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Automation Integration · head to head

Flowable vs Jitterbit

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
Jitterbit logo

Jitterbit

Automation Integration

The API integration platform

From
$500/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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.; Jitterbit no public pricing amounts disclosed; all plans require annual contracts and custom quotes
  • They diverge on capability: Flowable covers BPMN 2.0 engine, Jitterbit covers Low-code integration.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Flowable and Jitterbit actually diverge.

Attributes where Flowable and Jitterbit differ
AttributeFlowableJitterbit
Starting priceFree$500/month
Pricing modelquotesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsLinux, Windows, Docker, Kubernetes, CloudWeb, On-premise
FoundedUnknown2003

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 Jitterbit

  • Low-code integration
  • API connectors
  • Data transformation
  • Real-time sync
  • Error handling
  • Monitoring
  • Scheduling
  • 400+ connectors

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 Jitterbit
  • A bank embedding process orchestration inside an existing Spring Boot estate rather than buying a separate platformnot Jitterbit
  • A team leaving Activiti or jBPM that wants the same API family with active commercial maintenancenot Jitterbit
  • A regulated organisation needing complete process history and decision table audit trails for supervisorsnot Jitterbit

Jitterbit

  • Integrating SaaS applications through the Harmony iPaaSnot Flowable
  • EDI exchange with trading partners into an ERPnot Flowable
  • API creation and management with API Managernot Flowable
  • Low-code internal app building with App Buildernot Flowable
  • Automating order-to-cash and lead-to-order workflowsnot 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.

Jitterbit

  • No public pricing amounts disclosed; all plans require annual contracts and custom quotes
  • Pricing model complex with separate tiers for iPaaS and App Builder products
  • Connection limits, environment counts, and agent allocations vary by tier, making comparison difficult without public pricing

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

Jitterbit

$500/month
  • Starter$500/month
    • Basic integration
  • Professional$1500/month
    • Advanced features
    • Priority support
  • Enterprise$5000/month
    • Custom solutions
    • Dedicated support

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.
Flowable review

Choose Jitterbit if

  • You need low-code integration.
  • You work on Web, On-premise.
  • You also want api connectors.
Jitterbit review

Questions people ask

Is Flowable or Jitterbit better?
Neither clearly leads. Flowable starts at Free and Jitterbit at $500/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Flowable or Jitterbit?
Flowable has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Flowable and $500/month for Jitterbit.
Does Flowable or Jitterbit run on more platforms?
Flowable runs on Linux, Windows, Docker, Kubernetes, Cloud. Jitterbit runs on Web, On-premise.
Can I use Flowable for free?
Yes. Flowable has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Jitterbit starts at $500/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 Jitterbit is typically brought in for.
What can Flowable do that Jitterbit cannot?
Flowable covers BPMN 2.0 engine, CMMN case management, DMN decision tables, Spring Boot integration. Jitterbit covers Low-code integration, API connectors, Data transformation, Real-time sync.

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.

Jitterbit: How much does Jitterbit cost?

Jitterbit does not publish standard pricing. The platform offers tiered plans (Standard, Professional, Enterprise) for both iPaaS and App Builder, all requiring annual contracts. Custom pricing is available based on specific requirements, with discounts offered for nonprofits and educational institutions.

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.

Jitterbit: What's included in Jitterbit's plans?

Jitterbit iPaaS plans include 2-8+ connections, 2-4 private agents, and environments ranging from 2 to 99. App Builder plans include 4-20+ apps with 2-8 instances. Support response times range from 48-hour (Standard) to 6-hour (Enterprise). Specific pricing requires a custom quote.

Source
Flowable: What does Flowable Enterprise cost?

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

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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