n8n vs Activepieces
Both are alternatives to Zapier. Here's how they stack up — verified facts, no spin.
Also searched as Activepieces vs n8n — same comparison, one verdict.
Activepieces is open source (MIT (core); enterprise modules under a separate commercial license) and n8n is not (Sustainable Use License (source-available, fair-code; not OSI-approved)) — so the real question is whether you want to own the workflow automation & ipaas stack or rent it.
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
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.
| n8n | Activepieces | |
|---|---|---|
| Sovereignty ScoreOur transparent 0–100 composite for data ownership and exit cost. | 82 | 88 |
| Open source | No | Yes |
| Self-hostable | Yes | Yes |
| Local-first data | 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 |
| RAM to run it wellThe figure that actually matters, not the vendor's minimum. | 2 GB, and 4 GB once workflows run concurrently | 2 GB |
| Realistic running costWhat the box costs each month if you run it yourself. | $12–25/mo on a small VPS | $12–25/mo |
| Setup timeHonest first-install estimate, not the marketing quickstart. | 45 minutes | 45 minutes |
| Ongoing maintenanceThe part nobody budgets for. | Active. n8n ships fast and node changes occasionally break workflows. | Active. It is a young project moving quickly. |
n8n is Macrostack's recommended Zapier alternative, so it's our pick here.
Weighing both against staying on Zapier? Is Zapier free? What it actually costs →
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
Which one fits you
The trade-offs above, turned into a decision. Find the line that describes your team.
Choose n8n
if runs entirely on your own server via Docker; workflows and credentials stay on your infrastructure.
Choose Activepieces
if you want the source and the option to fork it, and mIT-licensed core, OSI-approved and genuinely open.
Neither, yet
if both carry a real cost you should weigh first — 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, and some advanced/enterprise features are under a separate commercial license, not MIT. 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.
n8n vs Activepieces — common questions
Is n8n a better fit than Activepieces for workflow automation & ipaas?
It depends on what you are optimising for, and the honest split is this: Activepieces scores 88 to n8n's 82 on data ownership and exit cost, so it is the safer choice if you care about being able to leave. n8n earns its place on a different axis — runs entirely on your own server via Docker; workflows and credentials stay on your infrastructure. Neither is a wrong answer for every team; the table above is the actual comparison.
What happens if we want to switch later?
n8n keeps its data local or in open formats, so leaving is an export rather than a negotiation. Activepieces 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 n8n or Activepieces?
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 n8n and Activepieces 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.
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Facts verified 2026-07-06. Licenses and pricing change — spotted something out of date? That's a correction we want.