Appian vs Pega Platform

Appian and Pega Platform are cloud-based platforms that help developers quickly build apps for business process management (BPM), case management, customer relationship management (CRM), and other business needs. Appian sacrifices some flexibility in favor of ease of use, while Pega Platform sometimes prioritizes customization over usability. Overall, however, both platforms offer similar functionality. Due to their focus on addressing enterprise business needs, both products are used primarily by large companies and organizations.

Features

Although both Pega Platform and Appian offer similar features and capabilities, they differ in their user experience and flexibility.

Appian is focused on being quick and easy to use, both for developers and end users. Developers find Appian intuitive and suitable for quick-turnaround development, allowing them to create mockups and prototype apps within hours or even within minutes. Users with development experience are able to get up to speed with the platform quickly and easily. The platform integrates well with external systems such as Salesforce and DocuSign, helping businesses develop apps that play well with their existing systems. Appian is also actively developed, with quarterly releases responsive to user feedback and changing business landscapes.

Pega Platform, on the other hand, offers detailed customization options and is open to code-based modification. Its modification and update capabilities for apps are easy to use and helpful, making it simple for developers to adapt their apps as needed. Machine learning and analytics allow developers to create apps that learn from past behavior. BPM workflows in Pega Platform are easy for developers to demonstrate and explain, even to non-technical stakeholders.

Limitations

However, each platform has drawbacks that might make it less suitable for your organization. You should consider the limitations of Pega Platform and Appian before purchasing.

Pega Platform’s customizability comes with a price. Despite its low-code and no-code options, the software still requires a non-trivial amount of user training and can be intimidating for new users, especially users without previous development experience. Setting up Pega Platform initially can be a difficult task on its own, with some businesses requiring significant support from the vendor to get started. It can also be slow, especially for users with sub-optimal internet connections, since every action requires communication with the cloud server.

Appian’s frequent upgrades are great for adding new features, but some customers find the upgrade process itself frustrating. Appian doesn’t offer tools to test whether an upgrade will affect the functionality of existing apps, which means you might have to test your applications after every upgrade. Appian’s templates and default forms don’t allow enough customization for some users, requiring them to develop from-scratch solutions instead of modifying a template. The platform also provides limited support for complex UI requirements, code-based development, and data visualizations.

Pricing

Appian offers multiple pricing options in a tiered structure. The Free tier is free and includes training materials and access to basic Appian functionality so new users can evaluate the platform. The Standard tier allows one application per license with a minimum of 100 users, and is priced per user based on the user type: Standard Users ($60/user) with admin access, development capabilities, and unlimited access to the app itself; Infrequent Users ($18/user) with up to four 24-hour sessions per month; and External Input Users ($2/user) who can submit forms and requests to the developed app. The Flat Fee tier offers one fixed price per app, with unlimited users. The Enterprise tier allows an unlimited number of apps and is priced per user. Pricing for the Flat Fee and Enterprise tiers are available via a quote from Appian.

Pega Platform offers three pricing tiers. The Trial tier is free and is limited to 30 days of usage for evaluation and training purposes. The Enterprise Starter tier is $90 per user per month and includes features for internal business apps. The Enterprise Transformation tier is priced by quote from the vendor and adds features for customer engagement and users external to your organization.