Automation has evolved beyond a nice-to-have and is now an essential part of running a business successfully. No matter what industry or field you’re in, automation—and robotic process automation (RPA) tools in particular—can help reduce costs, improve efficiency, and free team members up from repetitive, mundane work.
Thanks to automation’s potential, RPA tools have gained a lot of traction. RPA software is versatile, customizable, and doesn’t require costly integrations through APIs, making it a great option for both small and large businesses.
In this article, we’ll explore what RPA tools are, what to look for in an RPA provider, and what the 15 best RPA tools for making work easier are.
What is an RPA tool?
An RPA tool is a piece of software that emulates repetitive, rules-based human interactions, such as navigating systems, completing keystrokes, extracting and inputting data, or performing other defined actions. One of the biggest draws of RPA tools is that they don’t require integrations to automate workflows.
This technology uses RPA bots, which aren’t physical robots—they’re pieces of software code. Unlike human beings, they don’t get tired or need rest. But they can break down. 👀
Most mature RPA providers combine RPA tools with artificial intelligence (AI), and the result is called intelligent automation (also known as hyperautomation). Why do they combine the two? Well, because RPA bots aren’t very smart by design. For example, they can’t interpret scanned documents or understand their context. And even the smallest user interface change (like if a certain button is moved) can break their workflow.
So, many RPA vendors combine RPA tools with AI such as:
- Optical character recognition (OCR) technology. This helps RPA bots perform text analysis and understand scanned documents, which is super useful for paper-intensive industries. (Think of the finance and healthcare sectors.)
- Computer vision, which helps RPA bots view every element of an interface, helping them “see” interfaces just like a human being does. Computer vision helps the bots perform well and reduces the chances of them breaking down when UI changes occur.
If you’re interested in learning more about intelligent automation, IBM has a great article discussing the combination of RPA with AI. (And if this is the kind of stuff you’re interested in reading for fun, you’re our kind of people. 😉)
The software we review below are RPA tools, but they all use some form of AI as well. So technically that makes them intelligent automation tools—but let's not get hung up on semantics here.
What considerations are important for choosing an RPA tool?
If you’re planning to invest in an RPA tool, it’s important to keep these five considerations in mind.
1. Low code vs. no code
No code RPA tools rely on visual builders to design automation workflows. This is great for users who aren’t tech-savvy—they only need to learn to use the builders. However, developers and IT teams tend to prefer low-code software. These tools are easier for developers to customize.
2. Customer support
RPA isn’t a set-it-and-forget-it activity. RPA bots get stuck and break down, some automation initiatives turn out to be failures, and bugs show up from time to time. So be sure to look for an RPA provider that offers good customer support—it’s important to choose a partner that’s committed to helping you succeed.
3. Use cases
Automation use cases vary a lot, especially depending on your industry. If your industry involves a lot of paperwork, for example, it’s important to choose an RPA provider with intelligent document processing features. (When choosing an RPA tool, be sure to check out the vendor’s reviews and case studies. See if they’re experienced in deploying RPA in your industry.)
4. Pricing
RPA tools don’t just have different prices, they’re also priced differently. Some RPA providers charge an all-inclusive fee to use a certain amount of RPA bots with full access to the platform’s features, while others charge separately for certain features. Before you decide, take a look at the different pricing plans available and calculate exactly how much you’ll end up paying.
5. Attended vs. unattended RPA
Attended automation involves both humans and RPA bots working together. Think of an RPA bot assisting a customer service agent. The bot pulls up the customer’s information on the human agent’s screen, saving the customer support person time and hassle. In contrast, unattended RPA runs on its own, without the need for any human intervention.
Some RPA tools offer attended automation under a different pricing plan from unattended, so check the plans out and consider your use cases before signing up.
The 15 best RPA tools to empower your team
1. Magical — AI-Powered Browser Automation
Rating: 4.6/5
Magical is revolutionizing the RPA landscape with its browser-based automation platform that leverages agentic AI to create self-healing, adaptive automations. With over 700,000 users and 3,600+ positive reviews on the Chrome Store, Magical delivers fast implementation and exceptional results across various industries.
