Activepieces
Zapier-style automations between your apps, on your own server.
No server needed to start: Cloudgate can provide one. What happens when you click Deploy
What is Activepieces?
Activepieces is an open-source Zapier alternative: automate work between your apps with step-by-step flows, AI steps and approvals, with no task limits.
Activepieces is an open-source automation tool that connects the online apps your business uses and does the repetitive work between them, in flows you build step by step. If you have used Zapier, you will feel at home straight away: choose what starts a flow, such as a new form entry or a new email, then add the steps that should follow and fill each one in from menus.
A small agency, for example, can have every new enquiry from its website added to a Google Sheet, posted in the team's Slack channel and answered with a friendly email within seconds. A flow can also pause and wait for someone to approve a quote before it goes out, or use an AI step to draft the reply.
Activepieces has ready-made steps for hundreds of services, including Gmail, Google Sheets, Slack, HubSpot, Notion, Stripe and Shopify, and new ones are added by its community every month. For anything without a ready-made step, a code step or a web request fills the gap. There is no phone app; you use Activepieces in your web browser.
How Cloudgate installs Activepieces
Cloudgate installs Activepieces on a server Cloudgate provides or one you connect, together with the database and job queue it needs, and gives it a secure web address. The first person to open that address creates the admin account. There is no limit on how many flows you run, and your customers' data stays on your own server.
What you can do with Activepieces
- Build flows step by step Pick what starts the flow, add the steps that follow and fill each one in from menus.
- Connect your everyday tools Ready-made steps for Gmail, Google Sheets, Slack, HubSpot, Notion, Stripe and hundreds more.
- Start from a template Copy a ready-made flow for a common task and adjust it to your business.
- Send work down different paths Branch on what came in, so a big order and a small one are handled differently.
- Use AI in a flow Summarise, sort or draft text with an AI step using your own OpenAI, Anthropic or Google account.
- Wait for a human Pause a flow until someone approves it, then carry on automatically.
- See every run A run history shows what each flow did and where it stopped if something failed.
Replaces Zapier, Make and IFTTT
Activepieces does the same job as Zapier, Make and IFTTT. Here is what changes when you switch.
- 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
- Code steps for the odd job no ready-made step covers
- 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
- Help comes from the community and docs, not live chat
What happens when you click Deploy?
You do not need a server or any technical knowledge. Four steps, and Activepieces is running at its own web address.
- Step 1 Click Deploy and create your account
Deploy takes you to Cloudgate. Create an account, or log in if you have one. Activepieces itself is free.
- Step 2 Choose a server
No server? Get one from Cloudgate: pick a size and a country, and Cloudgate gets it ready. Already have one? Connect it instead.
- Step 3 Cloudgate sets up Activepieces
It prepares the server, makes the passwords the app needs and starts it. There is nothing to install and nothing to write down.
- Step 4 Open your app and sign in
Your app gets a free web address to start, without https. Add your own domain, like app.yourshop.com, and Cloudgate secures it with https for you.
New to Cloudgate? See what Cloudgate is
Run Cloudgate yourself? Deploy from your own console
In your Cloudgate console, open Templates and choose Activepieces.
Questions
Is Activepieces free?
Yes. The Activepieces Community Edition is free and open source under the MIT licence, and you pay only for hosting. Features for larger companies, such as single sign-on and audit logs, are in a paid edition.
Is Activepieces a good alternative to Zapier?
Yes, Activepieces is one of the closest open-source alternatives to Zapier. Flows are built step by step from menus in the same way, and when you host it yourself there is no limit on tasks. It has fewer ready-made connections than Zapier.
How is Activepieces different from n8n?
Activepieces is simpler and feels closer to Zapier, while n8n has more options for complex workflows but takes longer to learn. Activepieces is also MIT-licensed open source, whereas n8n uses a fair-code licence.
How do I self-host Activepieces?
With Cloudgate, you pick Activepieces from the catalogue and click install. Cloudgate sets up Activepieces with its database and queue on your server, gives it a secure web address and generates its secret keys for you.
Can I import my Zaps from Zapier?
No, there is no automatic import from Zapier or Make. Because Activepieces flows are built the same way as Zaps, rebuilding a simple one usually takes a few minutes.
Is my data private with self-hosted Activepieces?
Yes. Your flows, run history and saved app logins are kept in a database on your own server, and logins are encrypted. Data leaves your server only when a flow sends it to an app you connected.
What server size do I need for Activepieces?
Activepieces needs a server with at least 2 GB of memory, because it runs a database and a job queue next to the app.
Do I need technical skills?
No. Click Deploy, create your Cloudgate account and choose a server, and Cloudgate sets up Activepieces and gives it a web address. You use it in your browser like any other online tool.
Do I need my own server?
No. When you deploy Activepieces, hosted Cloudgate can provide a server. If you already rent one, you can connect it instead.
