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No-Code · head to head

OutSystems vs Pipedream

OutSystems logo

OutSystems

No-Code

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

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Pipedream logo

Pipedream

Automation Integration

Build reliable workflows in minutes, not months

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Pipedream has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: 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.; Pipedream the Internet Archive's capture of Pipedream's pricing page on 26 December 2023 listed Free at $0/month (750 credits/mo, 3 active workflows, 3 connected accounts), Basic at $19/month billed annually (2,000 credits, 20 workflows), Advanced at $49/month billed annually (5,000 credits, unlimited workflows), and Business at $99/month billed annually (dedicated VPC, SSO); Enterprise is by contact only.
  • They diverge on capability: OutSystems covers Visual application modelling, Pipedream covers Workflow builder.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which OutSystems and Pipedream actually diverge.

Attributes where OutSystems and Pipedream differ
AttributeOutSystemsPipedream
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelApplication Object consumption plus internal and external user packsusage-based
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb, Api
CategoryNo-CodeAutomation Integration
FoundedUnknown2018

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

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 OutSystems

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

Only in Pipedream

  • Workflow builder
  • Node.js scripting
  • Webhooks
  • Schedulers
  • Data transformation
  • Error handling
  • Analytics
  • Git integration

What people use each for

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

OutSystems

  • An enterprise replacing custom .NET or Java application development with a governed low-code platform at scalenot Pipedream
  • 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 Pipedream
  • An IT department that wants generated, inspectable code rather than a proprietary black-box runtimenot Pipedream
  • An organisation with a large existing application portfolio needing centralised governance across many apps built by different teamsnot Pipedream

Pipedream

  • Workflow Automationnot OutSystems
  • Data Integrationnot OutSystems
  • Process Automationnot OutSystems
  • App Integrationnot OutSystems
  • API Connectivitynot OutSystems

Where each one falls short

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

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.

Pipedream

  • The Internet Archive's capture of Pipedream's pricing page on 26 December 2023 listed Free at $0/month (750 credits/mo, 3 active workflows, 3 connected accounts), Basic at $19/month billed annually (2,000 credits, 20 workflows), Advanced at $49/month billed annually (5,000 credits, unlimited workflows), and Business at $99/month billed annually (dedicated VPC, SSO); Enterprise is by contact only.

Pricing, plan by plan

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

Pipedream

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 100000 executions/month
    • 1000 sources
    • Community support
  • Pro$50/month
    • 500000 executions/month
    • Unlimited sources
    • Email support
  • Business$250/month
    • Unlimited executions
    • Priority support
    • Advanced features

Which should you pick?

Choose OutSystems if

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

Choose Pipedream if

  • You need workflow builder.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want node.js scripting.
Pipedream review

Questions people ask

Is OutSystems or Pipedream better?
Neither clearly leads. OutSystems starts at On request and Pipedream at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, OutSystems or Pipedream?
Pipedream has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for OutSystems and Free for Pipedream.
Does OutSystems or Pipedream run on more platforms?
OutSystems runs on Web, iOS, Android. Pipedream runs on Web, Api.
Can I use Pipedream for free?
Yes. Pipedream has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. OutSystems starts at On request.
What is OutSystems best used for?
OutSystems is most often used for an enterprise replacing custom .net or java application development with a governed low-code platform at scale, a company building customer-facing portals where the external-user pricing tier (packs of 10,000) is materially cheaper than licensing customers as internal users, an it department that wants generated, inspectable code rather than a proprietary black-box runtime, an organisation with a large existing application portfolio needing centralised governance across many apps built by different teams. Of those, an enterprise replacing custom .net or java application development with a governed low-code platform at scale and a company building customer-facing portals where the external-user pricing tier (packs of 10,000) is materially cheaper than licensing customers as internal users are not what Pipedream is typically brought in for.
What can OutSystems do that Pipedream cannot?
OutSystems covers Visual application modelling, Generated deployable code, One-click deployment, AI-assisted development. Pipedream covers Workflow builder, Node.js scripting, Webhooks, Schedulers.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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.

Pipedream: What does Pipedream's free plan include?

The free plan provides access to Workflows and Connect for development purposes with limited active workflows and connected accounts. Development and testing workflows consume no credits.

Source
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.

Pipedream: How does Pipedream's credit-based billing work?

Pipedream charges one credit per 30 seconds of compute time at the default 256MB memory level. Increasing memory to 512MB doubles the credit cost. Paid plans include a base monthly credit allotment plus a platform fee.

Source
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.

Pipedream: What actions and operations consume credits?

Action executions, tool calls via MCP, deployed trigger emissions, and Connect proxy requests consume credits. Free operations include listing apps, account management, and the first 30 seconds of public registry source executions.

Source
Pipedream: How is Pipedream's Connect feature billed?

Connect billing includes API usage charges for operations and compute, plus per-end-user charges based on unique external users connecting accounts, not the number of accounts.

Source
Pipedream: What happens if I downgrade my plan?

Plan downgrades take effect at the end of the current billing cycle, and the new plan's limits are enforced at that time. Cancellation also takes effect at the end of the current period.

Source
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