Key Features:
- AI-powered automation with self-healing, adaptive workflows
- Process mining to identify inefficiencies and recommend solutions
- Simple "Capture" functionality to record and automate workflows
- Integration with 30,000+ web applications
- Enterprise-grade security with SOC2 Type II certification
- No engineering resources required for implementation
Pricing:
- Free Version: Browser extension with basic features
- Enterprise: Custom pricing based on organization needs
- Implementation Time: Days instead of months (typical for traditional RPA)
Pros:
- Dramatically faster implementation than traditional RPA solutions
- Self-serve automation creation without requiring technical expertise
- AI-powered workflow optimization that adapts to changes
- All processing occurs locally, enhancing security and privacy
- Works with virtually any web application without custom integration
Cons:
- Primarily focused on browser-based automation workflows
- Enterprise pricing not publicly available
- Newer platform compared to some established competitors
Magical is the perfect solution for organizations seeking rapid automation results without the lengthy implementation times and high costs associated with traditional RPA platforms. Its self-healing workflows and AI capabilities make it particularly valuable for healthcare, financial services, operations, and customer support teams dealing with complex, variable processes.
2. UIPath
Rating: 4.6/5
UIPath is the largest provider of RPA software by market share and has been recognized as a Gartner® Magic Quadrant Leader for its comprehensive automation capabilities. This platform offers a complete suite of tools to help businesses automate end-to-end processes, from discovery to execution.
Key Features:
- Comprehensive automation platform with Studio, Orchestrator, and Robots
- AI-powered document understanding for processing structured and unstructured data
- Process mining and task mining capabilities to identify automation opportunities
- UiPath Apps for building custom business applications
- Strong governance and security features for enterprise deployments
Pricing:
- Free plan/trial: Yes. UIPath offers a 60-day free trial on the Pro plan.
- Community Edition: Free for individuals and small teams
- Pro: Starting at approximately $1,000/month
- Enterprise: Custom pricing based on deployment needs
Best For: Information technology and services, computer software, financial services
UIPath is ideal for large enterprises looking for comprehensive automation capabilities with strong governance and scalability features. It's also suitable for organizations with complex automation needs requiring advanced AI capabilities and cross-department orchestration.
3. Automation Anywhere
Free plan/trial: Yes. Automation Anywhere offers a free 30-day trial.
G2 Score: 4.5.
Top industries: Information technology and services, computer software, financial services.
Automation Anywhere is one of the most popular RPA tools, and like UIPath, is recognized by Gartner as a Magic Quadrant Leader. Automation Anywhere has all the core RPA capabilities, including AI, machine learning (ML), process mining, natural language processing (NLP), and more. Like UIPath, Automation Anywhere provides a suite of tools to design, deploy, and manage your RPA bots.
One of the biggest differences between Automation Anywhere and UIPath lies in their reliance on third-party integrations. Automation Anywhere provides all its core tools in one central platform, whereas UIPath relies on third-party tools to deliver similar functionality.
Key Features:
- Cloud-native architecture for easier deployment and maintenance
- IQ Bot for AI-powered document processing and unstructured data handling
- Bot Insight for built-in analytics and business intelligence
- AARI (Automation Anywhere Robotic Interface) for human-bot collaboration
- Extensive API integrations with common business applications
Pricing:
- Free plan/trial: Yes. Automation Anywhere offers a free 30-day trial.
- Community Edition: Free with limited capabilities
- Enterprise: Starting at approximately $750/month per bot
Best For: Information technology and services, computer software, financial services
Automation Anywhere is particularly well-suited for organizations looking for user-friendly automation with strong cloud capabilities. It's an excellent choice for businesses prioritizing rapid deployment and ease of use, including those with limited technical resources.
4. SS&C BluePrism
Free plan/trial: Yes. BluePrism offers a free 30-day trial.
G2 Score: 4.5.
Top industries: Information technology and services, financial services, computer software.
BluePrism is a major UK-based RPA vendor known for its resilient, scalable RPA platform with a strong focus on governance and compliance. It pioneered the concept of a "digital workforce" and offers robust tools for managing automation at scale.
Key Features:
- Process Studio for visual process design
- Control Room for centralized governance and management
- Secure design with role-based access controls
- Veracode Verified security certification
- Resilient automation for enterprise needs
Pricing:
- Free plan/trial: Yes. BluePrism offers a free 30-day trial.
- Enterprise: Starting at approximately $1,200/month per robot
Best For: Information technology and services, financial services, computer software
BluePrism is particularly well-suited for large enterprises in regulated industries that require strong security, governance, and compliance features. Some reviewers have found that Blue Prism scales better and is more reliable for larger RPA projects compared to competitors.
5. ElectroNeek
Free plan/trial: Some reviews mention that ElectroNeek had a free trial, but they no longer seem to offer one. You can schedule a free demo with their team.
G2 Score: 4.5.
Top industries: Information technology and services, computer software, banking.
ElectroNeek offers an RPA platform with a unique focus on Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and IT departments. Their "by developers, for developers" approach prioritizes low-code development rather than no-code solutions.
