Self-Hosted Zapier Alternatives (Open Source & Fair-Code)

These self-hosted Zapier alternatives run your automations on your own server. Zapier bills by task: Professional starts at $19.99 per month billed annually ($29.99 monthly) for 750 tasks, and the free plan allows 100 tasks and only two-step Zaps (Zapier pricing, checked 2026-10-26). Compare the picks below and check each license before you commit.

Compare the top picks

Connect apps and automate workflows on your own server, without per-task pricing. Licenses vary more here than in most categories: n8n is fair-code (not OSI open source) and several projects keep enterprise features under separate licenses, so check each card.

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Quick comparison

NameLicenseLanguageDocker?Last commit
n8nSustainable Use License (fair-code, not OSI)TypeScriptYes2026-10-26
ActivepiecesMIT (+ commercial ee/ dirs)TypeScriptSee docs2026-10-26
Node-REDApache-2.0JavaScriptSee docs2026-10-26
HuginnMITRubyYes2026-10-26
WindmillAGPL-3.0 (+ proprietary EE)RustYes2026-10-26
AutomatischAGPL-3.0 (+ EE files)JavaScriptYes2026-01-15
KestraApache-2.0JavaYes2026-10-26

License, stars and last commit checked against the GitHub API and repo files on 2026-10-26.

Listings

n8n

Workflow automation with a visual editor

Sustainable Use License · fair-codeNot OSI OSSTypeScriptDockerHosted option★ 208,641 as of 2026-10-26

FLAGGED: fair-code, not OSI open source. LICENSE.md: Sustainable Use License for most code; files with .ee. in the name need an n8n Enterprise License. GitHub reports NOASSERTION.

Pros
  • Large integration library
  • Self-hostable with Docker
Cons
  • Sustainable Use License restricts commercial redistribution
  • Enterprise features need a paid license
WebsiteSourceDeploy on RepoCloud

Last commit (default branch): 2026-10-26 · Last verified: 2026-10-26

Activepieces

Open-source automation builder with a large piece library

MIT (+ commercial ee/ dirs) · OSITypeScriptHosted option★ 25,235 as of 2026-10-26

LICENSE: MIT (Expat) for everything outside packages/ee/ and packages/server/api/src/app/ee, which use a separate commercial license. GitHub reports NOASSERTION.

Pros
  • MIT core with a no-code flow builder
  • Very active project
Cons
  • Enterprise features live under a commercial license
  • Hosted cloud and self-host features differ
WebsiteSourceDeploy on RepoCloud

Last commit (default branch): 2026-10-26 · Last verified: 2026-10-26

Node-RED

Flow-based, low-code programming for events and APIs

Apache-2.0 · OSIJavaScript★ 23,785 as of 2026-10-26

Apache-2.0 per GitHub license metadata. OpenJS Foundation project.

Pros
  • Thousands of community nodes
  • Runs on anything from a Raspberry Pi to a server
Cons
  • More developer-oriented than Zapier
  • SaaS app integrations depend on community nodes
WebsiteSourceDeploy on RepoCloud

Last commit (default branch): 2026-10-26 · Last verified: 2026-10-26

Huginn

Agents that watch the web and act on your behalf

MIT · OSIRubyDocker★ 50,146 as of 2026-10-26

MIT per GitHub license metadata.

Pros
  • MIT license, official Docker image
  • Great for scraping, monitoring and alerts
Cons
  • Dated UI
  • Fewer ready-made SaaS integrations
WebsiteSourceDeploy on RepoCloud

Last commit (default branch): 2026-10-26 · Last verified: 2026-10-26

Windmill

Developer platform for scripts, flows and internal apps

AGPL-3.0 (+ proprietary EE) · OSIOpen coreRustDockerHosted option★ 18,274 as of 2026-10-26

LICENSE: source is AGPLv3 (clients/OpenAPI Apache-2.0) with proprietary enterprise code. Per LICENSE, the official Community Edition Docker images also include proprietary, non-public code. Build from source without the enterprise flag for a fully AGPL binary. GitHub reports NOASSERTION.

Pros
  • Write steps in Python, TypeScript, Go, Bash and more
  • Very active project
Cons
  • Official CE images include proprietary code (see license note)
  • Code-first: less no-code than Zapier
WebsiteSource

Last commit (default branch): 2026-10-26 · Last verified: 2026-10-26

Automatisch

Open-source Zapier alternative

AGPL-3.0 (+ EE files) · OSIJavaScriptDocker★ 14,000 as of 2026-10-26

LICENSE: AGPL-3.0 for all files except those with .ee. in the name (Enterprise license). GitHub reports NOASSERTION. Development has slowed: last commit 2026-01-15.

Pros
  • Zapier-style UI built for self-hosting
  • docker compose up quick start
Cons
  • Slower recent activity (last commit 2026-01-15)
  • Enterprise features under a separate license
WebsiteSourceDeploy on RepoCloud

Last commit (default branch): 2026-01-15 · Last verified: 2026-10-26

Kestra

Declarative orchestration for workflows and data pipelines

Apache-2.0 · OSIJavaDocker★ 30,008 as of 2026-10-26

Apache-2.0 per GitHub license metadata. Enterprise edition is commercial.

Pros
  • Apache-2.0 license, single docker run quick start
  • YAML workflows with many plugins
Cons
  • Built for engineers and data teams
  • Heavier Java service
WebsiteSourceDeploy on RepoCloud

Last commit (default branch): 2026-10-26 · Last verified: 2026-10-26

How to choose

FAQ

Is n8n open source?

Not by the OSI definition. n8n uses its Sustainable Use License (fair-code): the source is public and you can self-host it for internal use, but commercial redistribution is restricted and files with .ee. in the name need an n8n Enterprise License.

Which option is fully OSI open source?

Node-RED, Kestra (Apache-2.0) and Huginn (MIT) are OSI-licensed throughout. Activepieces (MIT), Automatisch (AGPL-3.0) and Windmill (AGPL-3.0) are OSI-licensed apart from enterprise directories or files. Windmill also notes that its official Community Edition images include proprietary code.

What is the most active project?

n8n, Activepieces, Node-RED, Huginn, Windmill and Kestra all had commits on 2026-10-26. Automatisch has slowed, with its last commit on 2026-01-15.

“Deploy on RepoCloud” buttons appear only where RepoCloud has a page for that app (6 of 7 listings here). “Website” and “Source” links are not affiliate links.

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