Pega vs Flowable: which to choose

Which fits your case management needs: Pega or Flowable

Choose Pega when your case work depends on Pega's low-code case UI and you want a vendor carrying support and upgrades. Choose Flowable when you want an Apache-2.0 engine you can embed, extend and operate with your own developers and your own interface. If your renewal, hosting rule or lock-in concern is the trigger, the answer usually depends less on feature lists than on who will build, run and own the case application after go-live. Pega fits organizations that want Pega Cloud, where Pega runs the service, or the client-managed model, where you run Pega Infinity with Docker, Kubernetes and Helm on a validated provider such as Amazon EKS, Azure AKS, Google GKE, Red Hat OpenShift, VMware Tanzu Kubernetes Grid Integrated Edition or bare metal Kubernetes. In that model, your team still handles the underlying infrastructure while Pega provides certification and 24/7 support.

Flowable fits when the case logic should live in your code. Its engines cover BPMN, CMMN and DMN and run as a JAR inside Java SE, servlet, Spring or Java EE applications, or as a standalone service through the REST application. The Flowable 7.0.0 release notes state that the UI applications, form engine and content engine were removed, so the screens, forms and document handling must be built by you or by a partner. Flowable's commercial products add low-code modeling and governance on the same engines, but they are a separate purchase. Confirm with Flowable which Spring Boot and Java versions your team must support, since Flowable 8.0.0 requires Spring Boot 4 and drops Spring Boot 3.

The decision turns on three points. First, whether your developers can own Java, Spring and database operations, including the async executor that coordinates jobs across nodes through database lock records. Second, how much of your Pega rule set is UI-dependent, because screens and Pega-specific rules will not carry over automatically and must be rebuilt. Third, who carries operations: with Pega Cloud the vendor runs the service, while with Flowable or client-managed Pega your team carries patching, backup, scaling and incident response. Write these answers down before you compare quotes, because they determine whether the lower license cost of an open-source engine is offset by the development and operations effort it adds.

Which option fits each scenario

This table maps common situations to the better fit between Pega Platform and Flowable, with the condition that makes each choice matter. Read each row against your own team skills, residency rules and support requirements, since the right answer often depends on who will build and operate the case applications for the next several years.

Scenario	Better fit	Why it matters under these conditions
Team with strong Java developers building case apps	Flowable	Flowable is a Java engine that can be embedded in Spring or servlet applications, so case logic lives in code your developers already maintain. Expect to build the user interfaces yourselves, since Flowable's visual tooling is in commercial editions.
Bank needing Pega's built-in case UI and vendor support	Pega Platform	Pega ships a low-code UI, decisioning and a vendor support model. If case officers need configured screens quickly and a single accountable vendor matters more than code ownership, the commercial platform reduces custom build work.
Data residency on your own Kubernetes cluster	Flowable (or Pega client-managed)	Flowable runs inside your own infrastructure with no vendor hosting dependency. Pega's client-managed option also runs on your Kubernetes, but your team then owns infrastructure operations while Pega provides certification and 24/7 support. Confirm both models against your residency terms.
Consolidating from Camunda 7	Flowable or Operaton	Camunda 7 Community Edition is end of life and archived, so the decision is about where to land. Operaton keeps the Camunda 7 REST API and schema, which reduces change. Flowable needs more adaptation, but it covers CMMN case management that Camunda 7 did not.
Consolidating from IBM BAMOE	Flowable	BAMOE is the successor to Red Hat Process Automation Manager, which runs jBPM and Drools. Flowable covers BPMN, CMMN and DMN in one engine family, so case and decision models may port more directly than in a jBPM-only design. Confirm which rules and forms your current assets depend on.
Mostly structured case work with long-term rules change by business users	Pega Platform	If business analysts edit rules and decisions without developers, Pega's rules-based model fits better. Flowable DMN tables help with decisions, but editing rules without a developer usually needs a commercial Flowable edition or a custom front end.
Limited budget for platform engineering and no in-house Java skills	Pega Platform or a Flowable partner engagement	A self-hosted engine adds build, hardening and upgrade work that falls to your team or an implementation partner. Ask any partner to scope this in writing before you assume the open-source route is cheaper.
Team preferring full control of source and upgrade timing	Flowable	Apache-2.0 licensing and in-house code give you control over upgrades and forks. Recent major releases changed framework requirements, so plan Spring and Java upgrades as part of ownership.

