Complete comparison of Activepieces and n8n for open source automation. Features, self-hosting, pricing, and which platform to choose in 2025.
Activepieces vs n8n: Which Open Source Automation Platform in 2025?
Open source automation is exploding. Companies want Zapier-like power without Zapier-like pricing and lock-in.
Two platforms lead the open source space: n8n (the established player) and Activepieces (the fast-growing challenger).
Both let you build complex automations. Both are self-hostable. Both are free to use.
But they're built for different users.
The Quick Comparison
| Factor |
Activepieces |
n8n |
| GitHub Stars |
12,000+ |
50,000+ |
| Age |
2 years |
5+ years |
| Best For |
Simplicity, beginners |
Power users, AI |
| Learning Curve |
Easy |
Moderate |
| AI Features |
Basic |
Advanced (agents, RAG) |
| Self-hosting |
Very easy |
Easy |
| Cloud Option |
Yes |
Yes |
| Integrations |
150+ |
400+ |
TL;DR:
- Choose Activepieces for simpler workflows and easier onboarding
- Choose n8n for advanced features, AI capabilities, and larger integration library
The Open Source Automation Landscape
Why open source matters:
- No per-task pricing - Run unlimited automations
- Data stays yours - Self-host on your infrastructure
- Customizable - Modify source code if needed
- No vendor lock-in - Switch or fork anytime
- Community-driven - Features users actually want
Both Activepieces and n8n deliver these benefits. The difference is in execution.
Activepieces: The Accessible Option
Activepieces is newer, simpler, and focused on making automation accessible to everyone.
Philosophy
"Make automation accessible without sacrificing power."
Activepieces prioritizes:
- Clean, intuitive interface
- Quick time-to-first-automation
- Easy self-hosting
- Business user friendliness
Key Features
Visual Builder
Clean drag-and-drop interface:
- Clear flow visualization
- Easy-to-understand logic
- Less intimidating than alternatives
Pieces (Integrations)
150+ integrations including:
- Google Suite
- Slack, Discord
- Notion, Airtable
- Stripe, PayPal
- OpenAI, Anthropic
- Growing weekly
Code When Needed
Run custom JavaScript/TypeScript:
- When pre-built pieces aren't enough
- Full flexibility when required
- Clean code editor
Self-Hosting Made Simple
One-command Docker deployment:
docker run -d -p 8080:80 activepieces/activepieces
Strengths
- Easiest to learn - Minutes to first workflow
- Cleanest UI - Less overwhelming
- Simplest self-hosting - Minimal configuration
- Active development - New features frequently
- Growing fast - Community momentum
Limitations
- Fewer integrations (150 vs 400+)
- Less mature ecosystem
- Basic AI capabilities
- Smaller community (for now)
- Fewer advanced features
Best For
- Teams new to automation
- Non-technical users
- Simple to moderate workflows
- Companies prioritizing ease over power
n8n: The Power Platform
n8n is the established leader in open source automation with the most features and largest community.
Philosophy
"Build complex workflows with unlimited flexibility."
n8n prioritizes:
- Maximum capability
- AI-first features
- Developer flexibility
- Enterprise readiness
Key Features
Visual Workflow Builder
Powerful canvas-based editor:
- Node-based design
- Complex branching
- Sub-workflows
- Error handling
400+ Integrations
Extensive library including:
- All major SaaS tools
- Databases (Postgres, MySQL, MongoDB)
- APIs (HTTP, GraphQL)
- AI services (OpenAI, Anthropic, local LLMs)
AI Agents
Native AI agent capabilities:
- Autonomous decision-making
- Tool use
- RAG support
- Vector database integration
Code Flexibility
Full coding options:
- JavaScript
- Python
- Execute any command
- Custom functions
Strengths
- Most features - Nothing else compares open source
- AI-first - Best AI automation capabilities
- Huge community - 50,000+ GitHub stars
- Enterprise ready - Proven at scale
- Integration depth - 400+ apps
Limitations
- Steeper learning curve
- More complex interface
- Can be overwhelming
- Resource heavier
- Requires more configuration
Best For
- Power users and developers
- Complex workflow needs
- AI-heavy automations
- Enterprise deployments
- Teams with technical resources
Head-to-Head: Ease of Use
First Automation Experience
Activepieces:
- Sign up (or self-host)
- Click "Create Flow"
- Select trigger
- Add actions
- Test and activate
Time to first automation: ~10 minutes
n8n:
- Sign up (or self-host)
- Click "Create Workflow"
- Add trigger node
- Configure connections
- Add action nodes
- Configure each node
- Test and activate
Time to first automation: ~20-30 minutes
Learning Curve
Activepieces:
- Interface is self-explanatory
- Fewer concepts to learn
- Documentation is beginner-friendly
- Quick wins build confidence
n8n:
- More concepts (nodes, credentials, expressions)
- Powerful but complex expressions
- Documentation assumes some technical knowledge
- Investment pays off in capability
Verdict: Activepieces for beginners. n8n for those willing to learn.
Head-to-Head: Integration Quality
Quantity
- Activepieces: 150+ pieces
- n8n: 400+ nodes
n8n has significantly more integrations.
Quality
Both platforms have high-quality integrations for major apps. The difference is in breadth:
n8n has that Activepieces lacks:
- Many niche CRMs
- Specialized databases
- Industry-specific tools
- More API options
Both have:
- Google Suite
- Microsoft 365
- Slack, Discord
- Major CRMs
- Payment processors
- AI services
Custom Integrations
Activepieces:
- HTTP piece for any API
- Custom code pieces
- Community can contribute
n8n:
- HTTP node
- GraphQL node
- Custom code
- Execute command
- More API flexibility
Verdict: n8n for breadth. Both sufficient for common use cases.
