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Automation Integration · head to head

Kogito vs Salesforce Flows

Kogito logo

Kogito

Automation Integration

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Salesforce Flows logo

Salesforce Flows

Automation Integration

Automation inside Salesforce

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • 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.; Salesforce Flows not suitable for highly complex scenarios with intricate decision-making or bulk data processing
  • They diverge on capability: Kogito covers Build-time code generation, Salesforce Flows covers Visual flow builder.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Kogito and Salesforce Flows actually diverge.

Attributes where Kogito and Salesforce Flows differ
AttributeKogitoSalesforce Flows
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feeUnknown
PlatformsLinux, Docker, KubernetesSalesforce Cloud, Web, Mobile
FoundedUnknown1999

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 Kogito

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

Only in Salesforce Flows

  • Visual flow builder
  • Approvals
  • Scheduled actions
  • Screen flows
  • Multi-step workflows
  • Conditional logic
  • Error handling
  • Salesforce native

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 Salesforce Flows
  • Serverless deployment of business rules where a traditional BPM server would be far too heavynot Salesforce Flows
  • A Red Hat shop that wants the upstream of Red Hat process automation with the option of a supported build laternot Salesforce Flows
  • Replacing hand-coded conditional logic with DMN tables that business analysts can review and amendnot Salesforce Flows

Salesforce Flows

  • Workflow Automationnot Kogito
  • Data Integrationnot Kogito
  • Process Automationnot Kogito
  • App Integrationnot Kogito
  • API Connectivitynot 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.

Salesforce Flows

  • Not suitable for highly complex scenarios with intricate decision-making or bulk data processing
  • No automatic record locking, causing conflicts when multiple users update same records
  • Limited error handling compared to Apex
  • Requires Enterprise edition or higher for full capabilities
  • Auto-launched Flows cannot display screens to users
  • Complex dependency management and configuration challenges when deploying between environments

Pricing, plan by plan

Kogito

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

Salesforce Flows

Free
  • Salesforce FreeFree
    • 2 user licenses
    • Basic workflows
    • Limited automation
  • Starter$25/user/month
    • Sales flows
    • Lead routing
    • Email marketing analytics
  • Professional$100/user/month
    • Sales quoting
    • Forecasting
    • AppExchange access
  • Enterprise$165/user/month
    • Full Flow Builder
    • Custom objects
    • Sandboxes

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 Salesforce Flows if

  • You need visual flow builder.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Salesforce Cloud, Web, Mobile.
  • You also want approvals.
Salesforce Flows review

Questions people ask

Is Kogito or Salesforce Flows better?
Neither clearly leads. Kogito starts at Free and Salesforce Flows at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Kogito or Salesforce Flows?
Kogito starts at Free and Salesforce Flows at Free.
Does Kogito or Salesforce Flows run on more platforms?
Kogito runs on Linux, Docker, Kubernetes. Salesforce Flows runs on Salesforce Cloud, Web, Mobile.
Can I use Kogito for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 Salesforce Flows is typically brought in for.
What can Kogito do that Salesforce Flows cannot?
Kogito covers Build-time code generation, Quarkus and Spring Boot support, DMN decision services, Drools rules engine. Salesforce Flows covers Visual flow builder, Approvals, Scheduled actions, Screen flows.

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.

Salesforce Flows: Which Salesforce editions include Flows?

Salesforce Flow Builder is included in Enterprise Edition ($165/user/month) and above. Professional Edition lacks advanced automation capabilities and Flow Builder access. Starter and lower editions have limited Flow support.

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.

Salesforce Flows: What are the main limitations of Salesforce Flows?

Flows are limited by DML operations (max 150 data elements that modify data), SOQL queries (max 100 data elements that retrieve data), and are not designed for bulk processing. Auto-launched Flows do not support screens and have limited error handling compared to Apex.

Source
Kogito: Does it need Quarkus?

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

Salesforce Flows: Can Salesforce Flows integrate with external systems?

Yes, through MuleSoft connectors and Salesforce API Catalog. Pre-built connectors exist for systems like Asana, and admins can create custom connectors. Complex integrations may still require Apex or third-party platforms.

Source
Kogito: Is there commercial support?

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

Salesforce Flows: When was Salesforce Flow redesigned?

Flow Builder was introduced in Spring '19 as a replacement for the previous Flow Designer, providing a more familiar interface similar to other Salesforce Lightning Builder tools.

Source
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