Activepieces vs Automatisch
Both are alternatives to Zapier. Here's how they stack up — verified facts, no spin.
Also searched as Automatisch vs Activepieces — same comparison, one verdict.
Activepieces and Automatisch are closely matched on ownership (88 vs 85) — this one comes down to pricing and to which trade-offs below you can live with.
Activepieces
No-code automation with a Zapier-like UI and an MIT-licensed core.
Activepieces is a no-code automation platform whose builder feels close to Zapier: pick a trigger, add action steps, connect apps. Its core is MIT-licensed and self-hostable via Docker, and it has a growing catalog of community "pieces" (integrations) plus AI steps. Some advanced/enterprise features sit under a separate commercial license, so read the LICENSE if you need those. For teams that want a familiar no-code experience they can host themselves, it is a strong balance of openness and ease.
Automatisch
AGPL-licensed, self-hosted automation focused on data privacy.
Automatisch is an open-source automation tool that positions itself as a privacy-focused, self-hosted alternative for connecting apps and building workflows. Its core is AGPL-3.0 licensed and runs on your own server via Docker, keeping data in the EU or wherever you host. Some enterprise files are under a separate commercial license. Its connector library is smaller and its release cadence has been slower than the busiest projects here, so check that it covers the apps you need.
Side by side
10 points of comparison, every one read from a verified field. Green marks the side that wins a row outright. A dash means we do not hold that fact — never that it is zero.
| Activepieces | Automatisch | |
|---|---|---|
| Sovereignty ScoreOur transparent 0–100 composite for data ownership and exit cost. | 88 | 85 |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hostable | Yes | Yes |
| Local-first data | Yes | Yes |
| License | MIT (core); enterprise modules under a separate commercial license | AGPL-3.0 (core); enterprise (.ee) files under a separate commercial license |
| Pricing | Free to self-host (MIT core); paid cloud and enterprise tiers available | Free to self-host; paid cloud tier available |
| RAM to run it wellThe figure that actually matters, not the vendor's minimum. | 2 GB | — |
| Realistic running costWhat the box costs each month if you run it yourself. | $12–25/mo | — |
| Setup timeHonest first-install estimate, not the marketing quickstart. | 45 minutes | — |
| Ongoing maintenanceThe part nobody budgets for. | Active. It is a young project moving quickly. | — |
Activepieces edges it on the Sovereignty Score, but the right pick depends on the trade-offs below.
Weighing both against staying on Zapier? Is Zapier free? What it actually costs →
Activepieces
Strengths
- +MIT-licensed core, OSI-approved and genuinely open
- +No-code builder that is close in feel to Zapier, easing the transition
- +Self-hostable with Docker; workflows and data stay on your infrastructure
- +Active project with a fast-growing library of community integrations and AI steps
Trade-offs
- −Some advanced/enterprise features are under a separate commercial license, not MIT
- −Integration catalog, while growing quickly, is smaller than Zapier's
- −Self-hosting means you run and update the stack yourself
- −Younger project than Node-RED, so some pieces are still maturing
Automatisch
Strengths
- +Core is AGPL-3.0, a strong copyleft OSI-approved license
- +Self-hosted by design, with an explicit data-privacy and data-residency focus
- +Straightforward Docker deployment; your data stays on your infrastructure
- +Clear, approachable no-code interface for common app-to-app flows
Trade-offs
- −Noticeably smaller integration catalog than Zapier, n8n, or Activepieces
- −Slower development cadence than the busiest projects here (last major repo activity earlier in 2026)
- −Some enterprise features sit under a separate commercial license
- −AGPL-3.0 copyleft terms may need review for certain commercial redistribution scenarios
Which one fits you
The trade-offs above, turned into a decision. Find the line that describes your team.
Choose Activepieces
if a lower exit cost matters more to you than any single feature, and mIT-licensed core, OSI-approved and genuinely open.
Choose Automatisch
if core is AGPL-3.0, a strong copyleft OSI-approved license.
Neither, yet
if both carry a real cost you should weigh first — some advanced/enterprise features are under a separate commercial license, not MIT, and noticeably smaller integration catalog than Zapier, n8n, or Activepieces. If either of those is a dealbreaker for your team, the shortlist is wrong rather than the choice.
What it takes to run these yourself
Real requirements and honest running costs, not the vendor quickstart.
Activepieces vs Automatisch — common questions
Is Activepieces a better fit than Automatisch for workflow automation & ipaas?
It depends on what you are optimising for, and the honest split is this: Activepieces scores 88 to Automatisch's 85 on data ownership and exit cost, so it is the safer choice if you care about being able to leave. Automatisch earns its place on a different axis — core is AGPL-3.0, a strong copyleft OSI-approved license. Neither is a wrong answer for every team; the table above is the actual comparison.
What happens if we want to switch later?
Activepieces keeps its data local or in open formats, so leaving is an export rather than a negotiation. Automatisch is still self-hostable, so the files stay on your server either way — but it is not local-first by design, so check what its export produces before you rely on it.
Can I self-host Activepieces or Automatisch?
Both can be self-hosted. The difference is what it costs you in time rather than whether it is possible — see the setup and maintenance rows above.
Are Activepieces and Automatisch both alternatives to Zapier?
Yes — both appear in our Zapier comparison, which is why they are worth putting side by side. People usually arrive here already having decided to move off Zapier and now choosing between the two replacements, which is a narrower and much easier question.
Related alternative guides
Facts verified 2026-07-06. Licenses and pricing change — spotted something out of date? That's a correction we want.