Appian RPA vs Fortra's Automate comparison

Appian and Fortra are both solutions in the Robotic Process Automation (RPA) category. Appian is ranked #11 with an average rating of 8.7, while Fortra is ranked #4 with an average rating of 8.6. Appian holds a 1.3% mindshare in RPA, compared to Fortra’s 2.8% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Appian users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 97% of Fortra users who would recommend it.

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Feb 15, 2026

Fortra's Automate and Appian RPA compete in the robotic process automation market. Appian RPA seems superior in features due to its comprehensive capabilities, while Fortra's Automate stands out in pricing and support.

Features: Fortra’s Automate offers easy integration, user-friendly automation solutions, and streamlined operations. Appian RPA combines advanced AI integrations, robust scalability, and extensive functionalities, providing effective solutions for complex automation tasks.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Fortra's Automate provides straightforward deployment and is commended for strong, prompt customer service. Appian RPA supports flexible deployment models suited to diverse infrastructures, complemented by effective support. Fortra prioritizes simplicity; Appian emphasizes adaptability and flexibility.

Pricing and ROI: Fortra's Automate is noted for its cost-effective solutions, with low initial setup costs that result in favorable ROI. Appian RPA, while initially more expensive, offers high returns through enhanced productivity and efficiency. Fortra highlights affordability, while Appian targets a high-value outcome.

To learn more, read our detailed Appian RPA vs. Fortra's Automate Report (Updated: June 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Appian RPA vs. Fortra's Automate

June 2026

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

Automation Anywhere

Mindshare comparison

As of August 2026, in the Robotic Process Automation (RPA) category, the mindshare of Automation Anywhere is 5.4%, down from 9.4% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Appian RPA is 1.3%, up from 0.6% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Fortra's Automate is 2.8%, up from 1.9% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Robotic Process Automation (RPA) Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Automation Anywhere	5.4%
Fortra's Automate	2.8%
Appian RPA	1.3%
Other	90.5%

Robotic Process Automation (RPA)

Featured Reviews

Venkat Sivaprakash

Management Consultant at Accenture

Has significantly improved document-driven workflows and reduced processing time across finance and HR functions

Automation Anywhere has evolved significantly and upgraded itself to provide agentic AI and AI-based automation solutions for document automation. The product has matured considerably over time. We can create workflows that can call an API. We can include prompts in particular workflows for ChatGPT-related functions, connecting to an LLM and RAG to perform tasks. For document automation, modern features are available to train documents, ensuring high accuracy and repeatability over time. The system is very easy to use. I recently completed a course in document automation, typically designed for people involved in coding and technical aspects. Though I understand coding comprehensively, I don't do actual coding. The course was very accessible. Currently, extensive coding isn't necessary due to the hybrid model incorporating GenAI aspects, low-code, no-code capabilities, APIs, and numerous pre-built objects in Automation Anywhere. The features include GenAI-driven prompting methods and workflow creation capabilities. In these workflows, we can create decision boxes and call APIs without coding. We simply pull objects, drop them, connect them, and add minimal coding when needed. The most crucial aspect isn't coding but rather sizing the automation and fleshing out the details. Automation Co-pilot takes notes and performs automated analysis. It can extract details from videos, summarize conversations, and provide detailed information. During calls, it identifies instructions and performs tasks such as preparing reports and reconciliation. Automation Anywhere can also connect with Microsoft Co-pilot. Through Co-pilot, real-time operations can be executed, allowing direct interaction between vendors and automation through this component.

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Kunal Sharda

Director & Key Managerial Personnel at Newlight Technology Solutions Private Limited

Partnering with comprehensive automation for increased efficiency

The best feature of Appian RPA is that it is highly integrated into the Appian platform itself. It is very easy to configure that in the end-to-end Appian automation solution. The second notable feature is that Appian RPA gives you a lot of flexibility in terms of how you want to design the robotic tasks. It has a very detailed orchestration console which provides details about the entire runtime and the logs of Appian RPA where you can find in detail what the robot did on the virtual machine. Appian provides dashboards where users or admins can log in and see how the robots are performing various robotic tasks. It is very detailed and gives substantial insight into how Appian RPA is functioning or is operational. It also lets you drill down into specific details at each task level.

