n8n vs Huginn
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.
Huginn
Fully MIT-licensed, agent-based automation for power users.
Huginn is a long-standing, MIT-licensed system for building "agents" that watch for events and act on your behalf: scraping sites, monitoring feeds, sending alerts, and chaining actions. It is entirely self-hosted and open, giving you complete data ownership. The trade-off is that it is more technical than a no-code builder: you configure agents through forms and JSON, and it targets developers and tinkerers rather than non-technical users.
Side by side
| n8n | Huginn | |
|---|---|---|
| Sovereignty Score | 82 | 84 |
| Open source | No | Yes |
| Self-hostable | Yes | Yes |
| Local-first | Yes | Yes |
| License | Sustainable Use License (source-available, fair-code; not OSI-approved) | MIT |
| Pricing | Free to self-host; paid n8n Cloud tiers available | Free / self-host |
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
Huginn
Strengths
- +Fully MIT-licensed and open-source, with complete data ownership
- +Self-hosted; all agents and data live on your own server
- +Very flexible for monitoring, scraping, feeds, and event-driven alerts
- +Established project with a large community and long history
Trade-offs
- −Development cadence has slowed to mostly maintenance in recent years
- −Configuration is JSON- and form-driven; far more technical than a no-code UI
- −Ruby-and-database stack is heavier to run than the lightest options here
- −Fewer polished, prebuilt SaaS integrations than Zapier or n8n
Facts verified 2026-07-06. Licenses and pricing change — spotted something out of date? That's a correction we want.