Key Features:
- MSP-friendly licensing model
- Studio Pro for low-code bot development
- Bot Runner for bot execution
- Orchestrator for bot management
- OCR capabilities for document processing
Pricing:
- Free plan/trial: Some reviews mention a free trial, but currently offers demo only
- Studio Pro: Free IDE for developers
- MSP Focused: Custom pricing for service providers
- Enterprise: Custom pricing based on needs
Best For: Information technology and services, computer software, banking
ElectroNeek is a great option for small-to-medium sized businesses, MSPs, and modest-sized IT teams. Developers generally prefer its low-code platform because it's easier to set up compared to learning entirely new no-code environments.
6. Microsoft Power Automate
Free plan/trial: Yes. Microsoft Power Automate comes with a free 30-day trial.
G2 Score: 4.6.
Top industries: Information technology and services, automotive, education management.
Power Automate is Microsoft’s RPA tool, and it’s a lot younger than competing tools like BluePrism, UIPath, and Automation Anywhere. Power Automate stemmed from Microsoft Flow, a SaaS released in 2016 to help Microsoft 365 users automate business processes. In 2019, Microsoft added AI features and connectors, and Flow became an RPA platform, which is now called Power Automate.
There used to be a substantial difference between Power Automate and competitors like UIPath. At one point, Microsoft’s RPA platform was quite far behind. But as it stands, Power Automate has caught up nicely in core RPA capabilities and was recognized as a Magic Quadrant Leader by Gartner. Power Automate is generally priced more competitively than UIPath, and the software works really well with other Microsoft products.
Microsoft also offers Power Automate Desktop free with Windows 10 and 11, but the features are limited. The free version is a great option for small businesses looking to use RPA.
Key Features:
- Seamless integration with Microsoft 365 applications
- UI flows for desktop application automation
- Cloud flows for service and API automation
- AI Builder for intelligent automation and form processing
- Pre-built templates for common automation scenarios
Pricing:
- Free plan/trial: Yes. Microsoft Power Automate comes with a free 30-day trial.
- Free: Limited automation included with Microsoft 365 subscriptions
- Premium: $15/user/month for full capabilities
- Per Flow Plan: $500/month for unlimited users (5 flows)
- RPA Add-on: Additional costs for robotic process automation
Best For: Information technology and services, automotive, education management
7. AutomationEdge
Free plan/trial: Free plan, 30 minutes a month for lifetime
G2 Score: 4.3
Top Industries: Banking (financial services), healthcare, IT, insurance, manufacturing, telecom.
Meet AutomationEdge, an advanced RPA tool engineered to streamline your work processes. This high-end technology is renowned for its exquisite features that truly make it stand out in the crowd of RPA tools.
The first notable characteristic of AutomationEdge is its robust cognitive automation capabilities. This feature enables the tool to swiftly learn and improve its capabilities while interacting with various business processes. Hence, automation is carried out not just mechanically but intelligently as well.
Furthermore, AutomationEdge showcases a high level of versatility via its full range of APIs. By making it easy to integrate with any system irrespective of the interfaces such as CLI, web services, or GUI, it enhances its functionality and accessibility.
Key Features:
- Robust cognitive automation capabilities
- Full range of APIs for easy integration
- High versatility across different interfaces (CLI, web services, GUI)
- Intelligent automation with learning capabilities
Pricing:
- Free plan/trial: Free plan, 30 minutes a month for lifetime
- Enterprise: Contact sales for pricing
Best For: Banking (financial services), healthcare, IT, insurance, manufacturing, telecom
AutomationEdge stands out for its cognitive capabilities that allow for intelligent rather than merely mechanical automation, making it ideal for organizations looking to implement smart automation solutions across different systems regardless of interface type.
8. Appian
Free plan/trial: Free plan, then there's the Application, Platform, and Unlimited options.
G2 Score: 4.5
Top Industries: Financial services, insurance, government, life sciences.
Appian is a widely used Robotic Process Automation (RPA) tool known for its powerful features and user-friendly interface. With its extensive capabilities, Appian allows businesses to streamline their processes, automate repetitive tasks, and improve productivity.
Appian seamlessly integrates with AI technologies, providing businesses with enhanced automation and decision-making capabilities. With AI integration, Appian can automate complex tasks, analyze data, and make intelligent recommendations.