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Jane Rachma Kiniti

IT Project Manager at Labo des histoires

Automate has streamlined workflows and increased efficiency with powerful automation

The best features of the solution are the flexible automation features, it is rich with beautiful connectors, and it is easy to use with little to no coding knowledge required to get started, so anybody can use the tool. The intuitive interface of Automate has an intuitive design, which makes it easy to learn and use even without a strong technical background, and it has a drag-and-drop interface, which makes everything so easy and straightforward. The error handling capabilities in complex automation tasks are powerful, as it handles all types of tasks, whether complex or simple. I've never faced any problems even when dealing with complex tasks, so everything is super smooth and highly reliable, even when dealing with big tasks, as it has never slowed down. Automate's compatibility with existing IT infrastructure has impacted our business operations positively by providing smooth integration with other software that we use, such as Gmail, Jira, and Microsoft 365 apps, which gives us a unified platform instead of having to keep switching from one software to another, saving a lot of time and streamlining the whole workflows. The automated analytics have helped improve our business processes since it has increased our efficiency by automating our everyday tasks, freeing up time for us to focus more on strategic activities such as analyzing data and developing new business strategies. It is also cost-saving. By minimizing manual labor, it decreases human errors that can lead to costly mistakes. By automating the tasks, it helps to save costs, and it also improves our accuracy by reducing these errors to ensure that tasks are done almost perfectly.

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"There are multiple levels of cloning. In case screen cloning doesn't work, you can do object-based cloning or keystroke-level cloning, depending upon what parameters are available to you and what is the level of information that you capture. You can traverse between object cloning, which is the lowest form of cloning to a stroke-based cloning, which is like taking care of each keystroke-level which is made by the agent."

"The marketing automation software provides easy workflow creation and management."

"It is very easy to use and learn compared to a programming language, where you have to have a background in coding. Anyone can learn it. Learning the software is easy."

"it helps to save time when doing processes. E.g., when you do a manual process for eight hours, that time is saved because the bot will do that task for you. The process owners will be able to do the analysis part. The repetitive/manual part will be done by the robot."

"Before Automation Anywhere, the insurance companies used to transfer data manually from one app to another, but after introducing them to automation the speed and accuracy have been outstanding."

"Our workforce has limited capacity, and by adding this solution we can increase the amount of work coming in without adding to our workforce."

"We mostly used the Database commands in order to make the process faster and more secure, rather than using Excel or a CSV for reading the input files."

"With the cash flow generated just on the one bot we had operating, it's paid for itself in the first month."

More Automation Anywhere pros

"Appian RPA is super easy to use, offering low code, no code capabilities."

"The best feature of Appian RPA is that it is highly integrated into the Appian platform itself and is very easy to configure in the end-to-end Appian automation solution."

"I find the pricing of Appian RPA reasonable because it is user-based, and we can experiment with it."

"This tool has machine learning and voice recognition and computer vision, which are both quite useful aspects. These aren't available in other tools. It's a good addition to this tool and it gives the solution an edge on the market."

"I can say it's a very good product, it has very good results and it is well suited for my requirements, and everything more or less I've been able to create in line with what the client requires."

"I would rate the technical support as a nine out of ten because it is quite fast and courteous."

"I actually quite liked the no-coding functionality."

"The solution saves us a lot of time; we use it hourly for repetitive tasks dealing with 14,000 files, and Automate handles that well."

"Web scraping is quite good since it offers a lot of possibilities."

"The most valuable features for my client are timing and scheduling."

"The intuitive interface of Automate has an intuitive design which makes it easy to learn and use even without a strong technical background, and it has a drag and drop interface which makes everything so easy and straightforward."

More Fortra's Automate pros

Cons

"Improvements that can be made are: It should be easier to automate tasks on a virtual machine that uses a different environment altogether."

"The pricing is a little bit high compared with other tools."

"We had initial hiccups, like any new process. It took us six to eight months to sort the product out."

"If you are not on-premise, then you will need to have Citrix automation."

"There are a lot of things that need to be improved, especially related to the Control Room, but you can develop and scale with this tool very, very fast."

"For our legacy systems, we are finding it very difficult to use the automation."

"My experience has been that if the person who codes the bot is not very well-trained, then they might create unstable bots. So, it's not the platform. It is just how somebody has coded the bots which can bring lot of instability to them. I recommend that when you are using a coder that the person well-trained and have a good amount of experience already working on bots. They shouldn't be newbie or beginner who comes in to code because that will impact the quality of the code itself."

