10 Best n8n Alternatives (The Ultimate List as of 2025)
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n8n is a powerful, open-source workflow automation tool that allows users to connect various applications and services to create complex, automated workflows. Its strengths lie in its flexibility, self-hosting capabilities, and a fair-code license that makes it an attractive option for developers and businesses looking for control over their automation infrastructure. However, n8n may not be the perfect fit for every use case. Some users may find its learning curve steep, while others may require features like enterprise-grade security, SOC 2 compliance, or more extensive team collaboration features.
This guide is for those who are looking for an n8n alternative. Whether you’re seeking a more user-friendly interface, a developer-centric platform with native SDKs, or a solution that better fits your budget at scale, we’ve got you in mind. We’ve conducted in-depth research, including browsing through Google and Reddit for recent threads, to bring you a comprehensive comparison of the 10 best n8n alternatives in 2025. All our claims are backed by data from primary sources and reputable third-party reviews, ensuring you have the information you need to make an informed decision.
Top n8n Alternatives Comparison Table
Tool Zapier Make Pipedream Best For Businesses of all sizes looking for a simple, user-friendly automation tool with a vast library of integrations. Individuals and teams who need a powerful, visual workflow builder with advanced features. The ability to write custom code in Node.js, Python, and Go, and a strong focus on developer experience. Key Differentiator The largest ecosystem of app integrations (8,000+) The visual, drag-and-drop interface that makes it easy to build complex workflows. The ability to write custom code in Node.js, Python, and Go, and a strong focus on developer experience. Pricing $0/month (100 tasks/month) $0/month (1,000 credits/month) $0/month (100 credits/month) Self-host? ❌ ✔️ ✔️ Pricing checked on September 27, 2025. Please refer to the respective websites for the most up-to-date information.
10 Best n8n Alternatives in 2025
1. Zapier
Description: Zapier is the market leader in the workflow automation space, and for good reason. It offers a simple, user-friendly interface and a massive library of over 8,000 app integrations, making it easy to connect almost any tool you use. Unlike n8n, which is open-source and can be self-hosted, Zapier is a fully managed SaaS platform, which means you don’t have to worry about server maintenance or updates.
Best For: Businesses of all sizes looking for a simple, user-friendly automation tool with a vast library of integrations.
Features:
- Over 8,000 app integrations
- Simple, user-friendly interface
- Multi-step Zaps
- Conditional logic
- Webhooks
- AI-powered Zap builder
- Enterprise-grade security
Pricing:
- Free: $0/month for 100 tasks/month and 2-step Zaps.
- Professional: Starts at $19.99/month (billed annually) for multi-step Zaps, premium apps, and webhooks.
- Team: Starts at $69/month (billed annually) for collaboration features.
- Enterprise: Custom pricing for advanced security and governance.
Pricing checked on September 27, 2025, from zapier.com/pricing.
Pros:
- Easy to use, even for non-technical users.
- The largest library of app integrations.
- Reliable and well-supported.
- Strong security and compliance features.
Cons:
- Can be expensive at scale.
- Less flexible than open-source alternatives like n8n.
- No self-hosting option.
Notable Alternatives To This Tool:
- Make: A more powerful and flexible visual workflow builder.
- IFTTT: A simpler, more consumer-focused automation tool.
2. Make (formerly Integromat)
Description: Make is a powerful and flexible workflow automation platform that offers a unique, visual approach to building workflows. Its drag-and-drop interface allows you to create complex, multi-step scenarios with ease. Make is a great alternative to n8n for users who want a more visual and intuitive way to build automations, without sacrificing power and flexibility.
Best For: Individuals and teams who need a powerful, visual workflow builder with advanced features.
Features:
- Visual, drag-and-drop workflow builder
- Over 2,000 app integrations
- Advanced features like routers, filters, and error handling
- Real-time execution monitoring
- Custom variables and functions
- Make AI Agents for building and managing AI agents
Pricing:
- Free: $0/month for 1,000 credits/month and 2 active scenarios.
- Core: Starts at $9/month for 10,000 credits/month and unlimited active scenarios.
- Pro: Starts at $16/month for 10,000 credits/month, with priority scenario execution and custom variables.
- Teams: Starts at $29/month for 10,000 credits/month, with team collaboration features.
- Enterprise: Custom pricing for advanced security and support.
Pricing checked on September 27, 2025, from make.com/en/pricing.
Pros:
- Powerful and flexible visual workflow builder.
- Generous free plan.
- Advanced features for complex workflows.
- Strong focus on AI and agentic automation.
Cons:
- The credit-based pricing system can be confusing.
- The learning curve can be steep for new users.
- No self-hosting option.
