n8n vs Activepieces (2026): the self-hosted automation workhorse or the friendlier open-source challenger?
n8n is the open-source workflow automation platform with 400-plus integrations, a visual node editor and a free self-hosted Community Edition with unlimited executions. Activepieces is the friendlier open-source challenger: a visual flow builder with AI agents, tables and MCPs built in, a free cloud plan, and a free MIT-licensed self-hosted edition.
| n8n | Activepieces | |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Community Edition free to self-host with unlimited executions; n8n Cloud has a 14-day trial but no permanent free tier | Free cloud plan with 1,000 credits a month and unlimited flows; Community Edition free to self-host with no run cap |
| Paid tier | Cloud Starter from €20 a month billed annually (€24 monthly) for 2,500 executions; Pro €50 billed annually | Plus from $20 a month ($16 billed annually) for 10,000 credits; Team $200 a month for 50,000 credits |
| Best for | Technical teams automating complex, multi-step workflows | Small teams and solo builders who want automation plus AI agents without the ops burden |
| Standout strength | The deepest integration library and the most flexible node-based editor, with unlimited users on every plan | One credit per flow run however many steps it has, plus AI agents, tables and MCPs on the free plan |
| Watch out for | Self-hosting means you own updates, security and backups, and Cloud pricing is in euros only | AI steps on Activepieces' own models cost extra credits, and the pricing model changed in August 2026 |
n8n wins when the workflow is complex: hundreds of integrations, branching logic, code nodes and a community that has solved almost every edge case. Its self-hosted edition is free forever with no execution cap, which makes it the cheapest serious automation platform for anyone who can run a server. Activepieces wins when simplicity matters: the credit model is easy to understand, the free cloud plan is genuinely usable, and the AI agents and tables are built in rather than bolted on.
Both are free to self-host, so the decision is about how you want to run them. If you have someone who can manage a server, n8n's depth is hard to beat. If you want a managed cloud plan that starts free and stays cheap, Activepieces' Plus plan at $20 a month buys 10,000 runs — four times n8n Cloud Starter's 2,500 executions for the same money.
Sources: official pricing pages and 2026 comparison coverage. n8n listing · Activepieces listing
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