What carries over from Pega and what needs custom development

Process flows and decision logic map most cleanly to open standards, but Pega's surrounding application layer does not. Flowable's engines execute BPMN 2.0 process models, CMMN case models with stages, milestones and sentry conditions, and DMN decision tables. A Pega flow that is a sequence of steps, splits and subprocesses can usually be redrawn as a BPMN model, and a case type whose stages and milestones are driven by conditions is the natural fit for CMMN. Decision tables that return a value from a fixed set of inputs can be expressed in DMN. Before estimating effort, inventory each Pega rule and classify it as a process, case, decision or none of these, because the classification drives the rework.

Several Pega artifacts have no direct counterpart in Flowable. Pega's UI sections, harnesses, data pages, declarative rules, activities and Pega-specific connectors are not carried into the engines, and Flowable 7.0.0 removed the UI applications and the form and content engines, so screens, forms and document handling must be built in your application layer or in a separate product. Data pages and declarative rules will need to be replaced by services, database queries or Java logic. Identity is a case in point: Flowable's identity management is replaced by overriding IdmIdentityServiceImpl or by implementing the IdmIdentityService interface, and the Flowable docs provide an LDAP identity service as a reference. Your directory integration and group mapping therefore need engineering time, and you should confirm them against your current Pega operator and access group setup. Plan for these as custom development from the start.

Where your case data and runtime live

Pega and Flowable differ less in features than in who operates the runtime and where case data sits. Each card below covers one hosting or data decision that changes the migration plan, the support model and the evidence your auditors will ask for.

Pega Cloud, Pega-managed

Pega Cloud is a service in which Pega runs the environment for you, so your case data is hosted on infrastructure Pega operates. Your team trades infrastructure work for a dependency on Pega's hosting regions, change windows and contractual terms. Before you plan a move, ask Pega which regions and sub-processors hold your data, how backups are stored and how you would export case data if the service ended.

Pega client-managed cloud

In this model you deploy Pega Infinity with Docker, Kubernetes and Helm on a validated provider such as Amazon EKS, Azure AKS, Google GKE, Red Hat OpenShift, VMware Tanzu Kubernetes Grid Integrated Edition or bare metal Kubernetes. Your team runs the infrastructure, while Pega provides certification and 24/7 support. Confirm which provider and version your residency rules allow, and who holds administrative access to the cluster.

Flowable in your own estate

Flowable runs as an embedded library inside your Java application or as a standalone service with REST APIs, so you choose the cloud account, data center or air-gapped network that hosts it. Case data then lives wherever your database and application servers live. Document the hosting boundary for each engine and service, because CMMN case instances, BPMN process instances and DMN decision tables all persist in the same database.

Supported database engines

Flowable's configuration docs list H2, MySQL, Oracle, PostgreSQL, DB2 and Microsoft SQL Server as supported database types. Your choice sets your backup, encryption at rest and disaster recovery procedures, and it should match the database standard your organization already operates. H2 is suited to development and testing rather than a regulated production system. Confirm the version of your chosen database against the Flowable configuration docs before you build.

Identity and access controls

Pega's identity and access model is part of the platform, while Flowable's identity management can be replaced by implementing the IdmIdentityService interface, with an LDAP reference implementation provided. Your directory, single sign-on and role mapping will need to be rebuilt or integrated on the Flowable side. Decide early which system is the source of truth for users, groups and privileges, and how access reviews will be evidenced.

Residency and audit requirements

Where case data sits, who can reach it and how long it is retained are questions for your compliance officer and external auditors, not for the vendor alone. DeployOpen can prepare systems, controls and evidence for an assessment, but the assessment itself is performed by independent auditors. Ask your auditors which control evidence they need for hosting, logging and access, and agree that list before choosing a hosting model.

