Blue Prism vs Python RPA comparison

SS&C Blue Prism and Python RPA are both solutions in the Robotic Process Automation (RPA) category. SS&C Blue Prism is ranked #4 with an average rating of 8.0, while Python RPA is ranked #23 with an average rating of 8.3. Additionally, 88% of SS&C Blue Prism users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Python RPA users who would recommend it.

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Download the report

Executive SummaryUpdated on Dec 4, 2024

Blue Prism and Python RPA are competing RPA solutions. Blue Prism is often preferred for its seamless integration with enterprise systems, while Python RPA is valued for its flexibility and cost-effectiveness.

Features: Blue Prism includes robust audit and security capabilities crucial for compliance, facilitates integration with major enterprise applications, and provides a structured automation framework. Python RPA offers extensive libraries and community support, adaptability for custom automation needs, and a modular design suitable for diverse workflows.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Blue Prism provides a guided deployment model with comprehensive technical support, suitable for established IT structures, whereas Python RPA allows greater deployment flexibility but may require more technical expertise. Blue Prism has structured customer service with dedicated support teams compared to Python RPA's community resource-based support options.

Pricing and ROI: Blue Prism requires a higher initial investment but offers a high ROI for large-scale operations due to its enterprise support package. Python RPA presents a lower-cost entry point, appealing to budget-conscious businesses, with the potential for quicker ROI due to minimal licensing fees and a gradual cost model.

To learn more, read our detailed Blue Prism vs. Python RPA Report (Updated: January 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Blue Prism vs. Python RPA

January 2025

Download the complete report

Helped 832,138 peers since 2012

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

Fortra's Automate

Featured Reviews

Anabel Marco

Account Director at a tech services company with 11-50 employees

Can automate several processes with only one bot and is easy to implement, administer, and use

We have tried other RPA solutions like UiPath or Automation Anywhere. They are fantastic products but complex, and it's hard to understand everything. It would be best if you had a skilled developer or several. Automate is easy to implement, administer, and use. It's appropriate for us because our cases are simple and easy to automate. We don't need complicated tools with many features; We prefer to get a significant ROI quickly. We can automate several processes with only one bot, so it's much cheaper than other products where you need to buy additional licenses. We need a good value for our automation. The other solutions might be more robust, but Automate is perfect for us because we're not a large enterprise.

Read full review

Mohamed Salah Baccouche

Robotic Process Automation Consultant at Ernst & Young

Way more efficient for debugging than other tools but the UI is complicated

The UI is more complicated than other tools. In Power Automate, it doesn't even feel like you are working because the tool does the job for you. But in the solution, there are studio, process, and object interfaces and you have to decode your own objects. The free objects that are predefined are not good compared to other tools. There is still a lot of work to do on the solution's intelligent automation part.

Read full review

Arno Krause

Solutions Architect at MTN

Helps streamline operations, the error handling capability is fairly good, and integrations are easy

Keyword-driven automation has been beneficial in streamlining operations. The error handling capability of Python RPA is fairly good in managing exceptions. I rate it a seven out of ten. We've integrated it with Jenkins and with our release pipeline. It was fairly easy. We had no issues with integration that we couldn’t deal with. The dashboard is simple. We export it to Excel or Power BI and make it look pretty. For our initial use, the dashboard is okay.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"I actually quite liked the no-coding functionality."

"We have tried other RPA solutions like UiPath or Automation Anywhere. They are fantastic products but complex, and it's hard to understand everything. It would be best if you had a skilled developer or several. Automate is easy to implement, administer, and use. It's appropriate for us because our cases are simple and easy to automate. We don't need complicated tools with many features; We prefer to get a significant ROI quickly."

"We are still in the process of rolling it to production and tweaking it (our AD groups are a mess), but the improvements are priceless. Having users ID's created the same way every time without human error is the best part. We don't need to worry about why groups were not added, user rights not set to folders or missing a private folder being created, typos or just even knowing when things are done and logged."

"The pricing is excellent. I would give them perfect marks in that regard."

"The solution is continuously adding more integrations to help with workflows and bot and task creation."

