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Automation Integration · head to head

Flowable vs mParticle

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
mParticle logo

mParticle

Automation Integration

The customer data platform for multi-channel marketing

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.; mParticle no pricing is published at any level, and the page offers only a pricing request or a sales conversation
  • They diverge on capability: Flowable covers BPMN 2.0 engine, mParticle covers Data collection.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Flowable and mParticle actually diverge.

Attributes where Flowable and mParticle differ
AttributeFlowablemParticle
Starting priceFree$500/month
Pricing modelquoteusage-based
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsLinux, Windows, Docker, Kubernetes, CloudWeb, Mobile
FoundedUnknown2013

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 mParticle

  • Data collection
  • Audience building
  • Segmentation
  • Data governance
  • Real-time sync
  • Privacy management
  • Analytics
  • 100+ integrations

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

mParticle

  • Collecting customer event data once and routing it to many destinationsnot Flowable
  • Building a customer data platform across web, mobile and server sourcesnot 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.

mParticle

  • No pricing is published at any level, and the page offers only a pricing request or a sales conversation
  • No free tier, minimum commitment or cost driver is stated anywhere on the pricing page

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

mParticle

$500/month
  • Starter$500/month
    • Basic features
    • Email support
  • 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 mParticle if

  • You need data collection.
  • You work on Web, Mobile.
  • You also want audience building.
mParticle review

Questions people ask

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

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.

mParticle: How much does mParticle cost?

mParticle does not publish pricing on its website. The pricing page directs customers to request a quote or contact the sales team through their contact forms.

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.

mParticle: What is mParticle's pricing model?

mParticle uses a quote-based pricing model. Interested customers can request pricing information through the contact form, but specific rates and billing options are not publicly disclosed.

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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