How licensing and editions differ

Pega Platform is sold as a commercial subscription within Pega Infinity, and the license terms, included features and support scope are set by your contract with Pega. Deployment comes in two forms: Pega Cloud, which Pega operates for you, and a client-managed cloud option in which you run Pega Infinity with Docker, Kubernetes and Helm on a validated provider. Pega's client-managed page says the client handles the underlying infrastructure operations while Pega provides certification and 24/7 support.

Hosting model: Pega Cloud is Pega-managed, while client-managed runs on your own Kubernetes or validated platforms.
Who operates infrastructure: Under client-managed, your team runs clusters, upgrades and backups.
Release cadence: The content group describes releases every nine to twelve months with 36 months of support per version.
Recurring cost: The subscription and any support tiers recur for as long as you use the platform.
Included scope: Confirm whether your contract covers additional environments, rule packs, UI components and support hours.

Ask Pega or your account team to confirm license metrics, what is included in your contract, and how upgrades and support windows apply to your version.

Cost components on each side and what drives them

Pega's cost is mostly a subscription or hosting commitment plus vendor-led upgrades, while Flowable's cost is mostly the engineering team, infrastructure and the work of building the application around the engines. Both sides carry recurring operations, upgrade and support costs, so the comparison depends on which of these your organization already staffs.

Pega subscription and hosting

Pega is licensed commercially, and the fee depends on the deployment model: Pega Cloud as a Pega-managed service, or client-managed cloud where you run Pega Infinity on your own Kubernetes platform. Ask whether the quote covers production, non-production and disaster recovery environments, and how renewal pricing is capped. Confirm which hosting model the quote assumes, because it changes who pays for infrastructure operations.

Flowable engine usage

Flowable is Apache-2.0 licensed, so using the open-source BPMN, CMMN and DMN engines carries no license fee. Costs appear instead when you buy Flowable's commercial editions, which add low-code modeling, monitoring and governance, or professional services. Ask the vendor which capabilities you need from the commercial layer and whether those are priced separately from engine support.

Infrastructure and database

On the Flowable side you pay for compute, storage, networking, backups and high availability for the application servers and the database. Flowable supports H2, MySQL, Oracle, PostgreSQL, DB2 and Microsoft SQL Server, so licensing for an enterprise database may be the largest line here. Ask your database team to size production and recovery environments before comparing totals.

Java and Spring developers

Flowable is a Java engine that embeds into Spring, servlet or Java EE applications, so the main ongoing cost is skilled Java and Spring engineers who build, operate and patch it. Pega development uses its own low-code tooling, so the skills gap and the hiring market differ. Ask for role counts, skill requirements and how many engineers the team needs at steady state, not only during the build.

UI development and identity integration

Flowable provides engines and REST APIs but not Pega's low-code user interface, so case screens, worklists and forms are built as custom front-end work. Identity is also yours to connect: Flowable documents replacing its identity management through IdmIdentityService, with an LDAP reference implementation. Request estimates for each screen type and each identity provider integration as separate line items.

Upgrades and testing

Pega upgrades arrive on Pega's release cadence, while Flowable upgrades are your responsibility. Flowable 8.0.0 moved to Spring Framework 7 and Spring Boot 4 with no backward compatibility for Spring Boot 3, and removed JUnit 3 and 4 support, so a major version change can force changes to your own code and test suites. Budget regression testing for every engine upgrade and ask any vendor how long each version is supported.

Support contracts and the team

Pega includes vendor support in its subscription and, in client-managed cloud, Pega provides certification and 24/7 support while you run the infrastructure operations. Flowable's open-source users rely on a community forum, and professional services or partner support are contracted separately. Ask whether support is included, what response terms apply and who on your side owns on-call duties.

What a move from Pega to Flowable involves

The sequence turns Pega rules into a documented inventory, splits process logic from UI-bound rules, and phases case types onto Flowable's CMMN, BPMN and DMN engines until Pega can be retired. Each step ends with an artifact that the next step depends on.

