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It's a split decision.
Choose n8n if you want workflow executions as the billing unit, step-by-step run visibility, and the option to self-host on your own infrastructure. Choose Activepieces if its 770+ listed apps, inline TypeScript, REST and GraphQL APIs, MCP server, or air-gapped deployment fit your stack. Both offer free plans and self-hosting. Before committing, compare how each product’s usage limits map to your workloads and check licence terms, export options and migration requirements.
01Side by side
| n8n | Activepieces | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Cloud plans charge by monthly workflow executions. | Paid plans include monthly credits; overages cost $0.007 each. |
| Free tier | Self-hosted Community Edition; executions depend on your server. | 1,000 monthly credits, five users, unlimited flows. |
| Open source and licence | Open source; check licence terms before adopting. | Open source; check licence terms before adopting. |
| Self-hosting | Self-host on-premises or with Docker. | Run on your servers or in an air-gapped setup. |
| Integrations | Homepage mentions Slack, Jira, Notion and AI models. | Homepage lists 770+ apps. |
| Deployment model | Cloud or self-hosted, including on-premises. | Cloud, self-hosted or air-gapped. |
| Platforms | Web. | Web. |
| Limits and scaling | Cloud tiers cap executions; self-hosting depends on your server. | Free and paid plans set credits; Ultimate has dedicated workers. |
n8n Choose n8n if
- Choose n8n if you want to inspect runs step by step.
- Choose n8n if workflow executions suit your usage model.
- Choose n8n if you want Docker or on-premises deployment.
Activepieces Choose Activepieces if
- Choose Activepieces if its 770+ listed apps fit your stack.
- Choose Activepieces if you need inline TypeScript or MCP.
- Choose Activepieces if you need an air-gapped deployment.
02Pricing at real usage
n8n’s self-hosted Community Edition costs $0 per month, with executions limited by your server. Cloud Starter is $24 monthly or $20 per month with annual billing for 2,500 executions; Pro is $60 monthly or $50 annually for 10,000. Starter and Pro have hard execution caps, not overages, so growing past a tier means upgrading. A 14-day Cloud trial is available.
Activepieces Free costs $0 and includes 1,000 credits monthly, up to five users and unlimited flows; credits refresh daily. Plus is $20 monthly for 10,000 credits and up to five users. Team is $200 for 50,000 credits and 25 users. Plus and Team charge $0.007 per extra credit. Activepieces advertises annual billing savings, but does not list annual Plus or Team prices. Compare actual workflow usage before estimating the bill: the units differ.
03API, SDKs and integration
n8n centers workflow building on a visual editor, with the option to drop into code. Its homepage describes connections to tools including Slack, Jira and Notion, and AI models such as Claude Sonnet 4.6, but does not list an integration count. It emphasizes inspecting each workflow step and reviewing past runs. The homepage does not identify a specific language for custom code or a public SDK.
Activepieces also has a visual flow builder, with branching, retries, waitpoints, subflows and approvals. Developers can write inline TypeScript for custom steps. Its product facts list REST and GraphQL APIs and an MCP server for tools such as Claude and Cursor; the homepage lists 770+ apps. The Embed plan includes a white-label builder and one SDK. The homepage does not identify a CLI for either product. Check the current docs for API authentication, SDK coverage and integration-specific limits before designing an integration.
04Open source, self-hosting and lock-in
Both products are described as open source and self-hostable, but the licence terms should be checked against your intended use. n8n supports on-premises deployment and Docker; its Business plan adds queue mode, SSO/LDAP, multiple environments and Git version control. Activepieces offers deployment on its own servers, in an air-gapped environment, or on Activepieces Cloud. Its Enterprise control plan lists SSO, SCIM, custom RBAC, audit logs and secret-manager support.
Neither vendor publishes a data-export path in the product details. Ask how to export workflow definitions, credentials, run history and project configuration before committing. Migration effort will depend on how much logic lives in platform-specific workflow steps, integrations and custom code; changing vendors may also mean remapping secrets and rebuilding workflows. Confirm what can be moved and what must be recreated.
Questions people ask
Is there a better tool than n8n?
It depends on your deployment and billing needs. Activepieces lists 770+ apps, inline TypeScript, REST and GraphQL APIs, an MCP server and air-gapped deployment. n8n emphasizes step-by-step workflow visibility and bills Cloud plans by monthly executions. Compare the integrations, usage units and controls your team needs.
Can Zapier replace n8n?
That depends on your workflows and deployment requirements. This comparison covers n8n and Activepieces, not Zapier’s pricing, integrations or hosting. Before replacing n8n, check whether the alternative supports your required apps, custom code, approval steps, execution history and deployment model.
Do you still need n8n if you use Activepieces?
Not necessarily. Activepieces may cover the same role if its apps, flows, TypeScript steps and deployment options fit your requirements. n8n may be a better fit when its execution-based plans and step-by-step run visibility suit your workflows. Compare a representative workflow and verify migration and export needs before switching.
Is Make or n8n better for developers?
This comparison does not establish how Make’s API, pricing, hosting or limits compare. For n8n, the listed Cloud plans charge by monthly executions, and self-hosting is available. Evaluate both products against your required integrations, custom-code needs, deployment controls and expected usage before choosing.