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Automation Integration · head to head

Flowable vs HighLevel

Flowable logo

Flowable

Automation Integration

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

From
Free
Rated
-
HighLevel logo

HighLevel

Automation Integration

The all-in-one sales and marketing platform for agencies

From
$97/month
Rated
-

The short version

  • Only Flowable has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: 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.; HighLevel enterprise pricing requires contacting sales with no published rates
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Flowable and HighLevel actually diverge.

Attributes where Flowable and HighLevel differ
AttributeFlowableHighLevel
Starting priceFree$97/month
Pricing modelquotesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsLinux, Windows, Docker, Kubernetes, CloudWeb

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 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

Only in HighLevel

Nothing recorded that Flowable does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

Flowable

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

HighLevel

  • Freelancers and solo marketers using Starter plannot Flowable
  • Growing agencies managing multiple clients with Unlimited plannot Flowable
  • Agencies offering SaaS solutions to their own clients with Agency Pronot Flowable

Where each one falls short

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

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.

HighLevel

  • Enterprise pricing requires contacting sales with no published rates
  • Add-ons like AI Employee, White Label Mobile App, and HIPAA Compliance range from $49-$497/month per sub-account or account-wide

Pricing, plan by plan

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

HighLevel

$97/month
  • Starter$97/month
    • 3 Sub-Accounts
    • Unlimited Contacts
    • Unlimited Users
  • Unlimited$297/month
    • Unlimited Sub-Accounts
    • Unlimited Contacts
    • Unlimited Users
  • Agency Pro$497/month
    • Everything in Unlimited plus
    • SaaS Mode
    • Automated Sub-Account Creation
  • Enterprise$null/custom
    • Dedicated account management
    • Custom development
    • Dedicated Slack channel

Which should you pick?

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.

Choose HighLevel if

Nothing in the data separates HighLevel from Flowable on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Questions people ask

Is Flowable or HighLevel better?
Neither clearly leads. Flowable starts at Free and HighLevel at $97/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Flowable or HighLevel?
Flowable has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Flowable and $97/month for HighLevel.
Does Flowable or HighLevel run on more platforms?
Flowable runs on Linux, Windows, Docker, Kubernetes, Cloud. HighLevel runs on Web.
Can I use Flowable for free?
Yes. Flowable has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. HighLevel starts at $97/month.
What is Flowable best used for?
Flowable is most often used for an insurer automating claims handling where each case follows a different path and bpmn alone cannot express it, a bank embedding process orchestration inside an existing spring boot estate rather than buying a separate platform, a team leaving activiti or jbpm that wants the same api family with active commercial maintenance, a regulated organisation needing complete process history and decision table audit trails for supervisors. Of those, an insurer automating claims handling where each case follows a different path and bpmn alone cannot express it and a bank embedding process orchestration inside an existing spring boot estate rather than buying a separate platform are not what HighLevel is typically brought in for.
What can Flowable do that HighLevel cannot?
Flowable covers BPMN 2.0 engine, CMMN case management, DMN decision tables, Spring Boot integration.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Flowable: Is Flowable open source?

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

HighLevel: How much does GoHighLevel Starter cost?

GoHighLevel Starter costs $97/month (or $970/year when billed annually) and includes 3 Sub-Accounts, unlimited contacts, unlimited users, and all core features with 24/7 support.

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.

HighLevel: What is the difference between Unlimited and Agency Pro plans?

Unlimited plan ($297/month) offers unlimited sub-accounts and basic API access. Agency Pro ($497/month) adds SaaS Mode, automated sub-account creation, rebill phone/email markup, and advanced API access for reselling.

Source
Flowable: What does Flowable Enterprise cost?

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

HighLevel: Does GoHighLevel offer a free trial?

Yes, GoHighLevel includes a 14-day free trial on all plans with no obligation. You can cancel anytime.

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.

HighLevel: What add-ons are available for GoHighLevel?

GoHighLevel offers multiple add-ons including AI Employee ($50-$97/month), Branded Client Portal ($49/month), Dedicated Email IPs ($59/month per IP), Premium Prospecting Tool ($29/month), SEO via Search Atlas ($79/month), WhatsApp Integration ($10/month), White Label Mobile App ($497/month account-wide), and HIPAA Compliance ($297/month account-wide).

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