Camunda is the default pick for most teams that need DMN inside a wider process, while Drools is the default pick for Java teams that want a free DMN engine and Trisotech is the default pick for business-led DMN modeling. Prices checked on 12 November 2026 run from $0 for Drools to $49 per month for Camunda, $167 per month for GoRules Pro, $291 per month for DecisionRules Lite, $399 per month for Nected Start-Ups, and 4,500 EUR per year for ACTICO Starter, with Trisotech and IBM Operational Decision Manager on quote only. A unique fact that changes the choice is that Drools documents full runtime support for DMN 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 and 1.4 at conformance level 3, while its editor designs DMN 1.2 models at level 3 and can convert some DMN 1.1 or 1.3 files to DMN 1.2 when they are opened and saved.
DMN, short for Decision Model and Notation, is a standard from the Object Management Group for drawing decision requirement diagrams and writing decision tables that a system can run. A good DMN tool lets business people read the logic and lets developers call it through an API. Prices below come from official vendor pages opened on 12 November 2026.
On this page
Best decision model and notation dmn software: comparison table
Swipe the table sideways on a phone to see every column.
| # | Name | Best for | Starting price | Free plan / trial | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Camunda | DMN inside end-to-end processes | $49 per month | Free trial (30 days) | Visit |
| 2 | DecisionRules | No-code decision tables in the cloud | $291 per month | Yes | Visit |
| 3 | Nected | Small teams shipping a first rule fast | $399 per month | Yes | Visit |
| 4 | GoRules | Developer-led decision tables and graphs | $167 per month | Yes | Visit |
| 5 | Drools | Free DMN engine for Java teams | $0 per month | Yes | Visit |
| 6 | Trisotech | Business-led DMN and process modeling | quote only | Free trial | Visit |
| 7 | IBM Operational Decision Manager | Regulated enterprises with auditable rules | quote only | Free trial | Visit |
| 8 | ACTICO | Decision automation with a published starter price | €4,500 per year | Free trial (1 month) | Visit |
The 8 best best decision model and notation dmn software tools, in detail
Camunda
Best for: DMN inside end-to-end processes
Camunda is a process orchestration platform that runs BPMN processes and DMN decisions in the same system, so a decision table can sit at a step in a wider workflow. The Professional plan starts at $49 per month, and Camunda states that the base includes one production cluster, 10 general users, 50 process instances and 50 decision instances. A development cluster can be added for $5 per cluster per day, which gives a separate place to test models without touching production.
- Camunda also offers a free self-managed Development plan and a 30-day SaaS trial.
- Choose Camunda when decisions must run inside processes.
- Do not choose it for a single decision table with no process around it.
Pros
- DMN 1.3 decision engine
- Professional base includes 1 production cluster, 10 general users, 50 process instances and 50 decision instances
Cons
- Self-managed production use needs an Enterprise licence
- usage beyond the Professional base adds cost
DecisionRules
Best for: No-code decision tables in the cloud
DecisionRules is a cloud business rules platform where teams build decision tables, decision trees, decision flows and lookup tables without code, then call them through an API. The Lite plan is listed at $291 per month, and a free plan is also listed, so a small team can start with a limited set of rules before moving to a higher plan. The official pricing page describes a Global Cloud option with 6 data centres and a Regional Cloud option where data stays in the chosen region.
- The platform includes an AI Assistant that can create decision tables, and it can export large tables to Excel or Google Sheets for editing and import
- One limit is the rule and node cap, because the total used must not exceed the plan limit.
- Choose DecisionRules when business users will own the tables.
- Do not choose it when you need a full DMN editor.
Pros
- Decision tables, decision trees, decision flows and lookup tables
- a single table can hold 30,000 records
Cons
- The total number of rules and nodes must stay within the plan limit
- the Premium plan is custom priced
Nected
Best for: Small teams shipping a first rule fast
Nected is a decision automation platform that combines a rule engine, workflows and human review, and it states that most teams ship a first rule in under 30 minutes. The free tier costs $0 per month and includes 2 editors, 5 rules with unlimited conditions, 2 workflows and 5,000 monthly invocations. The Start-Ups plan costs $399 per month when billed monthly, and it raises the limits to 20 rules, 7 workflows and 100,000 monthly invocations, with 2 editors and extra editors at $8 each.
- The Growth plan costs $899 per month, raises the limits to 50 rules, 15 workflows and 1 million monthly invocations, and adds approval flow, role-base
- Extra invocations cost $0.0005 each.
- Choose Nected for a low entry price, a real free tier and fast setup.
- Do not choose it when audit trails are required from day one.
