Appian is a low-code automation platform that helps businesses build enterprise apps. It specializes in automating complex workflows without writing thousands of lines of code.
However, their pricing isn’t very clear. Until recently, Appian had actual numbers on its pricing page, but they have removed them.
Read on to learn more about:
- How Appian’s pricing structure works
- Factors affecting Appian’s total cost of ownership (TCO)
- A more affordable alternative
Let’s start by understanding how pricing works.
How does Appian pricing work?
Appian’s pricing is subscription-based and follows a per-user, per-app model. This means you pay a monthly fee based on the number of users or applications you add to your subscription.
However, you have to request a sales call to get a quote. In other words, you won’t find any hard figures on Appian’s website.
During negotiations, pricing is determined by:
- How many users or apps you need.
- Your chosen deployment model (cloud, on-premises, or hybrid).
- Your subscription tier (Standard, Advanced, or Premium), each of which unlocks additional features like more RPA bots, AI functionality, and more data sources.
If you just want to kick the tires or train your team, there’s a free Community Edition, though it has limitations on users and certain features.
Official Appian pricing plans
Each paid tier includes a 99.8%–99.99% cloud SLA, a one-minute Recovery Point Objective (RPO), and a four-minute Recovery Time Objective (RTO).
Here’s a breakdown of each plan and what it offers:
Appian offers some other paid add-ons:
- Appian Accelerate: Custom guidance to optimize your implementation
- Appian Delivery: A dedicated Appian expert to deliver your implementation.
- Appian Guarantee: A commitment to delivering a custom solution within 8 weeks
- Appian Academy: Training resources to learn Appian
Determining Appian's per-user cost is difficult since pricing varies based on negotiations.
4 factors that affect Appian’s total cost of ownership (TCO)
Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) represents the full cost of a software solution over its entire lifecycle. For Appian, this includes:
Licensing costs
This is the core of Appian’s pricing. You pay for each application you build, and then you pay for the specific people (named users) who can actually use each of those apps. So, more apps? Your costs go up. More users on a specific app? That also adds to the cost.
The "tier" you pick (Standard, Advanced, or Premium) matters too. It doesn't just affect what your apps can do (the features), it also affects the price. A higher tier unlocks more powerful features, but it also means each application costs more.
Implementation & development
While Appian is low-code, there will likely be some level of customization that requires developers.
You've basically got three paths to choose from:
- Hiring external Appian-certified developers
- Using your in-house teams
- Using implementation partners from Appian
Each of these options affects your Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) differently. External developers and implementation partners come with hefty consulting fees while using your in-house team might seem cheaper but can lead to hidden costs from extended development time and delayed market entry.
Infrastructure & hosting
The deployment model you choose can have a dramatic effect on TCO. If you opt for Appian Cloud (SaaS), you'll benefit from lower upfront costs, though pricing will scale as your usage grows. Conversely, deploying on-premises comes with higher initial infrastructure and setup expenses, but it may also give you more leverage to negotiate lower licensing fees.
Maintenance & support
Finally, once your Appian environment is live, you’ll incur ongoing costs to keep it running smoothly. Software updates and patches are typically covered under cloud subscriptions, but on-premise deployments may require manual updates.
Appian also offers various customer support plans called Success Plans. There are three tiers: Foundation, Professional, and Signature. Each tier offers increasing levels of support availability and access to diagnostic information, such as logs.
You’ll have to contact sales for the pricing on this as well. But one thing’s for sure: Whatever plan you choose, it’s another line item on your TCO.
Does Appian have any hidden costs?
Beyond the upfront costs we’ve covered, there are a few less obvious expenses that can sneak up on you.
Here are some hidden costs to keep in mind:
- Customization and third-party integrations: Appian’s built-in components can be limiting. Users have noted that developing and testing custom plugins and components can be difficult and time-consuming.
- Developer and training costs: While Appian is marketed as low-code, some users report that serious coding skills (unique to Appian) are required for most real-world applications. For non-technical users, the onboarding process can be even longer. You’ll likely need to invest in training existing developers or hire specialized Appian experts.
- Vendor lock-in risk: As some reviews point out, migrating away from Appian isn’t easy due to limited migration tools. You could face significant exit costs if you ever decide to switch platforms.