Notable Alternatives To This Tool:
- Zapier: A simpler, more user-friendly option with a larger library of integrations.
- Pipedream: A more developer-centric platform with stronger coding capabilities.
3. Pipedream
Description: Pipedream is a developer-centric automation platform that allows you to connect APIs and build workflows using code. It’s a great alternative to n8n for developers who want more control and flexibility over their automations. With Pipedream, you can write custom code in Node.js, Python, and Go, and use any npm or PyPI package in your workflows.
Best For: Developers who want a flexible, code-first automation platform with a generous free tier.
Features:
- Code-first automation with support for Node.js, Python, and Go
- Over 2,800 app integrations
- Built-in data stores and a web IDE
- GitHub Sync for version control
- Managed authentication and a built-in API proxy
- Generous free tier
Pricing:
- Free: $0/month for 100 credits/month and 3 active workflows.
- Basic: Starts at $29/month (billed annually) for 2,000 credits/month and 10 active workflows.
- Advanced: Starts at $49/month (billed annually) for 2,000 credits/month, unlimited workflows, and GitHub Sync.
- Connect: Starts at $99/month (billed annually) for 10,000 credits/month, for building and managing integrations.
- Business: Custom pricing for advanced features and support.
Pricing checked on September 27, 2025, from pipedream.com/pricing.
Pros:
- Highly flexible and customizable.
- Strong focus on developer experience.
- Generous free tier.
- Excellent documentation and community support.
Cons:
- The UI can be less intuitive for non-developers.
- The learning curve can be steep for users who are not familiar with code.
- No self-hosting option.
Notable Alternatives To This Tool:
- Windmill: An open-source, self-hostable platform for developers.
- Apache Airflow: A more robust tool for complex, code-driven data workflows.
4. Huginn
Description: Huginn is a free and open-source system for building agents that perform automated tasks online. It’s a self-hosted, hackable alternative to services like IFTTT and Zapier, and a great choice for users who want complete control over their data and automation workflows. With Huginn, you can read the web, watch for events, and take actions on your behalf, all from your own server.
Best For: Users who want complete control over their data and automation workflows, and are comfortable with self-hosting.
Features:
- Self-hosted and open-source
- Wide range of integrations, including Twitter, RSS, and Slack
- Custom agents with JavaScript or CoffeeScript
- Strong focus on data privacy and security
- Active community and good documentation
Pricing:
- Free and open-source (MIT License).
Pricing checked on September 27, 2025, from github.com/huginn/huginn.
Pros:
- Complete control over your data and workflows.
- Free and open-source.
- Highly customizable and extensible.
- Strong focus on data privacy.
Cons:
- Requires technical expertise to set up and maintain.
- The UI is not as polished as some of the other tools on this list.
- Fewer pre-built integrations than some of the other tools.
Notable Alternatives To This Tool:
- Node-RED: A more visual, flow-based tool for building event-driven applications.
- Activepieces: A more modern, user-friendly open-source alternative.
5. Node-RED
Description: Node-RED is an open-source, low-code programming environment for event-driven applications. It provides a browser-based editor that makes it easy to wire together flows using a wide variety of nodes in the palette. It’s a great alternative to n8n for developers and hobbyists who want a visual, flow-based tool for building event-driven applications, especially in the context of IoT and hardware projects.
Best For: Developers and hobbyists who want a visual, flow-based tool for building event-driven applications, especially in the context of IoT and hardware projects.
Features:
- Visual, flow-based programming environment
- Built on Node.js
- Large and active community with over 5,000 nodes and flows
- Can run on low-cost hardware like the Raspberry Pi
- Self-hosted and open-source
Pricing:
- Free and open-source.
Pricing checked on September 27, 2025, from nodered.org.
Pros:
- Easy to use, even for users who are not familiar with code.
- Highly extensible with a large library of nodes.
- Great for IoT and hardware projects.
- Free and open-source.
Cons:
- The UI can be a bit dated.
- Not as well-suited for complex data workflows as some of the other tools on this list.
- Requires some technical expertise to set up and maintain.
Notable Alternatives To This Tool:
- Huginn: A more traditional, agent-based automation tool.
- Windmill: A more powerful, developer-centric platform for building internal tools and workflows.
6. Activepieces
Description: Activepieces is a no-code, open-source automation tool with a strong focus on AI. It allows users to build AI agents and automate workflows across various applications. It’s a great alternative to n8n for teams and individuals looking for a modern, user-friendly automation tool with a strong emphasis on AI and a user-friendly interface.
Best For: Teams and individuals looking for a modern, open-source automation tool with a strong emphasis on AI and a user-friendly interface.
