Softwr

Automation Integration · head to head

Flowise vs jBPM

Flowise logo

Flowise

Automation Integration

Build AI Agents, Visually

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: Flowise enterprise tier requires custom pricing with no published rates; 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 Flowise and jBPM actually diverge.

Attributes where Flowise and jBPM differ
AttributeFlowisejBPM
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 Flowise

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.

Flowise

  • Building multi-agent systems with orchestrated workflowsnot jBPM
  • Creating chatbots that retrieve knowledge from uploaded documentsnot jBPM
  • Implementing human-in-the-loop approval for AI agent decisionsnot jBPM
  • Deploying conversational AI without writing backend codenot jBPM

jBPM

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

Where each one falls short

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

Flowise

  • Enterprise tier requires custom pricing with no published rates

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

Flowise

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 2 Flows & Assistants
    • 100 predictions per month
    • 5 MB storage
  • Starter$35/month
    • Unlimited flows & assistants
    • 10,000 predictions per month
    • 1 GB storage
  • Pro$65/month
    • 50,000 predictions per month
    • 10 GB storage
    • Unlimited workspaces

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 Flowise if

  • You want to start without paying.
Flowise 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 Flowise or jBPM better?
Neither clearly leads. Flowise 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, Flowise or jBPM?
Flowise starts at Free and jBPM at Free.
Does Flowise or jBPM run on more platforms?
Flowise runs on Web. jBPM runs on Linux, Windows, Docker, Kubernetes.
Can I use Flowise for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Flowise best used for?
Flowise is most often used for building multi-agent systems with orchestrated workflows, creating chatbots that retrieve knowledge from uploaded documents, implementing human-in-the-loop approval for ai agent decisions, deploying conversational ai without writing backend code. Of those, building multi-agent systems with orchestrated workflows and creating chatbots that retrieve knowledge from uploaded documents are not what jBPM is typically brought in for.
What can Flowise do that jBPM cannot?
jBPM covers BPMN 2.0 execution, Drools integration, Human task service, Kogito compilation.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Flowise: Does Flowise have a free tier?

Yes, Flowise offers a free plan with 2 flows and assistants, 100 predictions per month, 5 MB storage, and community support.

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.

Flowise: What is Flowise's Starter plan pricing?

The Starter plan costs $35 per month (first month free) and includes unlimited flows and assistants, 10,000 predictions per month, and 1 GB storage.

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.

Flowise: How does Flowise charge for additional users?

Additional users on the Pro plan cost $15 per user per month. The Pro plan supports 5+ users with this per-user add-on pricing.

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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