- Price inflation: Appian's pricing structure regularly changes, and so your pricing may go up over time without getting any new features or functionality being added.
So, is Appian worth the cost?
Appian comes with great automation capabilities, but also higher costs to match. If you’re part of an enterprise that needs scalable automation tools, have the budget, and don’t mind sacrificing polish on the UI, then yeah — it could be worth it.
Appian is not the best choice if you care about cost transparency, need better code support, or want the freedom to change platforms as you need. In that case, you might get a better bang for your buck with alternatives like Superblocks.
Appian vs Superblocks: Key differences
Both Appian and Superblocks provide tools to automate and simplify workflows. However, at Superblocks we offer the same app builder plus workflow management capabilities with more cost transparency.
Here are our pricing plans:
- Free tier ($0)
- Startup tier ($49/month per creator, $15/month per end-user)
- Enterprise tier with custom pricing
We even give you a cost calculator so you can estimate your expenses. No surprises. But pricing is just one part of the equation. Ease of use is another big differentiator.
Like Appian, Superblocks offers a drag-and-drop editor, but it is more customizable. You can bring your own React components. For logic flows, we use industry-standard programming languages like SQL, JavaScript, and Python, so your in-house developers can get started immediately without needing to learn a proprietary language.
This is different from Appian. Its complex builder and proprietary BPMN language are enough to require a dedicated Appian developer.
Perhaps most importantly, Superblocks gives you true ownership of your work. Every Superblocks app is just a React project that you can modify, export, or host yourself. With Appian? Not so much. With no way to export your code, their ecosystem locks you in. If you ever want to leave, good luck — moving away usually means starting from scratch.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest Appian plan?
The cheapest option is the Community Edition, which is free but limited to 15 users and has restricted features. For production use, the next cheapest option is the Standard tier.
Does Appian charge for API integrations?
No, API integrations are included in all pricing tiers. However, some external 3rd party integrations may require additional configuration or development effort which may indirectly cost you.
Can small businesses afford Appian?
Appian’s pricing is geared toward large enterprises that can leverage bulk user licenses and high application volume to negotiate better deals. It’s not ideal for small businesses.
How can I reduce Appian costs?
Here are a few ways to cut Appian expenses:
- Negotiate pricing with sales: Work directly with Appian’s sales team to negotiate better pricing, especially if you’re committing to long-term use.
- Optimize user licensing: If you have infrequent users, enable auto-deactivation via the Admin Console to automatically revoke licenses after a set period of inactivity.
- Expand usage: In some cases, scaling up your Appian usage (such as increasing the number of applications or licenses) can lower your per-user cost.
Does Appian require coding?
While Appian is a low-code platform, some coding is often required especially for custom integrations, advanced automation, and complex business logic.
Is Appian free to use?
Appian offers a free Community Edition for learning and testing. However, this version has significant limitations and is not suitable for production use. For production deployments, you'll need a paid subscription.
How long will it take you to learn Appian?
The course recommended for new developers on the Appian Learn platform takes 80 hours online or 5 days for instructor-led training.
Try Superblocks for cost-effective automation
Two of the biggest questions when buying software are “Does it do what I need?” and “Can I afford it?” If you’re looking for automation software, Appian works — but its pricing is hidden until you book a sales call.
At Superblocks, we give you the same powerful automation capabilities — without the hidden pricing. Our goal is to offer you the most flexible low-code platform that’s easy to budget for.
That’s why we provide:
- Clear pricing tiers: Our pricing is clearly outlined. Start for free, then upgrade to the Startup plan at $49/month per creator and $15/month per end-user. Contact us if you have enterprise needs.
- Exportable code: Your Superblocks apps are fully portable. You can modify, export, and host your apps anywhere.
- Over 100 reusable components: Access plenty of beautiful components that simplify development and enforce a consistent design.
- Flexible visual development: Use an intuitive drag-and-drop interface for both UI and business logic, or go custom with React components.
- Cost calculator: Estimate expenses upfront based on the number of creators and end-users you plan to have, so you can budget with confidence.
Want to see how Superblocks can help your business? Explore our Quickstart Guide or try the free tier.
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Table of Contents
Multiple authors
April 18, 2025
Operations Automation: What It Is & How to Get Started
Operations automation helps teams scale effectively. Learn what it is, why it matters, and how to implement it.
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