"The bot creation process is tedious. The solution has a lot of features, but since you have to drag down a lot of the commands, it can get tedious to use it. You end up having to use the mouse a lot more."

More Automation Anywhere cons

"There are many competitive products in the market right now, for example, UiPath and Automation Anywhere. These competitive products are now coming up with features which Appian RPA currently does not have."

"In my opinion, Appian RPA can be improved."

"There are not any areas that need improvement off the top of my head."

"Each RPA product is not mature enough."

"Currently, there are many instances where I see empty logs, indicating that, while tasks are scheduled, commands are not executing successfully."

"It's possible that they could use a stronger community for seeking guidance and help."

"I wish Fortra's Automate could shorten the time it takes to debug complex workflows because they tend to take much longer than expected."

"Some challenges include the system being too loaded or delayed in taking instructions and responding quickly as needed."

"I believe we need to test various OCR tools that assist in evaluating, let's say, six different customer resyncs. We analyze their spending patterns and documentations, but current OCR support has limitations, requiring highly standardized documents, which isn't always the case. With a more advanced OCR system, we could improve processes related to credit risk management and legal matters. We're exploring how to integrate Fortra's Automate with our CRM platform, taking cues from instances where Salesforce seamlessly merged with Automate. However, we use a different CRM, Insight for New Enterprise, and we're seeking ways to connect the automation process within our CRM. We aim for the automation to continue smoothly, even in instances where traditional automation methods might face hurdles."

"The user interface could be slightly enhanced to make it more modern."

"The documentation is not that great."

More Fortra's Automate cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The licensing cost is approximately $4,000 USD, which is a seed license."

"On a yearly basis, our licensing costs are about $80,000. There are no additional costs beyond the standard licensing fees."

"We're just starting to renew our license, and we were quoted $115,000 without the IQ Bot. The IQ Bot is another $30,000. This is with very limited pages, as we go through our first projects. The majority of the cost was for ten days of onsite training."

"If you look at the capital expenditure, Automation Anywhere is number two to UiPath. But if you take a long-term view, on a scalable model of a large number of bots coming out, it slowly goes on to become the costliest tool. There is something they can do about that. The capital expenditure goes out right at the point of buying the tool. For Automation Anywhere, I would need to spend $20,000. UiPath can give me something for $6,000, while Blue Prism will come in at $300,000."

"My understanding is that the license cost of Automation Anywhere is more reasonable than UiPath and Blue Prism."

"It has good licensing costs which are average for the market."

"It depends. For example, for my group, we are centralizing the infrastructure in Paris. Our contract is signed with Automation Anywhere in France. The currency and the pricing of Automation Anywhere in France can appear beneficial and interesting for Germany and Scandinavian countries, but when we share our infra and are internally charging other countries such as Poland, Brazil, or some other country with a lower currency value as compared to Euro, it becomes less beneficial. They would prefer to sign the contract directly with Automation Anywhere because they will benefit from a price that is as per their local market."

"The solution's pricing is pretty decent."

More Automation Anywhere pricing and cost advice

Information not available

"The cost is a bit high for a small business like ours, but we manage with Fortra's Automate."

"It comes with a package that costs approximately $20,000 USD per year."

"Compared to other products, the pricing model for this solution is much more convenient, flexible, and adaptable to the Portuguese reality."

"It has gone up in price. The price of Fortra's Automate has increased since we first started using it. It does a lot but also costs a lot. It was a lot more affordable before Fortra owned the software."

"From a distributor's perspective, one of the biggest selling points of Automate is its price point."

"I like the way this solution is priced because you can buy a license, or you can buy the software outright."

"Once you buy the software, you just pay for the support for backend help."

"The pricing is quite reasonable. We can run the process with one bot. The limitation is at the server level because they have some resources, and sometimes that is enough. It isn't too expensive, so you can get a good return off of one, and you can also have a pack of five bots that is quite competitive."

More Fortra's Automate pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

14%

Construction Company

11%

Manufacturing Company

11%

Outsourcing Company

10%

Construction Company

18%

Financial Services Firm

17%

Comms Service Provider

10%

Insurance Company

Financial Services Firm

11%

Manufacturing Company

Outsourcing Company

Computer Software Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	157
Midsize Enterprise	81
Large Enterprise	558

No data available

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	32
Midsize Enterprise	14
Large Enterprise	10

Questions from the Community

How good is Automation Anywhere for RPA processes?

