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Automation Integration · head to head

Dify vs jBPM

Dify logo

Dify

Automation Integration

The Platform for Production-Ready Agentic Workflows

From
Free
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

  • Each has a real cost: Dify free tier limited to 200 monthly message credits; 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.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Dify and jBPM actually diverge.

Attributes where Dify and jBPM differ
AttributeDifyjBPM
Pricing modelfreemiumOpen source, no licence fee
PlatformsWebLinux, Windows, Docker, Kubernetes

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Dify

Nothing recorded that jBPM does not also cover.

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.

Dify

  • AI workflow automationnot jBPM
  • Custom application deploymentnot jBPM

jBPM

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

Where each one falls short

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

Dify

  • Free tier limited to 200 monthly message credits
  • Professional tier supports only 3 team members

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

Dify

Free
  • SandboxFree
    • 200 monthly message credits
    • 1 workspace
    • 5 apps
  • Professional$590/year
    • 5,000 monthly message credits
    • 3 team members
    • 50 apps
  • Team$1590/year
    • 10,000 monthly message credits
    • 50 team members
    • 200 apps

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 Dify if

  • You want to start without paying.
Dify 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 Dify or jBPM better?
Neither clearly leads. Dify starts at Free and jBPM at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Dify or jBPM?
Dify starts at Free and jBPM at Free.
Does Dify or jBPM run on more platforms?
Dify runs on Web. jBPM runs on Linux, Windows, Docker, Kubernetes.
Can I use Dify for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Dify best used for?
Dify is most often used for ai workflow automation, custom application deployment. Of those, ai workflow automation and custom application deployment are not what jBPM is typically brought in for.
What can Dify do that jBPM cannot?
jBPM covers BPMN 2.0 execution, Drools integration, Human task service, Kogito compilation.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Dify: How much does Dify cost?

Dify Cloud offers a free Sandbox tier, Professional at $590/year with 5,000 monthly credits, and Team at $1,590/year with 10,000 monthly credits.

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.

Dify: Is Dify free to use?

Yes, Dify offers a free Sandbox tier with 200 monthly message credits, 1 workspace, 5 apps, and 50MB storage. Community edition is free and open-source.

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.

Dify: What are Dify's team collaboration limits?

Professional tier supports 3 team members. Team tier supports 50 team members. Enterprise plans with custom team sizes require contacting sales.

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.

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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