Market context and selection criteria
The automation market enters 2026 in a configuration markedly different from a few years ago. Growth is no longer driven solely by task automation; it is increasingly led by agentic automation: AI-assisted workflows where software agents perceive, reason, and act across multiple systems. The global market for RPA, hyperautomation, and AIOps is estimated at $22.4 billion in 2025, with an annual growth rate of around 19%.
This shift changes the nature of the decision. The tool chosen in 2026 must not merely execute interface scripts; it must align with a broader strategy of AI, data, and governance. Analysts (Gartner, IDC) place UiPath at the top of their evaluations, ahead of Automation Anywhere, with Microsoft now in third place ahead of the pioneer Blue Prism. Yet the ranking matters less than the fit to the context.
This comparison focuses on five platforms according to three criteria: the maturity and analyst recognition, the coverage of the hyperautomation lifecycle (discovery, automation, orchestration, measurement) and the alignment with organizational profiles. The aim is not to declare a winner – needs vary too much – but to qualify the use cases where each option excels.
At-a-glance comparison table
| Platform | Profile | Strength | Ideal target |
| UiPath | Leader in RPA / hyperautomation | End-to-end lifecycle, agentic automation | Large enterprises, complex workflows |
| Automation Anywhere | Cloud-native RPA + AI | Cloud, document automation | Cloud-first organizations, AI |
| Microsoft Power Automate | Low-code, Microsoft ecosystem | Cost, integration with M365 / Copilot | Microsoft 365 enterprises |
| SS&C Blue Prism | Enterprise RPA, governance | Security, auditability, regulated sectors | Finance, healthcare, compliance |
| ServiceNow | ITSM platform + automation | Orchestration of IT workflows | Organizations with ServiceNow |
Detailed solution overview
UiPath
UiPath offers the market’s most comprehensive platform, covering the entire hyperautomation lifecycle: discovery (process and task mining), automation (attended and unattended RPA, IDP, AI agents), orchestration, and ROI measurement. Ranked as the leader in Gartner’s Magic Quadrant for the seventh consecutive year, the vendor has shifted toward agentic automation with UiPath Autopilot, which enables describing a task in natural language and having it executed by an AI agent. Primary target: large enterprises with complex workflows spanning both legacy and modern systems, equipped to exploit the platform’s richness.
Automation Anywhere
Automation Anywhere emphasizes a cloud-native architecture and strong AI integration, notably in document automation (intelligent document processing), frequently highlighted as a strength. Often perceived as more affordable than Blue Prism on pricing, it suits cloud-first organizations prioritizing intelligent and scalable automation, offering a good balance between power and deployment ease.
Microsoft Power Automate
Power Automate, a component of the Power Platform, draws its strength from native integration with Microsoft 365, Azure and Dynamics, and from its Copilot assistant that generates flows from instructions. It is often the most cost-effective and quickest option to deploy for an organization already invested in the Microsoft ecosystem. Its rise is reshaping the market; it remains more of a modular assembly of components than a unified end-to-end hyperautomation platform, compared with UiPath.
SS&C Blue Prism
Blue Prism, which coined the term RPA and is now part of SS&C Technologies (acquired in 2022), stands out for its governance, security, and enterprise-grade auditability. Historically the choice for highly regulated sectors – finance, insurance, healthcare – where traceability and control take precedence over deployment speed. Its positioning, more oriented toward control than agility, makes it a reference for environments where compliance is paramount.
ServiceNow
ServiceNow approaches automation from the ITSM angle and the orchestration of enterprise workflows. More than a pure RPA tool, it is a platform that automates and coordinates processes end-to-end – IT service management, human resources, operations – within a unified environment. Natural target: organizations already equipped with ServiceNow, which find a coherent extension linking automation, governance, and operations.
How to choose based on your profile
The choice depends on the use case, the ecosystem, and maturity. Here are some guidelines:
- Complex workflows, multi-system environments, large accounts: UiPath, for the depth of its platform and its orchestration.
- Cloud-first, intelligent document automation: Automation Anywhere, for its cloud architecture and AI.
- Microsoft 365 ecosystem, controlled budget, rapid deployment: Power Automate, for its integration and cost.
- Regulated sectors requiring governance and auditability: SS&C Blue Prism, for enterprise-grade control.
- ServiceNow-driven organizations: the platform, to unify automation and service management.
A core methodological principle governs the brand choice: the tool must fit into an automation strategy (process mapping, ROI-based prioritization, governance) rather than the reverse. Picking the most powerful platform without a structured approach leads to the same failures that affect about 70% of automation projects. An organization’s maturity matters as much as the tool’s capabilities.
The latest trend to consider in the decision: convergence toward agentic automation. All of these platforms now embed AI agents, often relying on multiple model providers. Favor an open and interoperable solution that can evolve with a quickly changing market—this is a prudent choice. The prudent move remains to start from your priority processes, then test the chosen platform in a real-world scope before any large-scale commitment.
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