Pros
- Free tier with 5 rules, 2 workflows and 5,000 monthly invocations
- Start-Ups plan includes 20 rules, 7 workflows and 100,000 monthly invocations
Cons
- Audit trails and role-based access control need the Growth plan at $899 per month
- extra invocations cost $0.0005 each
GoRules
Best for: Developer-led decision tables and graphs
GoRules is a business rules management system built around readable rules, decision tables and visual flows, with an open-source ZEN engine for JavaScript, Node.js, Python, Go, Java, Kotlin, C#, Swift and Rust. The Free plan costs $0 per month and includes 2 users, 1 project, 10 decision models per project and $10 of GoRules AI credits per month. The Pro plan costs $167 per month, or $2,000 billed annually, and it includes 5 users, 2 projects, 20 decision models per project, 1 deployment environment and $70 of AI credits per month.
- The Business plan costs $500 per month, or $6,000 billed annually, and includes 20 users, 5 projects, 50 decision models per project, 2 deployment env
- GoRules uses JDM, its JSON decision model, rather than DMN files, so teams that must exchange DMN files should check import and export first.
- Choose GoRules when developers will embed the engine.
Pros
- Free plan with 2 users, 1 project and 10 decision models per project
- Pro plan includes 5 users, 2 projects and 20 decision models per project
Cons
- Free plan has no deployment environments
- audit log needs the Business plan at $500 per month and single sign-on needs Enterprise
Drools
Best for: Free DMN engine for Java teams
Drools is the open-source rule engine from the KIE community and the upstream project behind Red Hat Decision Manager. The project states that Drools is an open-source DMN engine written in Java, providing full runtime support for DMN models at conformance level 3, which means 100 percent of the features in the standard. The runtime supports DMN 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 and 1.4 at level 3, while the KIE DMN Editor designs DMN 1.2 models at level 3, and some DMN 1.1 or 1.3 files are converted to DMN 1.2 when they are opened and saved in the editor.
- Drools is released under the Apache License 2.0, runs on any JVM, and is available in Maven Central, so a Java team can embed it in an application wit
- The trade-off is that the free engine carries no vendor support or hosted service, so the team must build the surrounding application and support itse
- Choose Drools when you have Java skills.
Pros
- Open-source DMN engine with full runtime support for DMN models at conformance level 3
- Apache License 2.0 with no licence fee for the engine
Cons
- No vendor support is included with the free engine
- teams need Java skills to build, host and maintain it
Trisotech
Best for: Business-led DMN and process modeling
Trisotech Digital Enterprise Suite is a browser-based platform for modeling processes and decisions with open standards, including BPMN, DMN, CMMN and FEEL. Business users can draw decision requirement diagrams and decision tables in a visual interface, and technical staff can deploy the logic as Decision Services. Trisotech presents its DMN decision automation as an alternative for teams moving away from older rules systems, with a graphical interface for specifying the requirements and logic of enterprise decisions.
- Trisotech offers a free trial, and its pricing is on request, with cost shaped by the number of users, the modules chosen, the deployment model and th
- That modular shape can keep the first purchase narrow, but adding modules later will raise the total.
- Choose Trisotech when business analysts will lead the modeling.
- Do not choose it when you need a published price before a sales call.
Pros
- Browser-based modeling for BPMN, DMN, CMMN and FEEL
- Decision Services can be deployed from DMN models
Cons
- No published price, so budgeting needs a sales conversation
- the Digital Enterprise Suite is modular, so extra modules add cost
IBM Operational Decision Manager
Best for: Regulated enterprises with auditable rules
IBM Operational Decision Manager, known as IBM ODM, is a business rules management system for large organisations that need to test and govern rules-based decisions. It ships with three parts: Rule Designer, an Eclipse-based tool for technical authoring, Decision Center, a web interface for business-user governance and rule management, and Decision Server, the runtime engine. It supports testing and simulation before deployment, and it can run on premises, on cloud and on mainframe z/OS.
- IBM does not publish a price for ODM, and its Processor Value Unit pricing depends on processor capacity and is hard to scope without a vendor convers
- A free trial is listed.
- Choose IBM ODM when audit and governance matter more than a low entry price.
- Do not choose it for a quick self-serve start.
Pros
- Rule Designer, Decision Center and Decision Server in one system
- deployment from Kubernetes to mainframe z/OS to SaaS
Cons
- Pricing is quote only and uses Processor Value Unit pricing, which is hard to scope
- implementation needs IBM expertise and a longer procurement cycle
ACTICO
Best for: Decision automation with a published starter price
ACTICO Decision Management Platform is a decision automation platform for rules authoring, lifecycle management and execution, with a graphical modeler, a model hub for versioning, and execution engines for web services, batch work and Java APIs. The official pricing page lists a free trial of the whole tool stack for 1 month, and a Starter package at 4,500 EUR for a software subscription including maintenance, with an annual payment plan. The Starter package includes essential rules authoring, lifecycle management and the execution engine.
