Free, open-source alternatives to Zapier
Connect apps and automate workflows. 6 apps you can run yourself instead of Zapier, sorted by how well they replace it. Each one is open source, so your data stays with you.
ActivepiecesBest match
No-code business automation tool like Zapier or Tray. For example, you can send a Slack notification for each new Trello card.
n8n
Free node based Workflow Automation Tool. Easily automate tasks across different services.
Automatisch
Business automation tool that lets you connect different services like Twitter, Slack, and more to automate your business processes (alternative to Zapier).
Huginn
Build agents that monitor and act on your behalf.
Node RED
Browser-based flow editor that helps you wiring hardware devices, APIs and online services to create IoT solutions.
Kestra
Event-driven, language-agnostic platform to create, schedule, and monitor workflows. In code. Coordinate data pipelines and tasks such as ETL and ELT.
Side by side
| App | Stars | License | Activity | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Activepieces | 25,025 | MIT | Docker | |
| n8n | 207,158 | Apache-2.0, Commons-Clause | Node.js | |
| Automatisch | 13,997 | AGPL-3.0 | Docker | |
| Huginn | 50,051 | MIT | Ruby | |
| Node RED | 23,737 | Apache-2.0 | Node.js, Docker | |
| Kestra | 29,527 | Apache-2.0 | Docker |
Why replace Zapier?
Zapier works, but your data lives in someone else's account, the price can change at any time, and features can disappear. An open-source app you run yourself is yours: you choose where it runs, who can see the data, and when to update.
Guides
How to self-host n8n with Docker Compose (2026 guide)
Step by step: run n8n with Docker Compose and Traefik for HTTPS, set N8N_ENCRYPTION_KEY and the webhook URL, back up the right data and update safely.
Self-hosted Zapier alternatives: n8n, Activepieces and more
n8n, Activepieces, Node-RED, Huginn, Automatisch and Kestra compared as self-hosted Zapier alternatives, including what their licenses really allow.
Questions
What is the best free alternative to Zapier?
Activepieces is the closest open-source replacement for Zapier in our list. n8n and Automatisch are worth a look too, depending on what you need.
Can I self-host an alternative to Zapier?
Yes. All 6 apps on this page are open source and can run on your own server, usually with Docker, or on a managed host that installs them for you.