Activepieces is an open-source workflow automation platform designed as a modern, privacy-first alternative to Zapier, Make, and similar cloud-based automation services. Founded in 2022 and released as open source under the MIT license, Activepieces has grown rapidly by addressing two key frustrations with incumbent platforms: the unpredictable costs of usage-based pricing models and the data privacy concerns of routing sensitive business data through third-party automation services.
The platform combines a clean visual flow builder — accessible to non-technical users — with the architectural flexibility and data control that developers and security-conscious organizations require. AI capabilities are woven throughout the platform, including native integrations with OpenAI and other AI providers as standard automation pieces alongside connections to business apps.
Key Features#
Visual Automation Builder Activepieces provides an intuitive drag-and-drop flow builder for creating automations without writing code. Users configure triggers (webhook, schedule, app events), connect actions from the available piece library, and add conditional branching logic through a visual interface that keeps the automation logic transparent and easy to understand.
MIT Open-Source License Unlike n8n's fair-code license (which has commercial use restrictions), Activepieces is released under the MIT license — fully open-source with no usage restrictions. Teams can self-host Activepieces for any commercial purpose without navigating licensing considerations. This licensing clarity matters for companies building internal automation infrastructure or incorporating Activepieces into products.
Growing Piece Library Activepieces supports connections to 100+ apps and services through its "pieces" — the platform's term for integration modules. Coverage includes major SaaS tools (Slack, Google Workspace, HubSpot, Notion, Airtable, GitHub, Stripe), all major AI providers (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google AI), database connectors, and HTTP/webhook capabilities for custom integrations.
AI Pieces and Agent Workflows AI capabilities are first-class in Activepieces. Native pieces for OpenAI (chat completions, embeddings, DALL-E), Anthropic Claude, Google Gemini, and other AI services allow teams to incorporate AI processing steps — text generation, classification, summarization, image creation — directly into automation flows alongside non-AI steps.
Code Steps for Advanced Logic When visual configuration reaches its limits, Activepieces allows JavaScript or TypeScript code steps inline within flows. This escape hatch gives developers the ability to handle complex data transformations, custom API interactions, and business logic that visual configuration cannot express — without switching to a completely code-centric tool.
Self-Hosting with Docker Activepieces provides a well-maintained Docker-based self-hosting setup. The documentation covers single-server deployment, multi-server setups, environment variable configuration, and upgrade procedures. Self-hosted deployments run without any connection to Activepieces' servers after initial setup, ensuring complete data sovereignty.
Pricing#
Community (Self-Hosted) — Free Completely free with no task limits, no feature restrictions, and no user caps. Organizations manage their own hosting infrastructure. Docker-based deployment makes setup straightforward for teams with basic DevOps capability.
Cloud Free — $0/month Hosted by Activepieces with limited tasks per month (around 1,000 tasks). Suitable for individuals testing the platform or running low-volume automations.
Cloud Starter — ~$19/month Includes higher task volumes (typically 10,000+), unlimited flows, and standard cloud features. Suitable for small teams with moderate automation needs.
Cloud Pro — ~$49/month Adds higher task limits (50,000+), team collaboration features, priority support, and access to all pieces. The primary tier for growing businesses.
Cloud Enterprise — Custom Pricing Custom task volumes, SSO, advanced security, SLAs, dedicated support, and enterprise-grade compliance features.
Who It's For#
Activepieces is ideal for developers and technical operations teams who want a modern automation platform they can fully control without vendor lock-in or per-task pricing anxiety. The MIT license and straightforward self-hosting make it especially attractive for companies with strict data handling requirements.
Startups and cost-conscious growing businesses that need automation at scale without Zapier's per-task costs are a natural audience. Teams building automation as part of a product offering — agencies, internal tooling teams, or companies embedding automation features in their software — benefit from the MIT license's commercial permissiveness.
Open-source advocates who philosophically prefer fully open alternatives to commercial SaaS find Activepieces one of the cleanest choices in the automation category.
Strengths#
Cleanest Open-Source License in Category: MIT licensing removes the legal ambiguity of fair-code licenses, making Activepieces the most permissive choice for commercial and product-embedded automation use cases.
Modern, Clean Interface: Activepieces has invested significantly in UI/UX design relative to its age. The builder feels notably more modern and polished than n8n's interface, improving adoption among less technical users.
Strong Data Privacy Story: Self-hosted deployments process all automation data within the organization's own infrastructure. Sensitive data never touches Activepieces' servers, satisfying stringent data governance requirements.
Zero Cost at Self-Hosted Scale: Like n8n, self-hosting eliminates per-task fees entirely. For organizations running high automation volumes, the total cost advantage over Zapier or Make can be substantial — typically saving thousands of dollars monthly at scale.
Limitations#
Smaller Integration Library than Established Platforms: With 100+ integrations, Activepieces' piece library is significantly smaller than Zapier (7,000+) or Make (1,000+). Teams relying on less common apps may need to build custom HTTP integrations rather than using pre-built pieces.
Less Mature AI Agent Capabilities than n8n: While Activepieces supports AI pieces, the dedicated AI agent workflow capabilities are less developed than n8n's Agent nodes. Teams specifically building complex AI agent pipelines may find n8n's AI tooling more complete.
Community and Ecosystem Still Growing: As a newer platform, the community templates, third-party tutorials, and ecosystem resources are less extensive than established platforms. Teams will encounter more "figure it out yourself" moments compared to Zapier or n8n.