Self-Hosted Workflow Automation: n8n vs Activepieces
Looking for a self-hosted Zapier alternative? We compare n8n and Activepieces on licenses, setup and integrations, using their own GitHub repositories.
If you want a self-hosted Zapier alternative, the two names that come up first are n8n and Activepieces. Both run on your own server and both let you build visual workflows. The difference that matters most is the license: Activepieces' Community Edition is MIT, while n8n uses a "fair-code" license with real limits on commercial use.
What does self-hosted workflow automation mean?
You run the automation tool on a server you control, so your workflow data and credentials stay on your machine. You pay for hosting and maintenance instead of per-task fees. The trade-off is that updates, backups and uptime become your job.
We used each project's own GitHub pages for the facts below (read in October 2026). We could not open vendor pricing pages while preparing this piece, so we do not quote cloud prices. Check them yourself before comparing costs.
How do the licenses differ?
This is where founders get caught.
n8n calls itself "fair-code" and uses the Sustainable Use License. According to the license file, you may use or modify the software "only for your own internal business purposes or for non-commercial or personal use," and you may distribute it only for free and for non-commercial purposes. Files with .ee. in the name need a paid Enterprise License.
In plain terms: running n8n to automate your own company is fine. Reselling it, or building a product that hands n8n to your customers, is a question for the license text and probably a lawyer. This is general information, not legal advice.
Activepieces describes itself as an open source replacement for Zapier. Its README says the Community Edition is MIT licensed, with enterprise features under a commercial license in packages/ee. If you plan to embed automation in your own product, that distinction is the first thing we would read.
How do features and integrations compare?
| n8n | Activepieces | |
|---|---|---|
| License | Sustainable Use License (fair-code) | MIT (Community Edition), commercial for enterprise features |
| Code steps | JavaScript, Python, npm packages | Code steps with NPM |
| AI | Agents and multi-step AI workflows | Native AI pieces, pieces exposed as MCP servers |
| Human approval | Not covered in the README we read | Flows can pause for a delay or an approval |
| Integration count | README says 1500+, repo About says 400+ | Page says 200+ and 280+ in different places |
Notice the last row. Both projects publish conflicting integration numbers on the same page, so we would not decide on a headline figure. Instead, list the five apps your workflows touch and check that each one has a ready-made node or piece.
How hard is it to run?
n8n's README shows two routes: a Docker command that maps port 5678, or an install script (curl -fsSL https://get.n8n.io | sh) that needs Docker. Activepieces ships Docker Compose files in its repository, and its README describes it as self-hosted and network-gapped for control over your data.
Either way, plan for backups of the workflow database and a note on who upgrades it. A forgotten automation server is a security risk.
Which one should you pick?
- Pick n8n if you want to write code inside workflows, you use it only for your own business, and the integration you need already exists.
- Pick Activepieces if the permissive MIT license matters, for example because you want to embed or redistribute it.
- Pick neither yet if you run five simple Zaps. A hosted tool costs less than your time.
A quick test: rebuild your most annoying workflow in both on a laptop with Docker. The one you finish faster is probably your answer. Then explore more workflow and automation tools or see which products are climbing on the TOP leaderboard.
FAQ
Is n8n open source?
n8n describes itself as fair-code under the Sustainable Use License. Its source is visible and self-hostable, but commercial use is restricted, so it is not an open-source license in the usual sense.
Is Activepieces really free to self-host?
The Community Edition is MIT licensed per its README. Enterprise features are under a separate commercial license.
Can I use either to run automations for my clients?
Check the license first. n8n's license limits use to internal business purposes, so client-facing use needs careful reading.
Do I need Docker?
Both projects show Docker-based setups. n8n's install script requires it.
