Camunda 7 vs Camunda 8 – What’s the Difference and Which One Should You Use?

























 

Camunda now exists in two major generations:

  • Camunda 7 → The classic BPMN engine used widely in enterprises

  • Camunda 8 → A new, cloud-native, distributed platform designed for scalability

Although they share the Camunda brand and BPMN/DMN support, they are fundamentally different products, built for very different architectures and teams.

This blog explains all differences — architecture, deployment, scalability, features, expression languages, modelers, databases, multi-tenancy, and when to choose which version.

⭐ 1. High-Level Summary

✔ Camunda 7:
"Traditional, monolithic, relational DB–based BPM engine"
Ideal for Java enterprise apps, on-prem deployments, synchronous workflows, and human task systems.

✔ Camunda 8:
"Cloud-native, distributed, microservices-based workflow platform"
Ideal for scalable, event-driven, asynchronous, high-volume workflows running on Kubernetes or cloud.

⭐ 2. Architecture Comparison

 

Camunda 7 Architecture

  • Monolithic engine

  • Runs inside Java application (embedded) or as shared/remote engine

  • Uses relational databases (ACID transactions)

  • Suitable for synchronous operations

  • Strong BPMN & human task features

Camunda 8 Architecture

  • Distributed microservices-based engine (Zeebe)

  • Stateless brokers + partitions

  • Cloud-native, Kubernetes-oriented

  • Always asynchronous & event-driven

  • Scales horizontally like Kafka

⭐ 3. Detailed Feature Comparison (Including Your Provided Table)

FeatureCamunda 7Camunda 8
ArchitectureMonolithic, classic application server modelDistributed microservices (Zeebe)
DeploymentEmbedded, shared, or remote engineRemote, cloud-native engine only
ScalabilityLimited by database + JVMHorizontally scalable & resilient
Task ProcessingSupports synchronous & asynchronous executionAlways asynchronous, event-driven
DatabaseRequires relational DB (Postgres, MySQL, Oracle)Uses a document-based storage and log-based engine
ModelerDesktop Modeler (local files, less collaboration)Built-in Web Modeler with team collaboration
User ToolsCockpit & Tasklist (limited in free version)Full suite: Operate, Tasklist, Web Modeler, Optimize
Expression LanguageJUEL (Java Unified Expression Language)FEEL (Friendly-Enough Expression Language)
Multi-tenancyOne engine per tenantmulti-tenancy model did not support the same way
Workflow ExecutionTransactional, ACID guaranteesEventually consistent, event sourced
Integration StyleJava Delegates inside engineExternal Worker architecture
Use CaseHuman workflows, enterprise automationHigh-scale, distributed microservices orchestration

⭐ 4. Processing Model Differences

Camunda 7 – Transactional BPM Engine

✔ Supports synchronous execution
✔ Java delegates run inside the engine
✔ Database-backed state
✔ ACID, ideal for enterprise human workflows
✔ Can orchestrate business logic tightly coupled with Spring Boot

Camunda 8 – Event-Driven Workflow Engine

✔ 100% asynchronous
✔ Workers pull tasks from engine
✔ Scales massively (millions of messages/days)
✔ Excellent for distributed systems
✔ Built for Kubernetes, cloud scaling

⭐ 5. Modeler & Development Experience

Camunda 7

  • Uses desktop Camunda Modeler

  • BPMN/DMN editing is local

  • No real-time collaboration

  • Scripting uses JUEL

  • Embedded engine makes debugging easy

Camunda 8

  • Has a modern Web Modeler (browser-based)

  • Real-time collaboration like Google Docs

  • Versioning & publishing built-in

  • Uses FEEL for rules and mapping

  • Perfect for distributed teams

⭐ 6. Runtime & Operations Tools

Camunda 7 Tools

✔ Tasklist
✔ Cockpit
✔ Admin
❗ In free edition: Limited features
✔ On-prem installations simple

Camunda 8 Tools

✔ Operate (monitor workflow instances)
✔ Tasklist (new UI)
✔ Optimize (analytics)
✔ Web Modeler
✔ Connectors
✔ Managed SaaS option

Much more modern & cloud oriented.

⭐ 7. Real Database vs No Database

Camunda 7

Uses a relational database to store:

  • BPMN state

  • Job locks

  • Incidents

  • User tasks

  • Historic data

This makes ACID transactions possible.

Camunda 8

Uses:

  • Event log for workflow state

  • Document store for metadata

  • No relational DB for runtime

  • High throughput, but no ACID across services

⭐ 8. When Should You Choose Camunda 7?

Choose Camunda 7 if:

✔ You need ACID transactions tightly integrated with application code
✔ You prefer an embedded or shared Java engine
✔ Your workflows have moderate scale
✔ Your relational DB is not a bottleneck
✔ Your team is Java/Spring Boot heavy
✔ You want free, production-ready Tasklist & Cockpit
✔ You have complex human workflows
✔ You want a traditional BPM platform

Best for:

  • Banking portals

  • Government workflows

  • Insurance case management

  • Loan & claims processing

  • On-prem enterprise systems

⭐ 9. When Should You Choose Camunda 8?

Choose Camunda 8 if:

✔ You need a cloud-native, horizontally scalable engine
✔ Your workflow involves high-volume distributed transactions
✔ You want a collaborative, web-based modeler
✔ You want built-in connectors for quick integrations
✔ You prefer microservices & event-driven architecture
✔ You want Kubernetes-native deployment
✔ You want resilience without manual DB tuning
✔ You don’t rely on Java Delegates

Best for:

  • Microservices orchestration

  • Event-driven systems

  • Logistics, IoT, streaming

  • High-throughput automation

  • Cloud/SaaS products

  • Global-scale workflow processing

⭐ 10. Simple Recommendation (Decision Guide)

If your architecture is…Use
Java/Spring Boot monolith or modularCamunda 7
Cloud-native microservices on KubernetesCamunda 8
Enterprise human workflowsCamunda 7
High-volume, distributed automationCamunda 8
Need ACID transactionsCamunda 7
Need massive horizontal scalingCamunda 8
Prefer desktop modelerCamunda 7
Prefer web-based collaborative modelingCamunda 8

⭐ 11. Summary Table

CategoryCamunda 7Camunda 8
EngineMonolithic, DB-backedDistributed, log-based
ScalingMediumVery high
ProcessingSync + asyncAsync only
IntegrationJava DelegatesExternal Workers
ModelingDesktop toolCollaborative Web Modeler
TransactionsACIDEventually consistent
Use CasesHuman workflowsMicroservices orchestration
DeploymentApp server, on-premCloud-native, SaaS

🎉 Conclusion

Camunda 7 and Camunda 8 both deliver world-class BPMN automation — but for two different generations of architecture.

✔ Choose Camunda 7

If your world is Java, relational DB, ACID, synchronous operations, and human workflows.

✔ Choose Camunda 8

If your world is cloud-native, Kubernetes, event-driven, high throughput, and distributed microservices.

Bottom line:
Your system architecture decides which Camunda version is right for you.


💼 Professional Support Available

If you are facing issues in real projects related to enterprise backend development or workflow automation, I provide paid consulting, production debugging, project support, and focused trainings.

Technologies covered include Java, Spring Boot, PL/SQL, Azure, and workflow automation (jBPM, Camunda BPM, RHPAM).



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