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Mendix vs OutSystems

Mendix logo

Mendix

No-Code

Siemens-owned low-code platform priced by app count, with cloud infrastructure billed separately

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
OutSystems logo

OutSystems

No-Code

Enterprise low-code platform priced by application complexity units, not just users

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Mendix has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Mendix the platform fee explicitly excludes compute and infrastructure costs, so the real all-in bill is the subscription plus a separate, less predictable cloud hosting charge.; OutSystems application Objects grow with every screen, table and API an app gains, so a successful app that keeps adding features can push the account into AO overage charges that were not modelled at initial budget time.
  • They diverge on capability: Mendix covers Visual app and process modelling, OutSystems covers Visual application modelling.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Mendix and OutSystems actually diverge.

Attributes where Mendix and OutSystems differ
AttributeMendixOutSystems
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelPer application tier (One App vs Unlimited Apps), cloud infrastructure billed separatelyApplication Object consumption plus internal and external user packs
Free tierYesNo

Identical on both: platforms (Web, iOS, Android), user rating (Not yet rated), category (No-Code).

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 Mendix

  • Visual app and process modelling
  • Free tier
  • Multi-cloud deployment
  • Native mobile builder
  • Marketplace connectors

Only in OutSystems

  • Visual application modelling
  • Generated deployable code
  • One-click deployment
  • Application Object governance
  • Prebuilt integrations

Both cover

  • AI-assisted development

What people use each for

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

Mendix

  • A Siemens industrial software customer extending into application development on a platform already inside its vendor ecosystemnot OutSystems
  • A company building exactly one production app that wants the lower One App tier rather than paying for unlimited apps it does not neednot OutSystems
  • An enterprise standardising on Mendix across many departments where the Unlimited Apps tier amortises wellnot OutSystems
  • A team wanting to evaluate low-code at zero cost before committing to a paid production tiernot OutSystems

OutSystems

  • An enterprise replacing custom .NET or Java application development with a governed low-code platform at scalenot Mendix
  • A company building customer-facing portals where the external-user pricing tier (packs of 10,000) is materially cheaper than licensing customers as internal usersnot Mendix
  • An IT department that wants generated, inspectable code rather than a proprietary black-box runtimenot Mendix
  • An organisation with a large existing application portfolio needing centralised governance across many apps built by different teamsnot Mendix

Where each one falls short

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

Mendix

  • The platform fee explicitly excludes compute and infrastructure costs, so the real all-in bill is the subscription plus a separate, less predictable cloud hosting charge.
  • The jump from a free or One App tier to Unlimited Apps is a large discrete price step (roughly 918 to 2,295 euros a month at published starting rates), not a gradual scale-up, which punishes a team that grows from one app to two.
  • Being a Siemens business unit means Mendix roadmap priorities can be shaped by Siemens' broader industrial software strategy rather than purely by low-code market demand.
  • Deployment flexibility across Mendix Cloud, Azure, Kubernetes and SAP BTP is a strength on paper but means the actual infrastructure cost and complexity vary significantly by choice, complicating like-for-like vendor comparisons.
  • Premium-tier features and enterprise governance capabilities are quote-only, so a buyer cannot fully compare Mendix's top tier against OutSystems or Appian without entering a sales process.

OutSystems

  • Application Objects grow with every screen, table and API an app gains, so a successful app that keeps adding features can push the account into AO overage charges that were not modelled at initial budget time.
  • Internal users are sold in packs of 100 and external users in packs of 10,000, so a company just over a pack boundary in either category pays for a full additional pack rather than a handful of extra seats.
  • Entry-level ODC pricing starts around 36,300 US dollars a year before any AO overage or extra user packs, which puts it out of reach for smaller teams evaluating low-code options.
  • Cloud infrastructure and hosting costs are frequently separate from the platform licence, so the all-in bill is higher than the headline subscription figure suggests.
  • Migrating a large application portfolio off OutSystems once built is difficult, since the generated code and platform-specific patterns are not designed for a clean export to standard frameworks.

Pricing, plan by plan

Mendix

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited users on one deployment environment
    • No commitment or credit card required
    • Suitable for evaluation and small-scale use
  • Standard, One App$undefined/month
    • Licenses a single application in production
    • Cloud deployment and standard support options
    • Compute and infrastructure costs billed separately
  • Standard, Unlimited Apps$undefined/month
    • Licenses unlimited applications under one subscription
    • Per-user cost declines as user volume grows
    • Discounted external (B2B/B2C) user rates available
  • Premium$undefined/month
    • Custom quote
    • Enterprise-grade governance and 24/7 support
    • Advanced deployment and compliance options

OutSystems

On request
  • ODC Entry$undefined/year
    • Entry-level Application Object allowance included
    • Internal users sold in packs of 100
    • External users sold in packs of 10,000
  • ODC Enterprise$undefined/year
    • Custom AO, user pack and environment volumes
    • Negotiated multi-year enterprise agreements
    • Premium support and dedicated infrastructure options

Which should you pick?

Choose Mendix if

  • You need visual app and process modelling.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want free tier.
Mendix review

Choose OutSystems if

  • You need visual application modelling.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want generated deployable code.
OutSystems review

Questions people ask

Is Mendix or OutSystems better?
Neither clearly leads. Mendix starts at Free and OutSystems at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Mendix or OutSystems?
Mendix has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Mendix and On request for OutSystems.
Does Mendix or OutSystems run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, iOS, Android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Mendix for free?
Yes. Mendix has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. OutSystems starts at On request.
What is Mendix best used for?
Mendix is most often used for a siemens industrial software customer extending into application development on a platform already inside its vendor ecosystem, a company building exactly one production app that wants the lower one app tier rather than paying for unlimited apps it does not need, an enterprise standardising on mendix across many departments where the unlimited apps tier amortises well, a team wanting to evaluate low-code at zero cost before committing to a paid production tier. Of those, a siemens industrial software customer extending into application development on a platform already inside its vendor ecosystem and a company building exactly one production app that wants the lower one app tier rather than paying for unlimited apps it does not need are not what OutSystems is typically brought in for.
What can Mendix do that OutSystems cannot?
Mendix covers Visual app and process modelling, Free tier, Multi-cloud deployment, Native mobile builder. OutSystems covers Visual application modelling, Generated deployable code, One-click deployment, Application Object governance. Both handle AI-assisted development.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Mendix: What is the difference between One App and Unlimited Apps?

One App licenses a single application in production; Unlimited Apps covers any number of apps under one subscription, at a materially higher starting price.

OutSystems: What is an Application Object?

A unit OutSystems uses to measure application complexity, counting elements such as screens, database tables and exposed APIs; more AOs mean a bigger licence requirement.

Mendix: Does the licence include hosting?

No. Mendix states explicitly that compute and infrastructure resources are billed separately from the platform licence, regardless of deployment target.

OutSystems: Is there a free tier?

OutSystems has offered free or trial tiers historically for evaluation, but production use at any scale runs on paid ODC plans.

Mendix: Who owns Mendix?

Siemens, which acquired Mendix in 2018 and runs it as part of its industrial software portfolio.

OutSystems: How does external user pricing work?

External users, typically customers or partners, are sold in packs of 10,000 at roughly a hundredth of the per-seat cost of internal (employee) user packs.

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