"Compared to other vendors, it's the scheduling tool because a lot of vendors want to charge you extra for their enterprise-level license to have a scheduling tool built in to give you the ability to set up regular schedules to run and do certain data checks."

"This tool has machine learning and voice recognition and computer vision, which are both quite useful aspects. These aren't available in other tools. It's a good addition to this tool and it gives the solution an edge on the market."

"The most valuable features for my client are timing and scheduling."

More Fortra's Automate pros

"It's fast to get up and running if you use a cloud deployment."

"The only feature that stands out in Blue Prism, as compared to other tools, is security. This is the only reason for still having Blue Prism in our bucket. It is very secure and reliable, and it has also been in the market for a very long time. We automated a lot of federal and government automation processes very recently with this solution."

"The new features that have come out have been great."

"The most valuable feature is the work queue. This helps the user to create a workflow, and it is a very powerful tool for generating management reports."

"Blue Prism is a great enterprise and it has offered the solutions that I have been needing in order to give my organization an RPA."

"Blue Prism is a mature, stable product with lots of built-in features."

"Although the solution may look complicated it actually has a lot of features and user space to work out of."

"The tool's user interface is very intuitive."

More Blue Prism pros

"It's possible to use the solution with other tools. It's very agile."

"Keyword-driven automation has been beneficial in streamlining operations."

"Instead of writing multiple lines of code, we can do it in a single statement."

Cons

"I would like to see some better web automation, a wizard like the one in the product WinAutomation would be very nice."

"Error messages should be better. For error status, there should be better documentation because a lot of times, error messages that you get are quite vague. For example, you get a message saying that the workflow has run into an unknown status, which is vague. It just tells you that it failed, but you don't know how or why it failed. It makes debugging difficult."

"It would be an improvement if Automate had better stability tools, whether by recommending a certain amount of memory because it can be a memory hog at times."

"While this solution is continually improving, as it is now, the user interface could use improvement when I compare it to a product like UiPath."

"They do not encrypt passwords, so this is an issue with HIPAA compliance."

"The workflow for variables could be better. The input and output of task-level variables could be made a little clearer in terms of passing those around from one task to another upon success, etc. Things like that could be a little easier potentially."

"We really need a free development environment for customers. Building and testing automation on production isn't ideal."

"I believe we need to test various OCR tools that assist in evaluating, let's say, six different customer resyncs. We analyze their spending patterns and documentations, but current OCR support has limitations, requiring highly standardized documents, which isn't always the case. With a more advanced OCR system, we could improve processes related to credit risk management and legal matters. We're exploring how to integrate Fortra's Automate with our CRM platform, taking cues from instances where Salesforce seamlessly merged with Automate. However, we use a different CRM, Insight for New Enterprise, and we're seeking ways to connect the automation process within our CRM. We aim for the automation to continue smoothly, even in instances where traditional automation methods might face hurdles."

More Fortra's Automate cons

"Occasionally, there may be stability issues where certain nodes begin to behave erratically and produce errors."

"There are some new tools on the market that work better than Blue Prism. When Blue Prism receives information I have found other RPA solutions refresh the application better. At this moment it's not the best application."

"In the next release of this solution, I would like to see support for attended robots."

"Its pricing is sometimes higher. Its price can be better. Its presale support should be increased. Currently, its presale support is very less. System integrators generally position Blue Prism in front of customers. Though they have an ecosystem, they don't have people who can train for the partner ecosystem. They have to increase the presales consultants for partners. In addition, their L1 and L2 support can also be improved."

"The scalability has to do with the latency of what you're connecting to. And so if you're connecting to something that isn't particularly scalable, it doesn't matter how many robots you scale out. You're constrained by the latency and the size of the application or solution or service that the robot is using."

"I have been speaking directly with Blue Prism's engagement manager about making the solution more web-based. It's not quite there yet. Currently, the latest version is still under the beta version, so, as a customer, we don't have access to it. They are making it much more web-based, but for now, everything you have to log into requires an enterprise server — It's still more client-based than web-based."

