n8n vs Activepieces
Both are free/open-source alternatives to Zapier. Here's how they stack up — verified facts, no spin.
n8n
TOP PICKPowerful, self-hostable workflow automation with a large node library.
n8n is the tool most people mean by "self-hosted Zapier." It offers a visual workflow editor with 400+ integration nodes, branching logic, and code steps, plus AI/agent nodes for LLM-driven automations. You can self-host it for free with Docker and keep every workflow and credential on your own server, or use n8n's paid cloud. Note the license: n8n uses the source-available Sustainable Use License, not an OSI-approved open-source license.
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.
Side by side
| n8n | Activepieces | |
|---|---|---|
| Sovereignty Score | 82 | 88 |
| Open source | No | Yes |
| Self-hostable | Yes | Yes |
| Local-first | Yes | Yes |
| License | Sustainable Use License (source-available, fair-code; not OSI-approved) | MIT (core); enterprise modules under a separate commercial license |
| Pricing | Free to self-host; paid n8n Cloud tiers available | Free to self-host (MIT core); paid cloud and enterprise tiers available |
n8n is Macrostack's recommended Zapier alternative, so it's our pick here.
n8n
Strengths
- +Runs entirely on your own server via Docker; workflows and credentials stay on your infrastructure
- +Very large node library (400+ integrations) plus HTTP and code nodes to reach almost any API
- +Strong branching, error handling, and built-in AI/agent nodes for LLM workflows
- +Very active project and large community (190k+ GitHub stars, near-daily commits)
- +Workflows export as JSON, so they are portable between your own n8n instances
Trade-offs
- −License is source-available (Sustainable Use License), not OSI open-source; it permits internal/self-hosted business use but restricts offering n8n itself as a hosted service to third parties
- −Self-hosting requires running and maintaining a server and database
- −Fewer prebuilt app integrations than Zapier's 7,000+ catalog; some connections need HTTP/API setup
- −Steeper learning curve than a pure no-code tool for complex flows
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
Facts verified 2026-07-06. Licenses and pricing change — spotted something out of date? That's a correction we want.