Automation Integration · head to head
Flowable vs GraphQL Apollo
Flowable
Automation Integration
Apache 2.0 BPMN, CMMN and DMN engine from the team that originally built Activiti
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- 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.; GraphQL Apollo standard and Enterprise plans require sales contact for custom pricing
- They diverge on capability: Flowable covers BPMN 2.0 engine, GraphQL Apollo covers Apollo Server.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Flowable and GraphQL Apollo actually diverge.
| Attribute | Flowable | GraphQL Apollo |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | quote | freemium |
| Platforms | Linux, Windows, Docker, Kubernetes, Cloud | JavaScript, Node.js, Web, Mobile |
| Category | Automation Integration | APIs |
| Founded | Unknown | 2016 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Flowable
- BPMN 2.0 engine
- CMMN case management
- DMN decision tables
- Spring Boot integration
- Modelling studio
- Task and case application
- History and audit
Only in GraphQL Apollo
- Apollo Server
- Apollo Client
- GraphQL Federation
- Microservices
- Databases
- JavaScript support
- Node.js support
- Web support
Both cover
- REST APIs
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 GraphQL Apollo
- A bank embedding process orchestration inside an existing Spring Boot estate rather than buying a separate platformnot GraphQL Apollo
- A team leaving Activiti or jBPM that wants the same API family with active commercial maintenancenot GraphQL Apollo
- A regulated organisation needing complete process history and decision table audit trails for supervisorsnot GraphQL Apollo
GraphQL Apollo
- GraphQL API managementnot Flowable
- Schema federationnot Flowable
- API analytics and monitoringnot Flowable
- Developer-focused infrastructurenot 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.
GraphQL Apollo
- Standard and Enterprise plans require sales contact for custom pricing
- Free plan limited to 3 developers and 1-day retention
- Self-hosted router on free tier heavily rate-limited to 60 requests/minute
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
GraphQL Apollo
Free- FreeFree
- 3 developers
- 1-day data retention
- Community support only
- Developer$5/per million requests
- $50 usage credit for new signups
- Up to 10 developers
- 7-day data retention
- Standard$null/custom
- Up to 30 developers
- 90-day data retention
- Standard support with SLA (8x5)
- Enterprise$null/custom
- Unlimited developers
- 18-month data retention
- Business support 24x7x365 with SLA
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 GraphQL Apollo if
- You need apollo server.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on JavaScript, Node.js, Web, Mobile.
- You also want apollo client.
Questions people ask
- Is Flowable or GraphQL Apollo better?
- Neither clearly leads. Flowable starts at Free and GraphQL Apollo at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Flowable or GraphQL Apollo?
- Flowable starts at Free and GraphQL Apollo at Free.
- Does Flowable or GraphQL Apollo run on more platforms?
- Flowable runs on Linux, Windows, Docker, Kubernetes, Cloud. GraphQL Apollo runs on JavaScript, Node.js, Web, Mobile.
- Can I use Flowable for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- 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 GraphQL Apollo is typically brought in for.
- What can Flowable do that GraphQL Apollo cannot?
- Flowable covers BPMN 2.0 engine, CMMN case management, DMN decision tables, Spring Boot integration. GraphQL Apollo covers Apollo Server, Apollo Client, GraphQL Federation, Microservices. Both handle REST APIs.
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.
GraphQL Apollo: How much does Apollo GraphQL cost?
Apollo GraphQL is free for up to 3 developers. Paid plans start at $5 per million GraphQL requests on the Developer plan, which includes $50 usage credit for new signups. Standard and Enterprise plans require custom pricing via sales contact.
SourceFlowable: How does it relate to Activiti and jBPM?
The same core developers built jBPM, then Activiti, then forked Activiti in 2016 to create Flowable.
GraphQL Apollo: Is there a free version of Apollo GraphQL?
Yes, Apollo GraphQL offers a forever-free plan with no credit card required for up to 3 developers, including 1-day data retention, community support, and self-hosted GraphOS Router rate-limited to 60 requests per minute.
SourceFlowable: What does Flowable Enterprise cost?
Nothing is published. It is quoted per deployment by the vendor.
GraphQL Apollo: What does Apollo's Enterprise plan include that Standard does not?
The Enterprise plan offers unlimited developers versus 30 on Standard, 18-month data retention versus 90 days, and 24x7x365 business support with SLA instead of 8x5 support. It also includes premium and professional services add-ons and custom MSA agreements. Both require custom pricing.
SourceFlowable: 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.
Related pages
More on GraphQL Apollo
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