It depends on your use case. Is it simply to automate a couple of processes? Is it to augment a human team? AA is ver...

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How good is Automation Anywhere for RPA processes?

From my experience using AA tool, it depends on the applications that you want to automate, because there some applic...

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How good is Automation Anywhere for RPA processes?

It is a highly preferred RPA tool. You can check my Automation Anywhere Review to know more.

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Appian RPA?

I didn't handle payments or costs. We recommended infrastructure stacks to our clients, who implemented them, and we ...

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What needs improvement with Appian RPA?

In my opinion, Appian RPA can be improved. We are planning to conduct a proof of concept on volume because we are sti...

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What is your primary use case for Appian RPA?

We have been working with Appian RPA along with the entire workflow case management suite. Recently, Appian released ...

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What is your primary use case for HelpSystems AutoMate?

I use Fortra's Automate to automate our workflows and reports mainly. For example, we normally task it to generate an...

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Fortra Automate?

When we installed Fortra's Automate, I was present. We use Automate Plus, and we are running about 20 bots or instanc...

See all answers

What needs improvement with Fortra Automate?

The interface of Fortra's Automate is similar to GoAnywhere. I am not completely pleased with it, although it is intu...

See all answers

Comparisons

UiPath Platform vs Automation Anywhere

Compared 12% of the time

Microsoft Power Automate vs Automation Anywhere

Compared 9% of the time

Blue Prism vs Automation Anywhere

Compared 6% of the time

AutomationEdge vs Automation Anywhere

Compared 2% of the time

HyperScience vs Automation Anywhere

Compared 2% of the time

More Automation Anywhere Competitors

UiPath Platform vs Appian RPA

Compared 10% of the time

Temporal vs Appian RPA

Compared 9% of the time

Control-M vs Appian RPA

Compared 8% of the time

Blue Prism vs Appian RPA

Compared 7% of the time

Lanai Empowerment Platform vs Appian RPA

Compared 4% of the time

More Appian RPA Competitors

UiPath Platform vs Fortra's Automate

Compared 12% of the time

Microsoft Power Automate vs Fortra's Automate

Compared 8% of the time

Nintex RPA vs Fortra's Automate

Compared 5% of the time

OpenText Operations Orchestration vs Fortra's Automate

Compared 4% of the time

Matterway vs Fortra's Automate

Compared 2% of the time

More Fortra's Automate Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Automation Anywhere

August 2026

Download Automation Anywhere product report

Buyer's Guide

Robotic Process Automation (RPA)

July 2026

Download Appian RPA product report

Buyer's Guide

Fortra's Automate

August 2026

Download Fortra's Automate product report

Also Known As

Automation Anywhere, Testing Anywhere, Automation Anywhere Enterprise, Agentic Process Automation System (Now Certified for WorkSpaces)

Jidoka RPA

HelpSystems Automate, Automate

Interactive Demo

Automation Anywhere

Demo not available

Appian

Demo not available

Fortra

Overview

Automation Anywhere offers ease of use, robust system connectivity, and GenAI-driven document automation through a cloud-native platform, significantly enhancing productivity across multiple industries with advanced AI features.

Delivering a comprehensive suite of tools designed for easy integration and rapid deployment, Automation Anywhere drives efficiency by reducing costs and automating repetitive tasks. Its cloud-native platform supports broad industry adoption, including advanced AI features like process automation and Co-Pilot, streamlining complex workflows with minimal technical skills required. Users benefit from robust integration capabilities, which facilitate seamless interaction with multiple systems. However, there is room for improvement in areas such as user-friendliness for beginners, stability, flexible licensing, and enhanced OCR functionality. Organizations in sectors such as banking, finance, manufacturing, and healthcare gain from the improved operational efficiency and ROI Automation Anywhere offers.

What are the important features of Automation Anywhere?

Ease of Use: Simplifies automation tasks with a user-centric interface.
Robust Connectivity: Provides seamless integration with multiple systems.
GenAI-Driven Document Automation: Leverages AI to automate document management.
Process Automation & Co-Pilot: Enhances workflow automation with advanced AI.
Cloud-Native Platform: Enables rapid deployment and integration.

What benefits should be evaluated in reviews?