Inventory case types, flows and decision rules
Start by listing every case type, flow, decision table, declare expression and integration that the Pega application uses, with its owners, volumes and downstream systems. Export the application and ruleset archives first so the inventory is built from the actual rule definitions rather than from memory or old documentation. The step is done when each item has an owner, a business purpose and a status of keep, rebuild, retire or defer. Use the export options described in the sibling page on exporting data from Pega Platform as the starting point.
Classify candidates as process models or UI-bound rules
Sort each inventory item into one of two groups. Process logic such as stages, tasks, timers, approvals and case lifecycles maps to CMMN and BPMN models, and decision logic maps to DMN tables. Rules tied to Pega's screens, portals, section layouts and data-driven forms do not carry over as models and need a separate interface plan. Involve business analysts and the architects who own the Pega application, because classification decides how much custom development the project needs. The output is a signed-off list that separates engine-level logic from presentation logic.
Stand up Flowable on your target platform
Choose the deployment model first: embedded in a Spring or servlet application, or run as a standalone service through the Flowable REST APIs. Select a supported database such as PostgreSQL, Oracle or Microsoft SQL Server, and set up identity management, which Flowable expects you to replace or connect, for example through its LDAP reference implementation. Configure the async executor for timers and background jobs, and add monitoring through the actuator endpoint if you use Spring Boot. The step is done when a non-production environment runs a sample case and process end to end, with logs, backups and access controls in place in your own infrastructure.
Rebuild the user interface and integrations
Flowable's open-source engines do not include the UI applications that Flowable 7.0.0 removed, so each work queue, case form, dashboard and integration point needs a deliberate build. Your team or a services partner decides whether to write front ends against the REST APIs, use Flowable's commercial low-code editions, or use another self-hosted UI layer. Rebuild authentication, role checks and audit logging in the same pass, because Pega's rule-based security does not transfer automatically. The step is done when agreed user journeys pass acceptance testing against the Flowable APIs and the access model matches the inventory.
Migrate case data and running instances
Decide, per case type, whether open cases will finish on Pega or move to Flowable. Moving open case data requires mapping Pega's data model to Flowable's variables and case instances, and this mapping is custom work, because no supplied tool converts Pega case data into Flowable state. Closed cases usually move to an archive instead of the live engine. Test the mapping with a sample of real records, reconcile counts and key fields, and confirm how audit history will be retained. The step is done when reconciliation reports match between source and target for every migrated case type.
Run in parallel and phase case types off Pega
Move case types one at a time, starting with a low-risk type, and run Pega and Flowable side by side until outputs and service levels match. Route new cases for a migrated type to Flowable and let open Pega cases complete, then switch the integrations that depend on it. Keep Pega available for rollback until the last dependent case type has closed. The step is done when each case type has a documented cutover, a tested rollback path and a retirement record, and the Pega license scope can be reduced to match the remaining work. Check the Pega contract terms and the sibling cost comparison before you set retirement dates.

Questions buyers ask before switching from Pega

How much does a move from Pega to Flowable cost?

The cost depends mostly on how much Pega logic must be rebuilt, not on the Flowable licence, which is Apache-2.0 and carries no license fee. Costs fall into four groups: re-implementing case types, flows and decision rules on Flowable's CMMN, BPMN and DMN engines; rebuilding user interfaces, since Flowable's open-source engines do not include a low-code UI layer; migrating case data; and running the new stack. Ask any partner for a quote built from a written scope that lists each case type, decision table and screen. Separate one-time work from recurring hosting, staff and support costs, and ask how each is priced.

How long does a phased move off Pega take?

Timing is set by the number of case types, the depth of Pega rules that must be re-created, and how many user interfaces must be rebuilt. A phased approach moves one case type at a time, so Pega and Flowable run side by side while open work is finished in Pega. Other factors include integrations with downstream systems, the availability of your subject matter experts for rule validation, and your change control process. Ask for a timeline tied to a written, fixed scope, and ask which milestones depend on your own teams.

