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. UIPath
Free plan/trial: Yes. UIPath offers a 60-day free trial on the Pro plan.
G2 Score: 4.6.
Top industries: Information technology and services, computer software, financial services.
UIPath is the largest provider of RPA software (by market share) and was named a Gartner® Magic Quadrant Leader. As an established RPA platform, UIPath has all the core RPA capabilities you might be looking for, including attended and unattended bots, AI (computer vision, natural language processing, and OCR), cloud and on-premise deployment, and support for all major operating systems.
UIPath is a great choice for medium-to-large enterprises—it’s a mature platform with an experienced team behind it, and proven results. While the enterprise plan is too expensive for most smaller businesses (it can cost several thousand dollars a month), UIPath offers a free Community Edition, with limited features, to make automation more accessible.
2. 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.
3. 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. Like UIPath and Automation Anywhere, Blue Prism includes all core RPA capabilities, including AI and ML, process mining, and a suite of tools for managing deployment. But UIPath and Automation Anywhere have more learning resources than BluePrism.
The main differences between platforms like Blue Prism and UIPath are highly technical—so, developers may prefer using one over the other. Some users find UIPath’s cognitive capabilities to be superior, and UIPath offers integrated AI while BluePrism relies on integrations with IBM Watson. However, some reviewers have found that Blue Prism scales better and is more reliable for larger RPA projects.
4. 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 isn’t as big as some of the other RPA vendors on our list, but it has a very interesting focus on managed service providers (MSPs) and IT departments. As the RPA tool says on its home page, they’re “by developers, for developers”. This means that, unlike RPA providers that are focused on no-code, ElectroNeek prioritizes low-code.
Developers generally prefer low-code platforms because they’re easier to set up. In contrast, no-code RPA environments mean developers first have to learn to use the no-code builders before they can deploy RPA.
ElectroNeek is a great option for small-to-medium sized businesses, MSPs, and modest-sized IT teams. But as some reviewers have pointed out, it’s not the best choice for enterprise needs and may struggle to scale reliably.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. 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.
13. 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.
14. 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.
15. 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.
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.