Time Savings: Automation drastically reduces manual processing time.
Cost Efficiency: Decreases overall operational costs by automating tasks.
Productivity Enhancement: Streamlines workflows with AI-driven tools.
Improved Integration: Enhances ability to work with multiple systems.
Scalability: Supports growth with a flexible cloud-native architecture.

In the insurance industry, Automation Anywhere is utilized for automating processes such as enrollment management and compliance checks. Its applications extend to supply chain management, financial transactions, and business performance monitoring across sectors like banking, finance, manufacturing, and healthcare, helping organizations to automate routine tasks, improve efficiency, and reduce costs.

Automation Anywhere

Appian RPA is an advanced robotic process automation platform designed to streamline business processes by integrating and automating tasks across applications and systems. This tool enhances efficiency and operational accuracy for businesses leveraging its capabilities.

Appian RPA seamlessly integrates into existing infrastructures to automate repetitive tasks, boosting productivity. Its ability to orchestrate workflows and provide analytics sets it apart, allowing businesses to make informed decisions quickly. With a focus on scalability, Appian RPA supports digital transformation by connecting disparate systems and fostering innovation through automation.

What are the essential features?

Easy Integration: Connects with existing systems without complex configurations.
Dynamic Workflow Control: Allows users to manage and automate complex processes.
Comprehensive Analytics: Offers insights through detailed process analytics.
Scalability: Grows with the business and accommodates varying workloads.

What benefits or ROI should you look for in reviews?

Increased Efficiency: Reduces manual efforts and errors.
Cost Savings: Lowers operational costs through process automation.
Enhanced Productivity: Frees up human resources for higher-value tasks.

Appian RPA finds applications across industries like finance, healthcare, and manufacturing. In finance, it automates data entry and reconciliation processes. Healthcare providers utilize it for patient management and billing, reducing operational bottlenecks. Manufacturing benefits from inventory and supply chain automation, enhancing end-to-end processes.

Appian

Fortra's Automate offers a user-friendly platform for task automation, featuring a drag-and-drop interface that aids in scheduling, file management, and integrating with services like Azure and AWS.

Fortra's Automate provides substantial ease in automating complex tasks through its intuitive design. It offers seamless integration capabilities, especially with Azure and AWS, and comes equipped with strong error handling. Cost-effective and requiring minimal coding, it supports a broad range of industries by effectively automating tasks such as HR operations, invoice management, and data processing across servers.

What features stand out in Fortra's Automate?

Drag-and-Drop Interface: Simplifies task setup and automation without deep coding expertise.
Scheduling and File Management: Ensures efficient, automated handling of tasks and file transfers.
Integration Capabilities: Works with platforms like Azure and AWS for enhanced performance.
Error Handling: Offers solid solutions to manage and resolve task execution errors.
Minimal Coding: Facilitates automation with limited coding requirements, broadening accessibility.

What benefits should users consider in reviews?

Cost-Effectiveness: Provides affordable licensing options for diverse businesses.
Operational Efficiency: Enhances productivity by automating repetitive tasks, reducing manual errors.
Versatility: Adapts well across sectors like banking, healthcare, and transportation.
Robust Support: Offers extensive assistance with automation features.
IT Compatibility: Easily integrates into existing IT infrastructures.

In industries such as healthcare and transportation, Fortra's Automate facilitates the automation of client management, HR operations, and data processing, boosting efficiency. Banks utilize it for managing extensive invoice workflows, while distribution sectors rely on its capabilities for insurance checks and system support. Its applicability across servers makes it a valuable tool for any sector seeking to reduce manual workload and improve task accuracy.

Fortra

Sample Customers

Google, Linkedin, Cisco, Juniper Networks, DellEMC, Comcast, Mastercard, Quest Diagnostics

empark, talan, liverpool, ayesa, aeromexico, teknei

Aldergrove Financial Group, Preferred Health Professionals, Mindbeam Technologies, First Credit Union in British Columbia, Vestcom International, Prime Liberty Benefits, University of Tampa, CNLBancshares, World Precision Instruments, BJ's Restaurants, Globe Pequot Press, Accudata Technologies, Norton Healthcare, Pacific Toxicology Laboratories

Buyer's Guide

Appian RPA vs. Fortra's Automate

June 2026

Free Report: Appian RPA vs. Fortra's Automate

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