Key Features:
- Seamless AI technology integration
- Enhanced automation and decision-making capabilities
- Complex task automation
- Intelligent data analysis and recommendations
- Low-code development environment
Pricing:
- Free plan/trial: Free plan, then there's the Application, Platform, and Unlimited options
- Enterprise: Contact sales for pricing
Best For: Financial services, insurance, government, life sciences
Appian is particularly valuable for organizations seeking to combine the power of RPA with AI technologies for enhanced automation capabilities while maintaining a user-friendly approach to development.
9. Rocketbot
Free plan/trial: Free to download, you have to pay for the license.
G2 Score: 4.6
Top Industries: Financial services, retail, logistics, healthcare, healthcare, insurance.
Rocketbot is a powerful Robotic Process Automation (RPA) tool designed to streamline and automate repetitive tasks in various business processes. With a range of advanced features, Rocketbot enables businesses to optimize their operations and improve productivity.
Rocketbot offers powerful data extraction capabilities, enabling users to extract data from various sources such as websites, databases, and documents. The tool supports various data formats and can handle complex extraction requirements, such as nested data or unstructured data.
Key Features:
- Powerful data extraction from websites, databases, and documents
- Support for various data formats
- Complex extraction handling including nested and unstructured data
- Streamlined workflow automation
- Easy implementation
Pricing:
- Free plan/trial: Free to download, you have to pay for the license
- Enterprise: Contact sales for pricing
Best For: Financial services, retail, logistics, healthcare, insurance
Rocketbot excels at data extraction scenarios, making it an excellent choice for organizations that need to gather information from multiple sources and process various data formats efficiently.
10. Work.AI
Free plan/trial: Free to sign up, you have to contact them for prices.
G2 Score: 4.3
Top Industries: Financial services, telecommunications, logistics.
What users have to say:
Work.AI is a unified communication platform that helps you conduct personalized internal comms, improve employee engagement, and measure all interactions – with no IT skills needed.
You can share personalized news, organize in-company events, publish videos, and send responsive newsletters. Find anything using AI-powered search and measure engagement with real-time analytics. All of this using a drag-and-drop CMS editor with over 200 layout blocks and 60 content-types.
Key Features:
- Personalized news sharing capabilities
- In-company event organization
- Video publishing and responsive newsletter distribution
- AI-powered search functionality
- Real-time analytics for measuring engagement
- Drag-and-drop CMS editor with extensive layout options
Pricing:
- Free plan/trial: Free to sign up, contact for prices
- Enterprise: Custom pricing based on needs
Best For: Financial services, telecommunications, logistics
Work.AI is ideal for organizations focusing on internal communications and employee engagement, offering a comprehensive solution for managing company information and measuring interaction without technical barriers.
11. Kofax RPA
Free plan/trial: They offer a demo, then you have to speak to sales.
G2 Score: 4.5
Top Industries: Financial services, healthcare, government, insurance.
What users have to say:
Kofax RPA allows you to build, deploy, and manage automated robots on a centralized server. The server interacts with internal enterprise systems, websites, web portals, desktop apps, and other data sources without needing an API or coding.
Key Features:
- Centralized robot management
- No-API interaction with multiple systems
- Integration with enterprise systems
- Web portal and desktop application automation
- Code-free implementation
Pricing:
- Free plan/trial: Demo available, contact sales for pricing
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
Best For: Financial services, healthcare, government, insurance
Kofax RPA is particularly valuable for organizations needing to automate interactions across multiple systems without developing APIs, offering a centralized approach to managing automation robots.
12. Cyclone RPA
Free trial/plan: No free plan. Contact sales.
G2 Score: 4.9
Top Industries: Financial services, healthcare, e-commerce, logistics, energy, HR.
What users have to say:
With its user-friendly interface, Cyclone RPA is carving a niche in automating large-scale data processes. The platform's seamless integration across various systems makes it an attractive option for business users looking to reduce human intervention and improve response times effectively.
This automation solution simplifies complex workflows while enabling companies to automatically collect large datasets—ushering in new levels of productivity without needing constant support from IT teams.
Key Features:
- Large-scale data process automation
- Seamless cross-system integration
- Reduced human intervention requirements
- Improved response times
- Automatic collection of large datasets
- Minimal IT support needs
Pricing:
- Free trial/plan: No free plan. Contact sales
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
Best For: Financial services, healthcare, e-commerce, logistics, energy, HR
Cyclone RPA is ideal for businesses that need to handle large datasets with minimal IT support, offering simplification of complex workflows while automatically collecting extensive data across systems.
13. Laiye
Free trial/plan: Free trial. Contact sales for prices.
G2 Score: 4.8
Top Industries: Retail, transportation, logistics, healthcare, financial services.
