Flowable vs ToolJet
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted automation & workflows options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
Flowable
Lightweight business process engine with BPMN and DMN
VS
ToolJet
Low-code platform for building and automating business tools
| Feature | Flowable | ToolJet |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Automation & Workflows | Automation & Workflows |
| License | Apache-2.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Java | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 2,048 MB |
| Deployment | docker, kubernetes, bare-metal | docker, kubernetes, helm |
| GitHub stars | ★ 9,447 | ★ 38,306 |
| First released | 2016 | 2021 |
| Replaces | Microsoft Power Automate, Camunda | Retool, Microsoft Power Apps |
Why pick each one
Frequently asked questions
Is Flowable or ToolJet better?
ToolJet is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider Flowable if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Flowable and ToolJet free and open-source?
Yes. Flowable is licensed under Apache-2.0 and ToolJet under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Flowable and ToolJet with Docker?
Flowable: yes. ToolJet: yes.