Appian alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Appian: expensive, quote-based pricing, and needs trained developers. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Appian, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. OutSystems currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#	App	Pricing	Open source	Platforms	Verified facts	Score
1	Microsoft Power Apps	Paid	No	Web, Windows, iOS +1	4 of 4	59.6

1. Microsoft Power AppsTop pick
Best for: Organisations on Microsoft 365 that want governed business apps built by IT and power users
PaidWeb, Windows, iOS, Android
59.6
score / 100
Why switch from Appian
Cheaper for Microsoft-centred organisations, with Power Automate for processes.
Pros
Deep integration with Microsoft 365, Teams and Dynamics
Hundreds of connectors and Dataverse storage
Strong governance through Microsoft admin tools
Cons
Licensing is complicated and premium features cost extra
Canvas apps can be slow with large data
Little appeal outside the Microsoft ecosystem
Visit Microsoft Power Apps Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.377
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.1585
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Microsoft Power Apps a good Appian alternative?
Verified facts
4 of 4 verified
Premium price
$20 per user/month, paid yearly
Checked Oct 25, 2026microsoft.com(opens source in a new tab)
Volume price
$12 per user/month with 2,000-seat minimum
Checked Oct 25, 2026microsoft.com(opens source in a new tab)
Developer plan
Free
Checked Oct 25, 2026microsoft.com(opens source in a new tab)
Extra database capacity
$40 per GB/month
Checked Oct 25, 2026microsoft.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Appian alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Best Appian alternative for most people

OutSystems

Enterprise low-code that is stronger for custom apps than for process automation.

Best Appian alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Mendix

Enterprise low-code with a free tier and published starting prices.

Best Appian alternative for self-hosting

Retool

Faster and cheaper for developer-built internal tools.

Best Appian alternative for Windows

Microsoft Power Apps

Cheaper for Microsoft-centred organisations, with Power Automate for processes.

Best Appian alternative for iPhone and Android

Zoho Creator

Low-cost low-code with approval workflows for smaller companies.

Best Appian alternative for working in the browser

OutSystems

Enterprise low-code that is stronger for custom apps than for process automation.

Appian alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Appian?

OutSystems ranks first right now. Enterprise low-code that is stronger for custom apps than for process automation. Mendix and Microsoft Power Apps follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Appian?

Yes. Mendix (free plan + paid), Retool (free plan + paid) and Zoho Creator (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Appian?

None of the 5 alternatives in this list is open source.

Why do people switch from Appian?

The complaints we hear most: expensive, quote-based pricing; needs trained developers; overkill for simple internal tools.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Appian, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.