Laiye's platform leverages cognitive automation coupled with machine learning, pushing boundaries further than traditional RPA software. By integrating AI into its core functionalities, Laiye excels at handling intricate decision-making processes which typically require nuanced human judgment.
This powerful blend results in intelligent solutions capable of enhancing operational efficiency even amidst challenging business landscapes where adaptability is key.
Key Features:
- Cognitive automation with machine learning
- Advanced decision-making capabilities
- Handling of nuanced human judgment scenarios
- Enhanced operational efficiency
- Adaptability in challenging business landscapes
Pricing:
- Free trial/plan: Free trial. Contact sales for prices
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
Best For: Retail, transportation, logistics, healthcare, financial services
Laiye is particularly well-suited for organizations facing complex decision-making scenarios that typically require human judgment, offering intelligent solutions that enhance operational efficiency in challenging business environments.
14. Nintex RPA
Free trial/plan: Free trial. Then it's $25k per year for Pro, $50k per year for Premium, and they also have a custom option.
G2 Score: 4.5
Top Industries: Healthcare, financial services, energy, government, education, technology.
A testament to simplicity merged with power can be seen through Nintex RPA’s graphical user interface. This design empowers those who aren't well-versed coders but still want to reap the benefits of robust process automation RPA capabilities spanning multiple platforms—all without getting bogged down by code complexities.
Key Features:
- Graphical user interface for no-code automation
- Multi-platform RPA capabilities
- Designed for non-technical users
- Robust automation without coding
- Easy implementation for business users
Pricing:
- Free trial/plan: Free trial. Then it's $25k per year for Pro, $50k per year for Premium, with custom options
- Enterprise: Custom pricing available
Best For: Healthcare, financial services, energy, government, education, technology
Nintex RPA is ideal for organizations looking to empower business users to create automation without coding expertise, offering a graphical approach to building robust process automation across multiple platforms.
15. Pega RPA
Free trial/plan: Free trial. Contact sales for pricing.
G2 Score: 4
Top Industries: Automotive, manufacturing, government, insurance, healthcare, communications.
Pega RPA's solid framework supports enterprises' efforts toward achieving impressive cost savings while ensuring operations run smoother than ever before—a crucial step up within the competitive market space.
Pega RPA doesn't just follow orders—it often knows what you need before you do, thanks to attended automation and vendor management capabilities enhancing customer experiences dramatically.
Key Features:
- Cost-saving automation framework
- Operations optimization
- Attended automation capabilities
- Predictive functionality
- Enhanced customer experiences
- Vendor management capabilities
Pricing:
- Free trial/plan: Free trial. Contact sales for pricing
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
Best For: Automotive, manufacturing, government, insurance, healthcare, communications
Pega RPA is particularly valuable for enterprises focused on achieving significant cost savings while improving operations, with predictive capabilities that enhance customer experiences and streamline vendor management.
16. Nice RPA
Free trial/plan: Free trial. Contact sales for pricing.
G2 Score: 3.8
Top Industries: Healthcare, telecommunications, government, HR, insurance
What users say:
In the realm of Robotic Process Automation (RPA), one tool stands out for its unique capabilities - Nice RPA. This advanced automation software is designed to streamline business operations, boost productivity, and improve customer service. Let's delve deeper into what makes this tool so special.
Nice RPA offers an impressive range of automation capabilities that allow businesses to automate complex processes with ease. It leverages AI and machine learning technologies to handle repetitive tasks, thereby freeing up your workforce to focus on more strategic aspects of your business.
Key Features:
- Advanced range of automation capabilities
- Complex process automation
- AI and machine learning integration
- Repetitive task handling
- Strategic business focus enablement
Pricing:
- Free trial/plan: Free trial. Contact sales for pricing
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
Best For: Healthcare, telecommunications, government, HR, insurance
Nice RPA is ideal for organizations looking to automate complex processes to free up their workforce for strategic business activities, particularly in customer service-oriented industries.
Which RPA tool should you choose?
Leading RPA tools, like the ones we’ve featured, all offer core RPA capabilities. They have some nuanced, technical differences, such as relying on different frameworks or programming languages, and some have superior cognitive capabilities (like OCR) compared to others.
When choosing an RPA provider, consider your specific use cases, budget, and the team that will own your RPA. They might have specific wants and needs.
RPA is a powerful tool used by businesses of all sizes—it’s versatile, scalable, and has lots of opportunities for customization. But sometimes, small businesses prefer workflow automation tools that are easier to set up and cheaper to implement. A tool like Magical can be a great fit in these instances—you get all of the benefits of automation, without the hassle of cost and upkeep.
