Alternatives to n8n
Source-available workflow automation platform with AI nodes and self-hosting. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
n8n
Source-available workflow automation platform with AI nodes and self-hosting.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as n8n.
Zapier
A hosted no-code automation platform that connects thousands of web apps through workflows and AI agents.
Zapier is hosted only and proprietary, with more than 9,000 app integrations and an MCP server, but no self-hosted edition, so your data passes through Zapier.
Make
A visual automation platform, formerly Integromat, that connects apps and webhooks into workflows.
Make offers a visual workflow builder with more than 1,500 integrations and webhook modules, but it is cloud-only and proprietary with no self-hosted option.
Activepieces
An open-source automation platform for building workflows, AI agents and app integrations, self-hosted or cloud.
Activepieces is open source at the core rather than source-available, can be self-hosted, and offers more than 760 integrations plus AI agents and an MCP server.
Node-RED
Visual flow-based programming tool for wiring together automations and APIs.
Node-RED is free and open source, using visual flow-based programming with built-in debugging tools, and runs self-hosted or on the web.
Windmill
An open-source, self-hostable platform for turning scripts into workflows, internal apps and scheduled jobs.
Windmill is open source and self-hostable, but aimed at teams writing code, turning TypeScript, Python, Go or Bash scripts into workflows, internal apps and schedules.
Power Automate
Microsoft's no-code automation platform for desktop and web workflows.
Power Automate is Microsoft's proprietary no-code platform, adding desktop flows for legacy Windows applications and Microsoft 365 integration, with paid licensing for advanced connectors.
huginn
Build self-hosted agents that watch for events and trigger actions.
Huginn is free, MIT-licensed and self-hosted, built around agents that watch for events and trigger actions, and requires maintaining a server and configuring agents.
IFTTT
A hosted automation service that links apps and smart home devices through trigger and action Applets.
IFTTT is a hosted, proprietary service with a simple trigger and action model and smart home coverage, but it is less suited to complex multi-step workflows.
Also worth comparing
These listings name n8n as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.
Automatisch
An open-source workflow automation tool that connects apps without code, self-hosted or in the cloud.
n8n is self-hostable and combines no-code nodes with custom code, but it uses a source-available licence rather than a standard open-source one.
Gumloop
A web platform for building AI agents and automation workflows that connect to work apps.
n8n is source-available and self-hostable, combining AI nodes with the option to write custom code, though you manage your own infrastructure.
Lindy
A hosted AI agent that connects to work tools and handles email, meetings, reports and scheduled tasks.
n8n is a source-available, self-hostable workflow platform with AI nodes, so you build the agent yourself and manage your own infrastructure.
Pabbly Connect
A hosted no-code service that connects apps and passes data between them to automate tasks.
n8n is a source-available workflow platform with a self-hostable community edition and AI nodes, so workflows and data can stay on your own infrastructure.
Shuffle
An open-source security orchestration, automation and response (SOAR) platform for building workflows across security tools.
n8n is a source-available general workflow platform with self-hosting and custom code, without a security-specific focus or SOAR design.
StackStorm
A self-hosted, event-driven automation platform that connects apps and services through rules and workflows.
n8n replaces rules with a visual node editor plus custom code, and is source-available rather than open source, with a self-hostable community edition.
Zapier AI
AI features in Zapier for building agents, AI workflow steps and chatbots across connected apps.
N8n offers AI nodes in a self-hostable community edition with custom code support, under a source-available license rather than Zapier AI's cloud-only proprietary service.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
Coze
An AI agent platform for building assistants, automating workflows and producing office documents.
Taskade
An AI workspace for projects, notes, mind maps, AI agents and automated workflows.
cron-job.org
A free hosted scheduler that calls URLs on a schedule, from once a minute to yearly.
Kestra
An open-source declarative orchestration platform for scheduled and event-driven workflows, self-hosted or in the cloud.
