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Automation Integration · head to head

Parabola vs Vellum

Parabola logo

Parabola

Automation Integration

Visual flow automation for modern teams

From
Free
Rated
-
Vellum logo

Vellum

AI

Personalized AI assistant with persistent memory and autonomous action-taking

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Parabola the Basic plan allows 1 user and 1,000 credits with limited AI; Vellum pricing varies significantly by computational tier, making budget planning difficult
  • They diverge on capability: Parabola covers Visual workflow builder, Vellum covers Persistent AI identity.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Parabola and Vellum actually diverge.

Attributes where Parabola and Vellum differ
AttributeParabolaVellum
Pricing modelfreemiumFreemium with paid plans and pay-as-you-go credits
PlatformsWebWeb, macOS, iOS, Slack, Telegram, Terminal
CategoryAutomation IntegrationAI
Founded2015Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Parabola

  • Visual workflow builder
  • Data transformation
  • Conditional logic
  • Looping
  • Error handling
  • Monitoring
  • Scheduling
  • 300+ apps

Only in Vellum

  • Persistent AI identity
  • Long-term memory
  • Email automation
  • Calendar management
  • Autonomous task execution
  • Multi-device synchronization
  • Custom plugins
  • Open-source deployment

What people use each for

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

Parabola

  • Workflow automation for operations and finance teamsnot Vellum
  • Data integration across 1,000+ sourcesnot Vellum
  • Automation and reporting workflowsnot Vellum

Vellum

  • Personal productivity automation across email and calendarnot Parabola
  • CRM updates and pipeline managementnot Parabola
  • Expense report generation and managementnot Parabola
  • Document drafting and content creationnot Parabola
  • Meeting scheduling and calendar coordinationnot Parabola

Where each one falls short

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

Parabola

  • The Basic plan allows 1 user and 1,000 credits with limited AI
  • No price is published for either the self serve or the business tier
  • Credits are consumed when agents run, and further credits are bought pay as you go
  • Role based access control, SSO, version history and SLAs all sit on the unpriced business plan

Vellum

  • Pricing varies significantly by computational tier, making budget planning difficult
  • Requires explicit permission for sensitive actions, limiting autonomy
  • Self-hosting option may intimidate non-technical users
  • Learning curve to develop customizations with plugins

Pricing, plan by plan

Parabola

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Parabola review.

Vellum

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Starter credits included
    • Basic features
  • Mighty$30/month
    • 1 vCPU, 2 GiB RAM
    • 10 GB storage
    • Included usage allowance
  • Super$100/month
    • 2.5 vCPU, 5 GiB RAM
    • 30 GB storage
    • Assistant email and subdomain
  • Ultra$200/month
    • 4 vCPU, 8 GiB RAM
    • 60 GB storage
    • Assistant email and subdomain

Which should you pick?

Choose Parabola if

  • You need visual workflow builder.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want data transformation.

Choose Vellum if

  • You need persistent ai identity.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, macOS, iOS, Slack, Telegram, Terminal.
  • You also want long-term memory.

Questions people ask

Is Parabola or Vellum better?
Neither clearly leads. Parabola starts at Free and Vellum at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Parabola or Vellum?
Parabola starts at Free and Vellum at Free.
Does Parabola or Vellum run on more platforms?
Parabola runs on Web. Vellum runs on Web, macOS, iOS, Slack, Telegram, Terminal.
Can I use Parabola for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Parabola best used for?
Parabola is most often used for workflow automation for operations and finance teams, data integration across 1,000+ sources, automation and reporting workflows. Of those, workflow automation for operations and finance teams and data integration across 1,000+ sources are not what Vellum is typically brought in for.
What can Parabola do that Vellum cannot?
Parabola covers Visual workflow builder, Data transformation, Conditional logic, Looping. Vellum covers Persistent AI identity, Long-term memory, Email automation, Calendar management.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Parabola: How much does Parabola cost?

Parabola does not publish specific pricing rates. The service uses a credit-based system where credits are consumed when agents run. Self-serve plans include a monthly credit allotment, and Business plans require a custom quote.

Source
Vellum: How does Vellum protect my data privacy?

Vellum uses permission-based controls requiring explicit approval for sensitive actions. Data is encrypted and the option for self-hosting provides complete data control. Open-source deployment option allows hosting on your own infrastructure.

Source
Parabola: Does Parabola offer a free plan?

Yes, Parabola offers a free tier indefinitely for self-serve users with limited credits and basic features including the Prowork agent builder and pre-built integrations.

Source
Vellum: Can I use Vellum for business team collaboration?

Vellum is primarily designed as a personal assistant with persistent identity. For team collaboration, platforms like Lindy offer better multi-user features with shared credit pools and Slack workspace integration.

Source
Parabola: What features are included in Parabola's Business plan?

Business plans include all self-serve features plus automation engineer enablement, deployment support, proof of concept on production data, enterprise security with SSO, service level agreements, and a dedicated account manager.

Source
Vellum: What does the free tier include?

Vellum offers free starter credits to begin using the platform. Beyond that, it operates on a pay-as-you-go credit model with paid tiers starting at $30/month for increased computational resources and bundled credits.

Source
Parabola: Can I upgrade from free to Business later?

Yes, customers can start on free or self-serve plans and upgrade to Business plans at any time.

Source
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