classic jBPM 7.x line has not had a Red Hat-sponsored release since 2023, so staying on it means running effectively frozen software while the development happens under a different name.
  • Kogito is architecturally different from the classic runtime, using ahead-of-time compilation, so moving forward is a migration project rather than a version upgrade.
  • Commercial support has shifted to IBM Business Automation Manager Open Editions, which means renegotiating with a different vendor under different terms than Red Hat customers signed.
  • The tooling and workbench have long been the weakest part, and organisations routinely build their own process administration interfaces because the shipped ones are dated.

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

jBPM

Free
  • jBPMFree
    • Apache 2.0 licence with no usage restrictions
    • Full BPMN engine, human tasks and Drools integration
    • Community support via Apache KIE mailing lists

Which should you pick?

Choose Celigo if

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

Choose jBPM if

  • You need bpmn 2.0 execution.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Windows, Docker, Kubernetes.
  • You also want drools integration.
jBPM review

Questions people ask

Is Celigo or jBPM better?
Neither clearly leads. Celigo starts at $400/month and jBPM at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Celigo or jBPM?
jBPM has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $400/month for Celigo and Free for jBPM.
Does Celigo or jBPM run on more platforms?
Celigo runs on Web, Mobile. jBPM runs on Linux, Windows, Docker, Kubernetes.
Can I use jBPM for free?
Yes. jBPM 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 jBPM is typically brought in for.
What can Celigo do that jBPM cannot?
Celigo covers App integration, Process automation, Master data management, API management. jBPM covers BPMN 2.0 execution, Drools integration, Human task service, Kogito compilation.

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
jBPM: Is jBPM dead?

No. Development continues as part of Apache KIE, with releases through 2025, but the Red Hat-sponsored 7.x line has been static since 2023.

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
jBPM: Who provides commercial support?

IBM, through Business Automation Manager Open Editions, following the transition away from Red Hat Process Automation Manager as a growth product.

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
jBPM: What is Kogito?

The cloud-native successor that compiles processes ahead of time for Quarkus and Spring Boot, architecturally different from the classic jBPM runtime.

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
jBPM: Does it cost anything?

No. It is Apache 2.0 licensed with no fee. Costs are support contracts and the engineering effort to run it.

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