"Blue Prism is lagging in terms of artificial intelligence. There is no artificial intelligence in version 4 or 5, which most people are still using as far as I'm aware. To be fair, they do have AI in version 6. Still, it's lagging terribly. Blue Prism is the inventor of the name of the term "RPA," and it's disappointing to see they are sitting around... Cognitive learning, for example, where it can actually follow your movements on the screen, is not there in Blue Prism."

"The upgrades could be managed better. I would also like to see more true AI development and machine learning."

More Blue Prism cons

"Support could be improved."

"It can be expensive to deploy a lot of models in the cloud, especially if there are large amounts of data."

"When we call an API and there is an error, it doesn't tell you what the error is."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"I like the way this solution is priced because you can buy a license, or you can buy the software outright."

"While solutions like UiPath and Blue Prism cost around $11,000-$12,000 for each license, this product costs around $7,000 and you can keep it forever."

"I'm only involved in running the product and maintaining the systems, so I can't speak to the cost."

"From a distributor's perspective, one of the biggest selling points of Automate is its price point."

"I believe the price falls within a reasonable range, which significantly influenced our decision regarding the product. This aspect is crucial for any technological solution, especially in our country where enterprises might be hesitant to invest heavily in something untested or uncertain about its practicality and potential returns."

"The cost is a bit high for a small business like ours, but we manage with Fortra's Automate."

"From a distributor's side, one of the biggest selling points is its price point. Without going into any numbers, compared to UiPath, Automation Anywhere, and Blue Prism, we're significantly cheaper. The main difference is that other competitors usually charge you per process. However, in Automate's case, it's priced per bot. So, a bot can run multiple processes at the same time, but you are only priced for a single bot."

"It comes with a package that costs approximately $20,000 USD per year."

More Fortra's Automate pricing and cost advice

"The price is on par with other products in the market."

"Its price is sometimes higher."

"I don't recall what it was. Initially, we had our licensing through the consultant, and when we stopped using them, we renegotiated licensing. Blue Prism gave us temporary licenses during the negotiation. When all things were said and done, it came out to a decent price even without the vendor. So, our management has been happy with that."

"We really don't bear the costs. The cost is borne by the customer. It runs into about $100,000 per year per customer for Blue Prism. We normally budget around $30,000 for the first year for the hardware, setup, and people cost."

"Blue Prism is less expensive than some of the other RPA solutions."

"It is expensive for us. It should be cheaper for a market like ours. We are based in India."

"Licensing is on a yearly basis."

"The price of Blue Prism is high compared to others solutions. It would be helpful if they could provide a trial version for new users to try. Other vendors provide a community or trial version. There are not any hidden costs."

More Blue Prism pricing and cost advice

"The tool is not expensive."

"I am using an open-source solution."

See which vendors are best for you

Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Robotic Process Automation (RPA) solutions are best for your needs.

See recommendations

832,138 professionals have used our research since 2012.

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

15%

Computer Software Company

14%

Healthcare Company

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

22%

Computer Software Company

11%

Manufacturing Company

10%

Government

Manufacturing Company

16%

Financial Services Firm

12%

Computer Software Company

10%

Government

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about HelpSystems AutoMate?

We use it for specific cases, mainly secure file transfers, which are vital for us. And it works for us.

See all answers

What is your primary use case for HelpSystems AutoMate?

We used the platform primarily for task automation, including transmitting EDR files. Additionally, we've utilized it...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Fortra Automate?

The starter pack was all we needed and was reasonable. Others were either more expensive or didn't do all that I want...

See all answers

Should I choose Blue Prism or Microsoft Power Automate?

Hello Netanya, it depends on your needs and your expertise. In my humble opinion you can start a big RPA project imp...

See all answers

I am evaluating Blue Prism and UiPath for RPA for my company. Which one do you recommend?

I'm very familiar with UiPath and the RPA industry: was hired by Daniel Dines in 2015 when there were 35 employees an...

See all answers

What do you like most about Blue Prism?

It is a stable solution.

See all answers

What do you like most about Python RPA?

