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Still deciding? Read our full n8n review before you switch.
The short answer: choose Make if you want visual, no-code scenarios, Zapier if you want the simplest setup and the most familiar interface, and Activepieces if self-hosting is the reason you picked n8n in the first place. If your company already runs on Microsoft 365, look at Power Automate before anything else. Prices below were checked against each vendor's pricing page on November 9, 2026.
Why Look for n8n Alternatives?#
n8n is a strong choice for technical teams, but three things push people to look elsewhere:
Self-hosting is free, but it is not effortless. Without a license key, n8n runs as the free Community Edition on your own infrastructure. You then own the updates, the backups, the database and the uptime. If nobody on your team wants that job, the free option carries a cost that does not appear on an invoice.
The license is not classic open source. n8n publishes its code under its own Sustainable Use License. That matters if your legal team requires an OSI-approved license or you want to embed automation in a product you sell.
The cloud plans jump sharply at the top. n8n Cloud starts at 20 euros a month on annual billing for Starter with 2,500 workflow executions, and Pro costs 50 euros a month on annual billing. The Business tier is listed at 667 euros a month on annual billing, so teams that outgrow Pro face a large step.
n8n's model has one real advantage you give up by switching: it charges per workflow execution, not per step. A 20-step workflow counts as one execution, while step-based tools bill each action.
Top n8n Alternatives#
1. Make#
The closest visual alternative for people who do not want to host anything. Scenarios are built on a visual canvas, and each module action consumes credits. A free plan includes 1,000 credits a month; paid Core, Pro and Teams plans are listed on Make's pricing page.
- Price: Free (1,000 credits/mo) / paid plans on Make's pricing page
- Best for: Non-developers who still want branching logic on a visual canvas
- Trade-off: No self-hosting, and credits are consumed per module action, so long scenarios use more of your allowance
2. Zapier#
The easiest starting point on this list and the tool most people already know. The free plan includes 100 tasks a month. Professional starts from $19.99 a month and Team from $69 a month. Every step in a Zap uses tasks, so longer workflows cost more than they do on n8n.
- Price: Free (100 tasks/mo) / from $19.99/mo Professional / from $69/mo Team
- Best for: Small teams that value quick setup over low per-run cost
- Trade-off: Task-based billing gets expensive for high-volume or many-step workflows
- Read our full Zapier guide
3. Activepieces#
The most direct swap if self-hosting is what you want to keep. Activepieces can run on your own servers and has a hosted version with a flat price: Free includes 1,000 credits a month, Plus costs $20 a month with 10,000 credits, and Team costs $200 a month with 50,000 credits.
- Price: Free (1,000 credits/mo) / $20/mo Plus / $200/mo Team
- Best for: Teams that want self-hosting with a simpler builder than n8n
- Trade-off: You still operate the server yourself if you self-host, and AI steps cost more than one credit
4. Pipedream#
A developer tool centered on connecting apps through code and on embedding integrations in your own product through its Connect offering. Development use is free. The paid Startup plan costs $99 a month on annual billing or $150 a month billed monthly, including 100 external users and 10,000 usage credits.
- Price: Free in development / $99/mo Startup (annual) or $150/mo (monthly)
- Best for: Developers who embed integrations in a SaaS product
- Trade-off: Not aimed at non-technical users or at simple internal automations
5. Microsoft Power Automate#
The natural pick in Microsoft-heavy companies, because it plugs into SharePoint, Outlook and Teams and fits existing admin controls. The Premium plan is listed at $15 per user per month on yearly billing, and the Process plan at $150 per bot per month on yearly billing.
- Price: $15/user/mo Premium (yearly) / $150/bot/mo Process (yearly)
- Best for: Companies already standardized on Microsoft 365
- Trade-off: Per-user licensing and a Microsoft-centric design make it a poor fit outside that ecosystem
6. Lindy#
A different approach: instead of drawing a workflow, you describe an AI assistant that handles work such as email and meeting follow-ups. New accounts get $50 in credits for seven days, and paid plans are credit-based. See Lindy's pricing page for current tiers.
- Price: $50 free trial credits (7 days) / credit-based paid plans
- Best for: People who want an AI assistant rather than a workflow diagram
- Trade-off: Less predictable than deterministic workflows, and usage varies with task complexity
- Read our full Lindy guide
7. Dify#
If you use n8n mainly to build AI apps and RAG pipelines, Dify is built for that job. It has a free cloud plan with 200 message credits, a self-hosted option, and Professional and Team plans at $590 and $1,590 per workspace per year.
- Price: Free (200 message credits) / $590/yr Professional / $1,590/yr Team
- Best for: Building LLM applications, agents and retrieval pipelines
- Trade-off: Weaker than n8n for classic app-to-app automation
- Read our full Dify guide
Comparison Table#
| Tool | Starting Price | Self-Hosting | Billing Unit | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Make | Free, then see pricing page | No | Credits per action | Visual no-code scenarios |
| Zapier | Free, then from $19.99/mo | No | Tasks per step | Fast setup |
| Activepieces | Free, then $20/mo | Yes | Credits | Self-hosted automation |
| Pipedream | Free in development, then $99/mo | No | Usage credits | Embedded integrations |
| Power Automate | $15/user/mo (yearly) | No | Per user or bot | Microsoft 365 companies |
| Lindy | Trial credits, then see pricing page | No | Credits | AI assistants |
| Dify | Free, then $590/yr | Yes | Message credits | LLM apps and RAG |
How to Choose the Right n8n Alternative#
If you want less maintenance: Make or Zapier. Neither needs a server. Make gives you more control on the canvas, while Zapier is quicker to learn.
If you want to keep control of your data: Activepieces is the closest match. Dify fits if the workflows are mainly AI applications.
If cost per run is your main concern: calculate your real volume first. n8n's per-execution pricing often beats step-based billing for long workflows, so switching can raise your bill.
If you are in a Microsoft company: start with Power Automate, because connectors, identity and governance are already in place.
For more on the tools themselves, read our n8n guide and Zapier guide, or see all options in our Best AI Tools 2026 overview.
FAQ#
What is the best free alternative to n8n?#
Activepieces has a free hosted plan with 1,000 credits a month and can be self-hosted. Make's free plan also includes 1,000 credits a month, and Zapier's free plan includes 100 tasks a month. If you can run your own server, n8n's own Community Edition remains free as well.
Is there a truly open-source alternative to n8n?#
Check the license of each project before you rely on it, because the term is used loosely. n8n itself uses a Sustainable Use License, not an OSI-approved one. Activepieces and Dify both offer self-hosted editions, but their licensing terms differ between the community and paid editions.
Is Make cheaper than n8n?#
It depends on your workflows. Make bills credits per module action, while n8n Cloud bills per complete workflow execution. Short, frequent scenarios can be cheaper on Make, and long multi-step workflows are usually cheaper on n8n.
Is Zapier or n8n better for beginners?#
Zapier is easier for beginners. Its setup needs no hosting and little technical knowledge. n8n offers more control and lower cost per run on long workflows, but it asks more of you, especially if you self-host.