Features:
- Visual flow builder
- Growing library of integrations (pieces)
- Self-hosting or cloud version
- Features for teams, like whitelabeling and custom templates
- Strong focus on AI and agentic automation
Pricing:
- Free: $0/month for 1,000 tasks/month, 2 active flows, and 200 AI credits.
- Plus: $25/month for unlimited tasks (fair usage), 10 active flows, and 500 AI credits.
- Business: $150/month for unlimited tasks (fair usage), 50 active flows, 1,000 AI credits, and 5 users.
- Enterprise: Custom pricing for advanced features and support.
- Community Edition: Free, self-hosted, MIT licensed.
Pricing checked on September 27, 2025, from activepieces.com/pricing.
Pros:
- Modern, user-friendly interface.
- Strong focus on AI and agentic automation.
- Open-source and self-hostable.
- Generous free plan.
Cons:
- Smaller library of integrations than some of the other tools on this list.
- Still a relatively new tool, so it may not be as mature as some of the other options.
Notable Alternatives To This Tool:
- n8n: A more mature and established open-source automation tool.
- Windmill: A more developer-centric open-source platform.
7. Windmill
Description: Windmill is an open-source developer platform that turns scripts into auto-generated UIs, APIs, and cron jobs. It’s designed for building complex, data-intensive apps and workflows, and it’s a great alternative to n8n for developers and teams who want a powerful, open-source platform for building internal tools, workflows, and data pipelines with a code-first approach.
Best For: Developers and teams who want a powerful, open-source platform for building internal tools, workflows, and data pipelines with a code-first approach.
Features:
- Supports a wide range of languages, including Python, TypeScript, Go, and SQL
- Low-code workflow builder
- Drag-and-drop app builder
- Self-hosted or cloud version
- Enterprise-ready features like audit logs, SAML support, and priority support
Pricing:
- Free and Open-source: $0/month, unlimited executions, self-hosted.
- Enterprise: Starts at $120/month, with advanced features and support.
Pricing checked on September 27, 2025, from windmill.dev/pricing.
Pros:
- Powerful and flexible platform for developers.
- Open-source and self-hostable.
- Strong focus on performance and scalability.
- Excellent documentation and community support.
Cons:
- The learning curve can be steep for new users.
- The UI can be a bit complex.
- Not as well-suited for non-technical users as some of the other tools on this list.
Notable Alternatives To This Tool:
- Pipedream: A more managed, SaaS-based platform for developers.
- Apache Airflow: A more robust tool for complex, code-driven data workflows.
8. Apache Airflow
Description: Apache Airflow is an open-source platform to programmatically author, schedule, and monitor workflows. It’s a powerful tool for orchestrating complex data pipelines, and it’s a great alternative to n8n for data engineers and developers who need a robust, code-driven platform for orchestrating complex ETL/ELT pipelines and data workflows.
Best For: Data engineers and developers who need a robust, code-driven platform for orchestrating complex ETL/ELT pipelines and data workflows.
Features:
- Pipelines are defined in Python
- Modular architecture
- Rich UI for monitoring and managing workflows
- Wide range of integrations with cloud platforms and other services
- Free and open-source
Pricing:
- Free and open-source (Apache License 2.0).
Pricing checked on September 27, 2025, from airflow.apache.org.
Pros:
- Powerful and flexible platform for data engineering.
- Highly extensible and customizable.
- Strong community and good documentation.
- Free and open-source.
Cons:
- Requires a deep understanding of Python and data engineering concepts.
- The learning curve can be steep.
- Not as well-suited for simple, ad-hoc automations as some of the other tools on this list.
Notable Alternatives To This Tool:
- Windmill: A more general-purpose platform for developers.
- Pipedream: A more managed, SaaS-based platform for developers.
9. IFTTT
Description: IFTTT (If This Then That) is a simple and user-friendly automation platform that connects a wide range of apps, services, and devices. It’s known for its straightforward “Applet” system, which allows users to create simple automations with a single trigger and action. It’s a great alternative to n8n for individuals and home users who want a simple, easy-to-use platform for basic automations and connecting smart home devices.
Best For: Individuals and home users who want a simple, easy-to-use platform for basic automations and connecting smart home devices.
Features:
- Over 900 services, including social media, smart home devices, and business tools
- Simple, user-friendly interface
- Mobile apps for iOS and Android
- Pro plan for more advanced features like multi-step Applets and filter code
Pricing:
- Free: $0/month for 2 Applets and standard speed.
- Pro: $2.99/month (billed annually) for 20 Applets, faster speeds, and multi-action Applets.
- Pro+: $8.99/month (billed annually) for unlimited Applets, AI services, multiple accounts, and filter code.
Pricing checked on September 27, 2025, from ifttt.com/plans.
Pros:
- Very easy to use.
- Great for smart home and IoT automations.
