n8n vs Zapier vs Activepieces: Which Automation Platform Should You Choose?

Zapier popularized no-code automation, but it’s not the only option. Self-hosted alternatives like n8n and Activepieces offer similar functionality without the recurring costs. Here’s how they compare.

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The Short Answer

• Choose Zapier if you want the easiest setup, have a small number of workflows, and don’t mind paying per-task pricing
• Choose n8n if you need complex workflows, want self-hosting, and have technical resources to deploy and maintain it
• Choose Activepieces if you want a modern self-hosted option with a friendlier interface than n8n

The Problem With Zapier

Zapier is the default choice for workflow automation—and for good reason. It’s polished, has thousands of integrations, and requires zero technical setup. But as your automation needs grow, problems emerge:

• Pricing scales aggressively. Zapier charges per “task” (each action in a workflow counts). A 5-step workflow processing 1,000 records uses 5,000 tasks. At $29.99/month for 750 tasks, costs add up fast.
• Complex workflows are painful. Multi-step logic, loops, and conditional branching are limited or require premium tiers.
• Data leaves your control. Your business data flows through Zapier’s servers. For some industries and use cases, this is a non-starter.
• Vendor lock-in. Zapier uses its own proprietary format. There’s no standard way to export workflows to another platform.

For small teams running a few simple automations, Zapier works fine. But at scale—or if you need complex logic—alternatives are worth evaluating.

n8n: The Power User’s Choice

n8n (pronounced “n-eight-n”) is an open-source workflow automation tool designed for technical users. It can be self-hosted on your own infrastructure, meaning no per-execution fees and complete data control.

Strengths

• True programming flexibility. Write JavaScript/TypeScript code directly in workflows. Complex transformations, loops, and conditionals are first-class features.
• Self-hosted. Run on your own servers—AWS, DigitalOcean, a Raspberry Pi, wherever. Your data never leaves your infrastructure.
• No execution limits. Run as many workflows as your server can handle. No per-task pricing.
• 400+ integrations. Most popular services are supported. Custom HTTP/API nodes let you connect to anything.
• Active open-source community. MIT license. Fork it, extend it, contribute back.

Weaknesses

• Technical setup required. You need to deploy it yourself. Docker knowledge helps. This isn’t a “sign up and go” product.
• Interface can be overwhelming. More features means more complexity. Non-technical users may struggle.
• Maintenance is your responsibility. Updates, backups, security patches—you handle it all.
• Some integrations require configuration. Unlike Zapier where you just click “connect,” some n8n integrations need API keys and OAuth setup.

Pricing

• Self-hosted: Free (you pay for hosting, typically $5-50/month depending on workload)
• n8n Cloud: Starting at $20/month for hosted version with execution limits

Activepieces: The Friendlier Alternative

Activepieces is a newer entrant, positioning itself as a more user-friendly self-hosted automation platform. It’s less powerful than n8n but more approachable.

Strengths

• Modern, clean interface. Designed to feel familiar to Zapier users. Less intimidating than n8n.
• Self-hosted option. Same benefits as n8n—run on your own infrastructure, no per-task limits.
• TypeScript-based. Pieces (integrations) are written in TypeScript. Easy to create custom integrations if you’re a developer.
• Growing rapidly. Active development, new integrations added regularly.
• MIT license. Fully open source.

Weaknesses

• Fewer integrations. ~100 pieces compared to n8n’s 400+ and Zapier’s thousands.
• Less mature. Younger project means fewer battle-tested production deployments.
• Code execution is more limited. Not as flexible as n8n for complex transformations.
• Smaller community. Less documentation, fewer Stack Overflow answers, fewer tutorials.

Pricing

• Self-hosted: Free
• Activepieces Cloud: Starting at $0/month (free tier with limits, then usage-based)

Head-to-Head Comparison

Cost Comparison: A Real Example

Let’s model a realistic business scenario:

Scenario: A small e-commerce business with these automations:

• New order → notify Slack, update inventory, send to shipping (3 steps, 500 orders/month)
• Customer support ticket → create task in project management, notify team (2 steps, 200 tickets/month)
• Weekly reports → aggregate data, generate PDF, email to team (5 steps, 4 runs/month)
• Lead form → add to CRM, send welcome email, create task (3 steps, 300 leads/month)

Total monthly tasks:

• Orders: 500 × 3 = 1,500 tasks
• Tickets: 200 × 2 = 400 tasks
• Reports: 4 × 5 = 20 tasks
• Leads: 300 × 3 = 900 tasks
• Total: 2,820 tasks/month

Annual savings with self-hosted: ~$700/year

And this gap widens as you scale. Double the tasks, and Zapier doubles in cost. Self-hosted stays flat (until you need a bigger server).

When to Choose Each Platform

Choose Zapier When:

• You have no technical resources and need something working today
• You’re running fewer than 750 tasks/month (fits in the free/cheap tiers)
• You need an obscure integration that only Zapier supports
• You value polish and support over cost savings

Choose n8n When:

• You have technical resources who can deploy and maintain Docker containers
• You need complex workflows with code, loops, and conditional logic
• Data sovereignty matters—you need data on your own servers
• You’re running high-volume automations where per-task pricing is expensive
• You want the most powerful and flexible option

Choose Activepieces When:

• You want self-hosting benefits but find n8n too complex
• Your integrations are covered by their ~100 pieces
• You’re comfortable with a newer, less battle-tested platform
• You want TypeScript-based custom integrations

Our Experience

At QuickWebApps, we run both n8n and Activepieces on our own infrastructure. Our production workflows—CRM sync, invoice processing, content publishing, monitoring alerts—run through n8n. We use Activepieces for simpler automations where its friendlier interface speeds up development.

Total infrastructure cost for both: under $50/month, handling thousands of executions. The equivalent in Zapier would be several hundred dollars monthly.

Is self-hosting for everyone? No. It requires technical knowledge and ongoing maintenance. But for businesses with development resources who are paying significant Zapier bills, the ROI on migrating is substantial.

Getting Started With Self-Hosted Automation

If you’re interested in self-hosted automation but unsure where to start, here’s a quick path:

1. Inventory your current automations. What are you running in Zapier (or doing manually)? How many executions per month?
2. Calculate your Zapier costs at scale. What would those automations cost in 12 months as your business grows?
3. Evaluate integration coverage. Check if n8n or Activepieces supports the services you need. Most common tools (Slack, Google Workspace, HubSpot, Stripe, etc.) are covered.
4. Deploy a test instance. Spin up n8n on a $6 DigitalOcean droplet. Recreate one of your Zapier workflows.
5. Migrate gradually. Don’t switch everything at once. Move one workflow at a time, validate it works, then continue.

Need Help With Workflow Automation?

Our Automation Quick-Start package gets you up and running with n8n and your first set of production workflows. We handle the deployment, build your initial automations, and train your team to maintain and extend them.

If you’re drowning in manual processes or watching Zapier bills climb, let’s talk about a better approach.