Self-hosted alternatives to Zapier

n8n is the self-hosted Zapier alternative we recommend: free to run yourself, with its code public, and it connects your apps with no limit on tasks. Zapier charges more as you run more tasks; a self-hosted app runs for one fixed server cost.

3 alternatives Free apps Our pick: n8n

At a glance

App	Good for	Code	Import from Zapier	Ease of use
n8n	Busy or complex automations, with branches, loops and AI steps	Code Fair-code	Import from Zapier No	Some setup
Activepieces	Simple to medium automations, closest to how Zapier feels	Code Open source	Import from Zapier No	Easy
Automatisch	Short two- or three-step flows for a small team	Code Open source	Import from Zapier No	Easy

Why look for an alternative to Zapier?

Zapier connects the apps a business already uses, so that something happening in one, such as a new form entry or a paid invoice, sets off actions in others. Each automation is called a Zap: a trigger followed by one or more steps.

People look for an alternative mostly because of how Zapier charges. Plans are priced by tasks, every step a Zap completes counts as one, so the bill rises as the business grows and automations run more often. Multi-step Zaps, branching paths and the shortest check intervals sit on higher plans. And every record a Zap moves, such as a customer's name and order, passes through Zapier's servers. A self-hosted tool runs on your own server for one fixed cost, however many times your workflows run, and the data stays with you.

The alternatives, compared

n8n

Our pick

Automate work between your apps, with no limit on runs.

The most capable of the three. Workflows can branch, loop, wait and run code, and AI steps are built in, so it handles jobs that need several Zaps or paid features in Zapier. The editor takes an hour or two to learn.

What you gain

No monthly task limits: run as many workflows as often as you like
Customer data passes through your own server, not an outside company's
One fixed server cost instead of a bill that grows with every run

What is different

The editor has more options than Zapier, so plan an hour or two to learn it
Zaps and Make scenarios cannot be imported; you rebuild them, often from a template
A few niche apps have no ready-made block, though the HTTP block reaches most of them

Some setup Fair-code · SUL-1.0

Deploy n8n About n8n

Activepieces

Zapier-style automations between your apps, on your own server.

The closest to how Zapier feels. You build a flow one step at a time from menus, with a trigger at the top, and the list of ready-made app connections grows every month.

What you gain

No monthly task limits and no price per run
Customer data stays on your own server
One fixed server cost instead of a bill that grows with use

What is different

Fewer ready-made connections than Zapier, though the list grows every month
Zaps cannot be imported; each one is rebuilt by hand
Some company features, such as single sign-on, are part of the paid edition

Easy Open source · MIT

Deploy Activepieces About Activepieces

Automatisch

Simple if-this-then-that flows between your business apps.

The simplest choice, for short flows such as a new form entry going to a spreadsheet and a chat message. It connects to far fewer apps than Zapier, so check that yours are on its list.

What you gain

No monthly task limits and no price per run
Your data stays on your own server
A short list of options that is quick to learn and hand over

What is different

Far fewer ready-made connections than Zapier or Make
Best for short, straightforward flows rather than complex ones
Extra user accounts and roles need the paid enterprise edition

Easy Open source · AGPL-3.0-only

Deploy Automatisch About Automatisch

Moving from Zapier

None of these apps can import Zaps, so each one is rebuilt by hand. Start with the Zaps that run most often, since they cost the most on Zapier. A simple two- or three-step Zap usually takes a few minutes to rebuild, and n8n and Activepieces both have template libraries that cover common ones. Connect each app's account once in the new tool, run the new flow alongside the Zap for a few days, then switch the Zap off.

Questions

What is the best self-hosted alternative to Zapier?

Start with n8n. If you want something simpler, try Activepieces. All 3 are free to self-host. Activepieces and Automatisch are open source; n8n (fair-code) publishes its code under a licence that limits reselling it as a service.

Is there a free version of Zapier I can host myself?

No. Zapier is only available as a hosted service. n8n, Activepieces and Automatisch do the same job and can run on your own server, where they have no task limits.

Which Zapier alternative is easiest to learn?

Activepieces and Automatisch work most like Zapier, one step after another from menus. n8n has more options on its canvas, so it takes a little longer to learn but handles more complex work.

Is it really free?

Yes, the apps are free. To run them you need Cloudgate and a server. Use hosted Cloudgate, which can also provide the server, or install Cloudgate on a server of your own for free. Cloudgate's plans and prices are at cloudgate.octabyte.io/pricing. One server can run several apps.

Do I need a developer?

No. Cloudgate installs the app on your server and gives it a secure web address. You use it in your browser.