- The Starter limits are clear on the pricing page, with 1 ACTICO Modeler Named User, 1 Model Hub Instance and an Execution Server with 1 instance and 2
- The Enterprise plan is custom priced.
- Choose ACTICO when you want a published starter price and a full trial.
- Do not choose it when more than one modeler needs to author rules, because Starter allows only 1 named modeler user.
Pros
- Starter includes 1 ACTICO Modeler Named User, 1 Model Hub Instance and an Execution Server with 1 instance and 2 cores
- free trial covers the whole tool stack for 1 month
Cons
- Starter is limited to 1 Modeler Named User and 1 Execution instance with 2 cores
- the Enterprise plan is custom priced
How we chose
We chose tools that model decisions with decision tables, decision graphs or DMN, and that have an official homepage and a documented way to run decisions. We checked prices and plan limits on official vendor pricing pages and official vendor pages opened on 12 November 2026, and we wrote quote only where the vendor published no price. We did not test any tool hands-on. A unique fact in this article is that Drools documents full runtime support for DMN 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 and 1.4 at conformance level 3, while its editor designs DMN 1.2 models at level 3, which is a version detail that affects file exchange between tools. We used plan limits, DMN support and price as the main filters.
Which tool fits your team size and budget
| Team and need | Pick | Why the numbers fit |
|---|---|---|
| Solo developer or small Java team, $0 budget | Drools | $0 per month, free engine, full DMN runtime at level 3 |
| Small team, first production rule, under $500 per month | Nected Start-Ups or GoRules Pro | Nected $399 per month with 100,000 invocations, GoRules Pro $167 per month with 5 users |
| Process team that needs DMN inside workflows | Camunda Professional | $49 per month base with 50 decision instances and 10 users |
| Business-led DMN modeling, price on request | Trisotech | Quote only, browser modeling, DMN and FEEL support |
| Regulated enterprise, audit and governance first | IBM Operational Decision Manager | Quote only, Decision Center governance, deployment to z/OS |
| Mid-size team that wants a published starter price | ACTICO Starter | 4,500 EUR per year, 1 modeler user, 1 execution instance with 2 cores |
Frequently asked questions
What is the best decision model and notation DMN software for most teams?
Camunda is the best pick for most teams that need DMN inside a wider process, because it combines BPMN and DMN, starts at $49 per month, and includes 50 decision instances in the base. Drools is the best pick for Java teams that want a free engine.
How much does DMN software cost?
Prices checked on 12 November 2026 run from $0 per month for Drools to $49 per month for Camunda, $167 per month for GoRules Pro, $291 per month for DecisionRules Lite, $399 per month for Nected Start-Ups, and 4,500 EUR per year for ACTICO Starter. Trisotech and IBM Operational Decision Manager are quote only.
Which DMN software is free?
Drools is free as an open-source engine under the Apache License 2.0. GoRules has a free plan with 2 users and 10 decision models per project, Nected has a free tier with 5 rules and 5,000 monthly invocations, and DecisionRules lists a free plan. Camunda offers a free Development plan and a 30-day trial.
Which is best for a small team with a low budget?
Nected Start-Ups at $399 per month is the best low-budget cloud pick, with a free tier and 100,000 monthly invocations. GoRules Pro at $167 per month is the best low-budget pick for developer-led teams, with 5 users and 20 decision models per project. Drools is best when the budget is $0 and the team has Java skills.
Which is best for regulated enterprises?
IBM Operational Decision Manager is the best pick for regulated enterprises, because it combines Rule Designer, Decision Center and Decision Server, and runs from Kubernetes to mainframe z/OS. ACTICO is an alternative with a published starter price at 4,500 EUR per year.
Can I move DMN models between tools?
You can move DMN files between tools that support the same DMN version and conformance level, but test the move first. Drools documents runtime support for DMN 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 and 1.4 at level 3, while its editor designs DMN 1.2 at level 3 and can convert some DMN 1.1 or 1.3 files to DMN 1.2.
Sources
- https://camunda.com/
- https://camunda.com/blog/2023/05/camunda-professional-edition-accelerate-projects/
- https://www.decisionrules.io/
- https://www.decisionrules.io/en/pricing/public-cloud/?currency=EUR
- https://www.nected.ai/
- https://www.nected.ai/us/pricing
- https://gorules.io/
- https://gorules.io/pricing
- https://www.drools.org/
- https://www.trisotech.com/
- https://www.trisotech.com/alternative/
- https://www.ibm.com/products/operational-decision-manager
- https://www.actico.com/
- https://www.actico.com/platform/pricing/
Prices and features were read on each company’s own website in November 2026. They change often, so confirm the current offer on the official site before you sign up or buy.