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Automation Integration · head to head

Kogito vs Workato

Kogito logo

Kogito

Automation Integration

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Workato logo

Workato

Automation Integration

The enterprise integration platform

From
$99/month
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.; Workato the pricing page names four product lines, Enterprise iPaaS, Agentic solutions, API Management and Data Orchestration, and publishes no figure for any of them, gating all of it behind Schedule a demo
  • They diverge on capability: Kogito covers Build-time code generation, Workato covers Process orchestration.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Kogito and Workato actually diverge.

Attributes where Kogito and Workato differ
AttributeKogitoWorkato
Starting priceFree$99/month
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsLinux, Docker, KubernetesWeb, On-premise
FoundedUnknown2014

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 Workato

  • Process orchestration
  • Master data management
  • Integration templates
  • Real-time sync
  • Error handling
  • Monitoring
  • API management
  • Workflow analytics

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

Workato

  • 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.

Workato

  • The pricing page names four product lines, Enterprise iPaaS, Agentic solutions, API Management and Data Orchestration, and publishes no figure for any of them, gating all of it behind Schedule a demo

Pricing, plan by plan

Kogito

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

Workato

$99/month
  • Starter$99/month
    • Up to 50 recipes
    • Basic integrations
    • Email support
  • Professional$299/month
    • Unlimited recipes
    • Premium integrations
    • Priority support
  • Enterprise$999/month
    • Custom SLA
    • Dedicated support
    • 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 Workato if

  • You need process orchestration.
  • You work on Web, On-premise.
  • You also want master data management.
Workato review

Questions people ask

Is Kogito or Workato better?
Neither clearly leads. Kogito starts at Free and Workato at $99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Kogito or Workato?
Kogito has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Kogito and $99/month for Workato.
Does Kogito or Workato run on more platforms?
Kogito runs on Linux, Docker, Kubernetes. Workato runs on Web, On-premise.
Can I use Kogito for free?
Yes. Kogito has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Workato starts at $99/month.
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 Workato is typically brought in for.
What can Kogito do that Workato cannot?
Kogito covers Build-time code generation, Quarkus and Spring Boot support, DMN decision services, Drools rules engine. Workato covers Process orchestration, Master data management, Integration templates, Real-time sync.

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.

Workato: How is Workato pricing structured?

Workato states their pricing is built for flexibility and designed to support organizations of all sizes and needs. However, specific tier costs, feature inclusions, and contract terms are not published on their website.

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.

Workato: Can I see Workato's pricing without talking to sales?

No. Workato requires interested buyers to either request a demo, request a trial, or contact their sales team directly to discuss pricing.

Source
Kogito: Does it need Quarkus?

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

Workato: Does Workato have a Predictable Pricing Commitment?

Yes, Workato mentions a Predictable Pricing Commitment, but the details are not visible on the main pricing page. You would need to contact them or visit the linked resource for details.

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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