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Automation Integration · head to head

Kogito vs MuleSoft

Kogito logo

Kogito

Automation Integration

Cloud-native business automation for Quarkus, now an Apache KIE component

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
MuleSoft logo

MuleSoft

Automation Integration

Integration platform as a service (iPaaS) with robust API management

From
$1500/monthly
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Kogito has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Kogito kogito is a developer framework, not a product, so there is no equivalent of Camunda Operate for business users and any process monitoring interface has to be built or bought separately.; MuleSoft pricing for MuleSoft solutions not published on vendor website; enterprise integration platform requires custom quote
  • They diverge on capability: Kogito covers Build-time code generation, MuleSoft covers API Gateway.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Kogito and MuleSoft actually diverge.

Attributes where Kogito and MuleSoft differ
AttributeKogitoMuleSoft
Starting priceFree$1500/monthly
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsLinux, Docker, KubernetesCloud, On-premises, Hybrid
FoundedUnknown1999

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 Kogito

  • Build-time code generation
  • Quarkus and Spring Boot support
  • DMN decision services
  • Drools rules engine
  • Serverless workflow
  • Kubernetes operator

Only in MuleSoft

  • API Gateway
  • API Design
  • Integration Platform
  • Salesforce
  • SAP
  • Oracle
  • AWS
  • ServiceNow

What people use each for

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

Kogito

  • A Quarkus microservice that must expose a DMN decision model as a REST endpoint with millisecond start-upnot MuleSoft
  • Serverless deployment of business rules where a traditional BPM server would be far too heavynot MuleSoft
  • A Red Hat shop that wants the upstream of Red Hat process automation with the option of a supported build laternot MuleSoft
  • Replacing hand-coded conditional logic with DMN tables that business analysts can review and amendnot MuleSoft

MuleSoft

  • AI agent orchestration and governance across multiple LLM platformsnot Kogito
  • API management and gateway control from development through productionnot Kogito
  • Integration middleware for legacy systems and cloud applicationsnot Kogito
  • Multi-agent ecosystem discovery and centralized agent registrynot Kogito
  • Compliance and security monitoring across API, agent, and data interactionsnot Kogito

Where each one falls short

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

Kogito

  • Kogito is a developer framework, not a product, so there is no equivalent of Camunda Operate for business users and any process monitoring interface has to be built or bought separately.
  • Long-running stateful processes need external persistence and messaging that you configure and operate yourself, which removes much of the convenience a BPM server normally provides.
  • It sits inside the Apache KIE incubator, and incubating status means graduation is not guaranteed and the project name and artefact coordinates have already changed once.
  • Red Hat is by far the dominant contributor despite ASF stewardship, so the roadmap follows Red Hat product priorities rather than community demand.
  • Documentation is spread across legacy JBoss sites, the old Kogito site and the new Apache KIE site, and search results routinely land on outdated versions, which costs real time during adoption.

MuleSoft

  • Pricing for MuleSoft solutions not published on vendor website; enterprise integration platform requires custom quote

Pricing, plan by plan

Kogito

Free
  • KogitoFree
    • Apache 2.0 licence
    • Apache KIE incubating project
    • No usage limits

MuleSoft

$1500/monthly
  • Starter$1500/monthly
    • API gateway
    • Design center
    • Basic integration
  • Professional$3500/monthly
    • Advanced integration
    • Analytics
    • Team collaboration
  • Enterprise$undefined/monthly
    • Full Anypoint platform
    • Custom SLA
    • Advanced security

Which should you pick?

Choose Kogito if

  • You need build-time code generation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Docker, Kubernetes.
  • You also want quarkus and spring boot support.
Kogito review

Choose MuleSoft if

  • You need api gateway.
  • You work on Cloud, On-premises, Hybrid.
  • You also want api design.
MuleSoft review

Questions people ask

Is Kogito or MuleSoft better?
Neither clearly leads. Kogito starts at Free and MuleSoft at $1500/monthly, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Kogito or MuleSoft?
Kogito has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Kogito and $1500/monthly for MuleSoft.
Does Kogito or MuleSoft run on more platforms?
Kogito runs on Linux, Docker, Kubernetes. MuleSoft runs on Cloud, On-premises, Hybrid.
Can I use Kogito for free?
Yes. Kogito has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. MuleSoft starts at $1500/monthly.
What is Kogito best used for?
Kogito is most often used for a quarkus microservice that must expose a dmn decision model as a rest endpoint with millisecond start-up, serverless deployment of business rules where a traditional bpm server would be far too heavy, a red hat shop that wants the upstream of red hat process automation with the option of a supported build later, replacing hand-coded conditional logic with dmn tables that business analysts can review and amend. Of those, a quarkus microservice that must expose a dmn decision model as a rest endpoint with millisecond start-up and serverless deployment of business rules where a traditional bpm server would be far too heavy are not what MuleSoft is typically brought in for.
What can Kogito do that MuleSoft cannot?
Kogito covers Build-time code generation, Quarkus and Spring Boot support, DMN decision services, Drools rules engine. MuleSoft covers API Gateway, API Design, Integration Platform, Salesforce.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Kogito: Is Kogito still maintained?

Yes. It is an Apache KIE incubating project with active commits, with Red Hat as the dominant contributor.

MuleSoft: What does MuleSoft cost?

MuleSoft does not publish pricing on its website. The vendor markets its Anypoint Platform to enterprises with custom licensing quotes.

Source
Kogito: How does it differ from jBPM?

Kogito compiles process and rule definitions into application code at build time; jBPM was a runtime engine that loads definitions.

MuleSoft: How much does the MuleSoft Anypoint Platform cost per user?

MuleSoft does not disclose per-user, per-month, or per-API pricing on its website. Licensing models vary by customer requirements and deployment size.

Source
Kogito: Does it need Quarkus?

It is designed for Quarkus and supports Spring Boot; both are Java frameworks rather than a standalone server.

MuleSoft: Does MuleSoft offer a free trial?

MuleSoft encourages users to watch demos or contact sales to explore the platform. No free trial offer is mentioned on the website.

Source
Kogito: Is there commercial support?

Not from Apache. Red Hat sells supported builds of this lineage as part of its subscriptions.

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