Keyword-driven automation has been beneficial in streamlining operations.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Python RPA?

The tool is not expensive.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Python RPA?

I've worked with file detection for secure transactions. I use a machine learning model to predict events related to ...

See all answers

Comparisons

Microsoft Power Automate vs Fortra's Automate

Compared 53% of the time

UiPath vs Fortra's Automate

Compared 39% of the time

Automation Anywhere vs Fortra's Automate

Compared 8% of the time

More Fortra's Automate Competitors

Microsoft Power Automate vs Blue Prism

Compared 38% of the time

UiPath vs Blue Prism

Compared 33% of the time

Automation Anywhere vs Blue Prism

Compared 12% of the time

Pega Robotic Process Automation vs Blue Prism

Compared 4% of the time

Tungsten RPA vs Blue Prism

Compared 2% of the time

More Blue Prism Competitors

Microsoft Power Automate vs Python RPA

Compared 49% of the time

Automation Anywhere vs Python RPA

Compared 31% of the time

UiPath vs Python RPA

Compared 8% of the time

More Python RPA Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Fortra's Automate

February 2025

Download Fortra's Automate product report

Buyer's Guide

Blue Prism

February 2025

Download Blue Prism product report

Buyer's Guide

Robotic Process Automation (RPA)

February 2025

Download Python RPA product report

Also Known As

HelpSystems Automate, Automate

No data available

Overview

Fortra's Automate is predominantly used in HR and operational departments for automating reports, file manipulation, and data processing. Key uses include automating repetitive tasks, integrating PDFs and emails, running scripts, processing large data sets, transforming file formats, synchronizing databases, managing job schedules, and transferring files.

Users commend Fortra's Automate for its ease of implementation and user-friendly drag-and-drop interface, which requires minimal technical skills for efficient bot deployment. The software is appreciated for its effective scheduling tools, reliable integration capabilities, and a wide range of functions such as file interaction, secure file transfers, and extensive automation without the need for coding. Businesses achieve significant time savings and simplified processes, bolstered by continuous updates and robust customer support.

What are the key features?

Scheduling Tools: Enables precise control and timing for automation tasks
Integration Capabilities: Seamlessly connects with various systems and software
File Interaction: Comprehensive functions for file manipulation and transfer
Secure Transfers: Ensures data safety during file transfers
User-Friendly: Minimal technical skills needed for deployment and use

What benefits should you look for in reviews?

Ease of Implementation: Fast and simple setup process
Time Savings: Reduces time spent on repetitive tasks
Process Simplification: Streamlines complex workflows
Customer Support: Access to continuous support and updates

In various industries such as healthcare, transportation, and payroll, Fortra's Automate automates workflows like invoice generation, data retrieval, data uploading, and insurance eligibility checks, enhancing efficiency and accuracy for HR and operational tasks.

Fortra

Blue Prism is an intelligent, business-developed, no-code automation platform for SaaS deployments as well as for on-premises, public cloud, multi-cloud, and hybrid environments. Unlike other automation technology, Blue Prism combines robotic process automation with expanded artificial intelligence and cognitive capabilities. Blue Prism gives users instant access to the tools you need for building and delegating automations, as well as a digital workforce that is already AI-equipped.

With Blue Prism’s code-free RPA, deployed through use of their Robotic Operating Model, your business can scale efficiently, improve customer satisfaction, reduce costs, and augment its talent to take on new responsibilities. Blue Prism helps to accelerate operational agility and efficiency by making it easy to automate the most important processes. Allocating everyday tasks to your Digital Workforce gives you immediate increased capacity and allows your teams to focus on their strategic goals. In addition, it delivers a return on investment, increases efficiency gains, and can even introduce new revenue streams.

