Rules Engine Rankings & Directory
A comprehensive guide to business rules engines, featuring curated top rankings across key categories like open source, enterprise, and cloud-native solutions, along with a complete directory of available engines. Whether you're looking for the most powerful enterprise solutions or lightweight open-source alternatives, this guide helps you navigate the diverse landscape of rules engine technologies.
Top Lists
Rule Engine Comparisons
GoRules
Gorules.io is a flexible and intuitive rules engine that helps organizations automate decision-making processes. Its drag-and-drop interface and powerful rule engine make it easy for non-technical users to create and manage complex business rules.
Drools
A mature open-source business rules engine written in Java, part of the KIE (Knowledge Is Everything) group. Known for its robust rule processing capabilities but requires significant Java expertise and infrastructure.
NRules
NRules is an open source rules engine for .NET that is based on the Rete matching algorithm. Rules are authored in C# using internal DSL.
Grule
Grule is a Rule Engine library for the Go (Golang) programming language. Inspired by the acclaimed JBOSS Drools, and done in a much simpler manner. Like Drools, Grule has its own DSL or Domain-Specific Language.
Decisimo
A newer cloud-based rules platform focusing on developer experience, but limited in enterprise features and deployment options.
Easy Rules
A lightweight open-source Java rules engine library focused on simplicity.
Decisions
A broad low-code platform combining workflows, rules, and forms, targeting comprehensive process automation but can be complex when only rules functionality is needed.
Progress Corticon
A business rules management system known for its 'no-coding' approach and natural language rules.
Oracle Business Rules
Part of Oracle's Fusion Middleware, offering comprehensive features but requiring deep integration with Oracle's technology stack and significant infrastructure investment.
DecisionRules
A cloud-based decision management platform with a focus on API-first implementation.
Higson
A newer cloud-based rules platform targeting modern developers primarily in .NET.
SlideRule
A cloud-native rules engine focusing on simplicity and API-first approach.
Red Hat Decision Manager
Enterprise version of Drools, integrated with Red Hat's middleware stack. Offers comprehensive features but requires significant infrastructure and expertise.
OpenRules
An Excel-oriented open-source business rules engine that leverages spreadsheets for rule authoring. Simple to use but limited in enterprise capabilities.
Actico Platform BRMS
A German-based business rules management system with strong compliance features, primarily targeting financial services and insurance industries.
FlexRule
A .NET-based decision automation platform combining business rules, workflow, and analytics. Strong in the Microsoft ecosystem.
FICO Blaze Advisor
A commercial rules management system widely used in financial services, known for complex decision strategies.
Nools
An abandoned open-source JavaScript rules engine that was popular for Node.js applications. No longer maintained and limited to basic rule processing capabilities.
IBM Operational Decision Manager (ODM)
A comprehensive enterprise decision management system with a long history in large organizations.
Nected
A proprietary cloud-only rules engine focused on simplicity and ease of use. Despite being built with modern technologies, it's closed-source and offers limited customization options.
InRule
A .NET-focused commercial business rules management system targeting enterprise Microsoft shops. Known for deep Microsoft ecosystem integration.
Camunda
A process automation platform that includes DMN-based decision management capabilities. While strong in BPM, its rules engine capabilities are secondary to its process management focus.