Head-to-Head: AI Capabilities
This is where n8n pulls ahead significantly.
n8n AI Features
- AI Agents - Autonomous agents that reason and act
- RAG Support - Vector stores, embeddings, retrieval
- Multiple LLMs - OpenAI, Anthropic, local models
- Tool Use - Agents that call functions
- Memory - Conversation context management
Activepieces AI Features
- OpenAI Integration - GPT API calls
- Anthropic Integration - Claude API calls
- Basic Chat - Send prompts, get responses
Practical Difference
With n8n:
"Build an AI agent that researches topics using web search, stores findings in a vector database, and answers questions using RAG."
With Activepieces:
"Send this text to ChatGPT and get a response."
Verdict: n8n for AI-heavy workflows. Activepieces for basic AI use.
Head-to-Head: Self-Hosting
Activepieces Self-Hosting
Docker:
docker run -d -p 8080:80 activepieces/activepieces
Requirements:
- 1 GB RAM minimum
- SQLite included (Postgres optional)
- Minimal configuration
Complexity: Very easy
n8n Self-Hosting
Docker:
docker run -it --rm \
-p 5678:5678 \
-v n8n_data:/home/node/.n8n \
n8nio/n8n
Requirements:
- 2 GB RAM recommended
- Database configuration recommended
- More environment variables
Complexity: Easy (but more options to configure)
Verdict: Activepieces slightly easier. Both are manageable.
Head-to-Head: Pricing
Self-Hosted (Both)
Cost: $0 for the software
True cost: Server hosting ($5-50/month depending on scale)
Cloud Options
Activepieces Cloud:
| Plan |
Cost |
Tasks |
| Free |
$0 |
1,000/month |
| Pro |
$10/month |
10,000/month |
| Platform |
$50/month |
50,000/month |
n8n Cloud:
| Plan |
Cost |
Executions |
| Starter |
$20/month |
2,500/month |
| Pro |
$50/month |
10,000/month |
| Enterprise |
Custom |
Unlimited |
Verdict: Activepieces cheaper on cloud. Self-hosted is free for both.
When to Choose Each
Choose Activepieces If:
- You're new to automation and want gentle onboarding
- Simplicity matters more than maximum capability
- Your workflows are straightforward (A→B→C patterns)
- You want the easiest self-hosting experience
- Budget is tight for cloud option
- Your team isn't technical and needs approachable UI
Choose n8n If:
- You need advanced features (AI agents, complex logic)
- You're comfortable with complexity for power
- Your workflows require branching, loops, error handling
- AI is central to your automation strategy
- You need specific integrations only n8n has
- Enterprise requirements exist (security, scale)
Migration Considerations
From Zapier/Make to Activepieces
- Most common integrations exist
- Simpler workflows translate easily
- May need custom code for edge cases
- Import tools available
From Zapier/Make to n8n
- More integrations available
- Complex workflows translate well
- Learning curve for expressions
- Import tools available
From Activepieces to n8n
Possible but requires rebuilding:
- Different node structures
- Expression syntax differs
- Credentials need reconfiguring
From n8n to Activepieces
May lose functionality:
- AI features won't transfer
- Complex workflows may not map
- Fewer integration options
Recommendation: Choose carefully. Migration costs time.
The Trajectory
Activepieces Momentum
- Growing rapidly (12k+ stars)
- Strong community engagement
- Weekly new integrations
- Clear roadmap
- Backed by VC funding
n8n Maturity
- Established leader (50k+ stars)
- Enterprise customers
- Full-time development team
- Proven at scale
- Expanding AI capabilities
Both platforms are healthy and improving. Neither is at risk of abandonment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Activepieces a good n8n alternative?
Yes, for simpler use cases. Activepieces offers easier onboarding and a cleaner interface. However, n8n has more integrations, better AI capabilities, and more advanced features. Choose Activepieces for simplicity, n8n for power.
Which is easier to self-host?
Activepieces is slightly easier with single-command Docker deployment and minimal configuration. n8n is also straightforward but has more configuration options. Both are simpler to self-host than most enterprise software.
Can Activepieces do everything n8n can?
No. n8n has features Activepieces lacks: AI agents, RAG, more integrations, complex expressions, and sub-workflows. For basic automation, both work. For advanced use cases, n8n offers more.
Is the n8n learning curve worth it?
If you need advanced features, yes. The extra capability justifies the learning investment. If your workflows are simple, Activepieces gets you there faster without the learning overhead.
Which has better community support?
n8n has a larger community (50k+ stars, active forums, more tutorials). Activepieces' community is smaller but growing and highly engaged. Both have responsive maintainers.
Can I use both together?
Technically possible via webhooks, but there's no practical reason to. Pick one and commit. The platforms overlap too much to justify running both.
The Bottom Line
Open source automation has two strong options. Neither is wrong.
Activepieces for approachable, simple, quick-start automation.
n8n for powerful, AI-capable, enterprise-ready automation.
For most teams starting out: Try Activepieces first. If you hit limitations, you'll know it's time for n8n.
For teams with complex needs or AI requirements: Start with n8n. The learning curve pays off.
The era of expensive, locked-in automation platforms is ending. Both Activepieces and n8n prove that open source can match—and exceed—commercial alternatives.
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