“Workforce of the Future”

Blue Prism’s all-in-one intelligent automation platform consists of:

Design Studio with drag-and-drop process automation building, reusable “objects” across your business, and updates to objects and processes saved throughout the process library.
Control Room where you can assign processes to digital workers, scale digital worker and task volume ondemand, and gain real-time transparency of process proficiencies.
Digital Workforce of autonomous software robots that can learn and mimic business processes like humans and are equipped with six intelligent automation skills:
1. Knowledge and Insight - The ability to harvest, understand, and deliver insights from multiple disparate data sources.
2. Visual Perception - The ability to read, understand, and contextualize visual information.
3. Learning - The ability to derive contextual meaning and adapt to evolving process patterns.
4. Planning and Sequencing - The ability to optimize workloads and identify opportunities for better outcomes.
5. Problem-solving - The ability to autonomously solve system, logic, and business problems.
6. Collaboration - The ability to seamlessly work with both people and systems.

Reviews from Real Users

Blue Prism stands out for its enterprise-level functionality, which is why many companies choose it over its competitors. PeerSpot users note that the solution is easy to use, stable, and robust scalability-wise. The security is also top-notch. One user pointed out that "One of the most powerful features in Blue Prism is exception handling. It's one of the features that really differentiates it from other platforms." Blue Prism helps businesses with everything from compliance to quality control and error-avoidance.

SS&C Blue Prism

Users employ Python RPA for automating repetitive tasks and streamlining workflows, reducing manual errors, and enhancing efficiency in processing data, web scraping, and application integration.

Python RPA is valued for its ability to handle complex automation processes, its flexibility, and its compatibility with different systems. It is particularly beneficial for large-scale data handling and business process automation. Users find the extensive library and strong community support helpful for swift issue resolution and knowledge sharing. Its intuitive design and clear documentation simplify the learning curve and implementation. However, documentation can lack depth, making troubleshooting challenging. The setup process can be cumbersome, requiring more intuitive guidance. Execution speed can be slow, causing inefficiencies in workflows, and there is a need for better support and resources for developers. Some users report difficulties with integration into existing systems, suggesting enhanced compatibility and flexibility are needed.

What are the key features?

Flexibility: Capable of handling a wide range of automation tasks.
Ease of Integration: Seamlessly integrates with different systems.
High Customization: Allows for tailored automation solutions.
Extensive Library: Provides comprehensive tools and resources.
Community Support: Strong user community for knowledge sharing.
Scalability: Efficient for various business process scales.
Intuitive Design: Simplifies learning and implementation.

What are the benefits and ROI?

Increased Efficiency: Reduces time spent on repetitive tasks.
Error Reduction: Minimizes manual errors.
Cost Savings: Decreases operational costs through automation.
Improved Accuracy: Enhances precision in data processing.
Scalable Solutions: Adapts to growing business needs.
Faster Processes: Streamlines workflows for quicker results.

In industries where large-scale data processing is essential, such as finance or healthcare, Python RPA helps automate data entry, validation, and reporting, significantly reducing manual labor and improving accuracy. In retail, it integrates with e-commerce platforms to automate order processing and inventory management, ensuring smooth operations. Other sectors, like logistics, benefit from Python RPA by streamlining dispatch and tracking processes, enhancing operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.

Python RPA

Sample Customers

Aldergrove Financial Group, Preferred Health Professionals, Mindbeam Technologies, First Credit Union in British Columbia, Vestcom International, Prime Liberty Benefits, University of Tampa, CNLBancshares, World Precision Instruments, BJ's Restaurants, Globe Pequot Press, Accudata Technologies, Norton Healthcare, Pacific Toxicology Laboratories

Coca-Cola, Walgreens, American Express, Royal Bank of Canada, Pfizer, Shop Direct, O2, Siemens, Ascension Healthcare, Jaguar Land Rover

Home Credit, Silimed, Hilton, Al Hilal Bank, Baskin and Robbins

Buyer's Guide

Blue Prism vs. Python RPA

January 2025

Free Report: Blue Prism vs. Python RPA

Find out what your peers are saying about Blue Prism vs. Python RPA and other solutions. Updated: January 2025.

DOWNLOAD NOW

832,138 professionals have used our research since 2012.

See our Blue Prism vs. Python RPA report.

See our list of best Robotic Process Automation (RPA) vendors.

We monitor all Robotic Process Automation (RPA) reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.