vs
n8n vs Activepieces
n8n scores higher overall (8.5 vs 7.9), but the right pick depends on what you need.
Choose n8n if…
Technical teams who want full control over AI agents, data and hosting
8.5/10★★★★★Full review →Choose Activepieces if…
Teams who want n8n-style control and self-hosting with a simpler, Zapier-like builder
7.9/10★★★★★Full review →Side by side
| n8n | Activepieces | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 8.5/10 | 7.9/10 |
| Rank in category | #1 of 10 | #4 of 10 |
| Price | Freemium · from €20/month | Freemium · from $20/month |
| Free version | Community Edition is free to self-host, with no execution limits | 1,000 credits a month, unlimited flows, up to 5 users, agents and MCP included |
| Platforms | Web, Self-hosted | Web, Self-hosted, API |
| Made by | n8n GmbH | Activepieces |
| Automation power | 9 | 7.5 |
| Ease of use | 6.5 | 7.5 |
| Features | 9 | 8 |
| Value for money | 9 | 9 |
| Platforms | 9 | 7.5 |
n8n: what the AI does
- AI Agent node with tools and memory
- MCP server and client support
- Local models via Ollama when self-hosted
- Human-in-the-loop approvals for agent actions
- AI Assistant for building workflows
- Free to self-host, so data stays on your own servers
- Most flexible agent building here, with code wherever you need it
- Charges per workflow run, not per step, which is cheap for long workflows
- Huge community (200,000+ members, 200K+ GitHub stars)
- Steepest learning curve of the mainstream tools
- Fewer pre-built integrations (500+) than Zapier or Make
- Self-hosting means you handle updates and maintenance
Activepieces: what the AI does
- AI agents that choose their own steps and tools
- Approval gates for sensitive agent actions
- Works as an MCP server for Claude and Cursor
- Bring your own AI provider keys
- Built-in tables for agent data
- Open source under MIT, including all integrations
- Generous free plan and cheap paid tier
- Self-host or run air-gapped
- Easier to pick up than n8n
- Fewer integrations (760+) than Zapier or Make
- Smaller community and fewer templates than n8n
- SSO and advanced roles need the $200 Team plan or above