What does the move require from our internal team?

Expect demand for process owners, business analysts who can explain current case behavior, integration engineers, a platform team that runs Kubernetes or Java services, and security staff who review access and logging. Flowable is a Java engine that can run embedded in an application, inside Tomcat, Jetty or Spring, or as a standalone service over REST, so your developers need Java and Spring skills to maintain it. Confirm early who will own the process models after the project ends.

Can our own team migrate from Pega without outside help?

Yes, an experienced in-house team can do the work, but it must cover the gaps Flowable leaves open. Flowable provides the BPMN, CMMN and DMN engines, the REST APIs and the database layer, while you must build the case interfaces, identity integration and any reporting that Pega provided out of the box. Teams with no prior BPM engine experience usually take on a larger share of the learning curve. Independent review of the design, security controls and testing can be contracted separately if you want a second opinion.

Does Flowable offer commercial support, and what does it include?

Yes. Flowable sells commercial editions, including Flowable Work, Engage, Orchestrate and Design, built on the same engines and adding low-code modeling, visual debugging, security controls, monitoring and governance. Open-source users get a community forum, while professional services and partners are offered separately. Ask Flowable which support tier, response commitments and upgrade assistance apply to your deployment. DeployOpen implements, hardens, backs up and supports self-hosted open-source platforms, but it is not a Flowable partner or reseller unless that status is stated.

How do Flowable version changes affect our upgrade plan?

Major versions can change the platform beneath your code. Flowable 7.0.0 moved to Java 17, Spring Boot 3 and Jakarta EE and removed the UI applications, the form and content engines, Mule integration and async history. Flowable 8.0.0 upgraded to Spring Framework 7 and Spring Boot 4 with no backward compatibility for Spring Boot 3, made Jackson 3 the default JSON library with a Jackson 2 compatibility layer, and removed JUnit 3 and 4 support. Plan for these changes in your build and test pipeline, and confirm the release notes before you select a version to build on.

What happens to our data during a phased move?

Case data stays in Pega until each case type is moved, and open cases are typically finished in Pega or migrated under a documented rule. Flowable stores engine state in a relational database, supporting H2, MySQL, Oracle, PostgreSQL, DB2 and Microsoft SQL Server, so you choose where that data lives. Pega's documented export tools move rules as archives, not portable process models, so case data and rule logic must be mapped deliberately. Confirm retention, audit trail and access control requirements for both systems before cutover.

How DeployOpen helps you evaluate, implement or migrate

DeployOpen plans, implements, customizes, integrates, hardens, documents and supports self-hosted open-source platforms inside your own infrastructure, including Flowable engines running in your cloud account, data center or air-gapped network. We start by agreeing on what Pega capabilities you need to keep, so the Flowable work is sized to real case types rather than to the full product.

How we scope

We inventory your Pega case types, flows, decision rules and UI screens to see which map to CMMN, BPMN and DMN.
The written scope names which capabilities move to Flowable, which need custom development and which stay on Pega.
Engagements are fixed-scope, with deliverables and timelines agreed in writing before work starts.

How we build

We deploy Flowable as an embedded JAR, a Spring Boot service or a standalone REST service, matched to your architecture.
We build the missing pieces, such as user interfaces, identity integration and reporting, and test them against migrated case data.
We configure supported databases, the async executor and identity integration, and test them under your own load and failure scenarios.

How we hand over

You receive documented process and case models, configuration, deployment runbooks and a record of which Pega rules were replaced.
We document decisions where Flowable differs from Pega, so your team understands what was rebuilt and why.
Knowledge transfer covers operating the engines, upgrading Flowable versions and maintaining the custom code you own.

How we support

Ongoing support, upgrades and continuous testing are available as retainers after handover.
Retainers can cover Flowable version upgrades, such as the move between major releases, with testing agreed in advance.
Ask for a quote built from the written scope, which sets out who pays for development, hosting, testing and support.

Pega vs Flowable