- Large library of services.
- Affordable pricing.
Cons:
- Not as powerful or flexible as some of the other tools on this list.
- Limited to single-trigger, single-action Applets on the free plan.
- Not as well-suited for business or enterprise use cases.
Notable Alternatives To This Tool:
- Zapier: A more powerful and flexible platform with a larger library of integrations.
- Make: A more visual and intuitive workflow builder.
10. Gumloop
Description: Gumloop is an AI automation platform designed to help teams automate workflows using a drag-and-drop interface. It focuses on integrating data, apps, and AI to streamline business processes. It’s a great alternative to n8n for teams and businesses looking for an AI-centric automation platform with a user-friendly interface and a focus on enterprise-level features.
Best For: Teams and businesses looking for an AI-centric automation platform with a user-friendly interface and a focus on enterprise-level features.
Features:
- Visual builder
- Over 105 native nodes
- AI-enhanced decision-making
- Ability to run background workflows
- Built for various departments, including marketing, sales, and operations
Pricing:
- Free: $0/month for 2,000 credits/month, 1 seat, and 1 active trigger.
- Solo: Starts at $37/month for 10,000+ credits/month, unlimited triggers, webhooks, and email support.
- Team: Starts at $244/month for 60,000+ credits/month, 10 seats, and dedicated Slack support.
- Enterprise: Custom pricing for advanced security, admin features, and support.
Pricing checked on September 27, 2025, from gumloop.com/pricing.
Pros:
- Strong focus on AI and agentic automation.
- User-friendly interface.
- Good for teams and businesses.
- Enterprise-level features.
Cons:
- Smaller library of integrations than some of the other tools on this list.
- Still a relatively new tool, so it may not be as mature as some of the other options.
Notable Alternatives To This Tool:
- Activepieces: A more open-source and self-hostable AI-centric automation platform.
- Zapier: A more established and well-known automation platform with a larger library of integrations.
Why Look for n8n Alternatives?
While n8n is a powerful and flexible tool, there are several reasons why you might be looking for an alternative:
- Enterprise Governance and Security: If you’re in a large organization, you may need features like SOC 2 compliance, SSO, and advanced user permissions, which are not available in the open-source version of n8n.
- Native SDKs: If you’re a developer, you may prefer a platform that offers native SDKs for your preferred programming language, which can make it easier to build and maintain complex workflows.
- Team Permissions: If you’re working in a team, you may need more granular control over who can create, edit, and run workflows.
- Visual Builder Preferences: While n8n’s visual builder is powerful, some users may prefer a more intuitive or user-friendly interface.
- Cost at Scale: While n8n is open-source and can be self-hosted, the cost of maintaining your own infrastructure can add up, especially at scale.
- Managed Hosting vs. Self-Hosting: If you don’t have the time or resources to manage your own server, you may prefer a fully managed SaaS platform.
- Air-Gapped/On-Prem Needs: If you’re in a highly regulated industry, you may need a platform that can be deployed in an air-gapped or on-premise environment.
Conclusion
Choosing the right n8n alternative depends on your specific needs and use case. Here’s a quick decision framework to help you choose the right tool:
- For businesses of all sizes looking for a simple, user-friendly automation tool with a vast library of integrations, choose Zapier.
- For individuals and teams who need a powerful, visual workflow builder with advanced features, choose Make.
- For developers who want a flexible, code-first automation platform with a generous free tier, choose Pipedream.
- For users who want complete control over their data and automation workflows, and are comfortable with self-hosting, choose Huginn.
FAQs
What is the best free n8n alternative?The best free n8n alternative depends on your needs. If you’re looking for a self-hosted, open-source option, Huginn and Node-RED are both excellent choices. If you prefer a managed SaaS platform, Pipedream and Activepieces both offer generous free tiers.
What is the best open-source n8n alternative?Huginn, Node-RED, Activepieces, and Windmill are all excellent open-source alternatives to n8n. The best one for you will depend on your specific needs and technical expertise.
What is the best n8n alternative for AI agents?Activepieces and Gumloop are both great alternatives to n8n for building AI agents. They both offer a strong focus on AI and agentic automation, and they both have user-friendly interfaces.
What is the best self-hosted n8n alternative?Huginn, Node-RED, Activepieces, and Windmill are all great self-hosted alternatives to n8n. The best one for you will depend on your specific needs and technical expertise.
Is there a free version of n8n?Yes, n8n is open-source and has a free, self-hosted version. It also offers a cloud-based version with a free tier.
What are the main differences between n8n and Zapier?The main differences between n8n and Zapier are that n8n is open-source and can be self-hosted, while Zapier is a fully managed SaaS platform. n8n is also more developer-centric, while Zapier is more user-friendly.