Activepieces is an open source automation platform and direct alternative to Zapier, Make or n8n. It offers a drag-and-drop workflow builder, more than 280 integrations with popular tools and native support for the MCP protocol for AI agents. The cloud version offers a free plan at 1,000 tasks per month, while the self-hosted version under MIT license allows unlimited executions. Ideal for developers and teams wanting to keep full control of their data.
What is Activepieces?
The essentials
Activepieces is an open source workflow automation platform positioned as an alternative to Zapier, Make and n8n. Its Community Edition is distributed under MIT license, meaning it can be self-hosted for free, audited by anyone for security and extended by the community. The platform offers a drag-and-drop workflow builder, customizable scripts in TypeScript for advanced cases, webhook triggers and native MCP protocol support that lets AI agents use Activepieces integrations directly from tools like Claude or Cursor.
Key features
Activepieces offers several essential features for modern automation. The visual workflow builder lets you create automations by drag-and-drop without code, connecting triggers to actions in minutes. More than 280 integration pieces cover the most popular tools: Google Workspace, Slack, OpenAI, HubSpot, Notion, Airtable and hundreds of others. Webhook support lets you trigger workflows in response to real-time events from any service. Advanced JavaScript scripting is possible for technical users wanting custom logic. MCP protocol support transforms 280+ pieces into MCP servers accessible by AI agents, opening the platform to the LLM ecosystem. Self-hosting via Docker is documented and maintained by the community.
Use cases
Activepieces addresses varied automation needs. Technical teams self-host it to automate their data pipelines, synchronize databases and orchestrate internal workflows without paying per-task fees. Startup SaaS use the cloud version to automate client onboardings, notifications and CRM integrations. AI agent developers rely on MCP support to give their agents access to 280+ Activepieces integrations. Marketing teams automate email sequences, CRM updates and social media publishing.
Advantages
Activepieces’ main advantage is the freedom it offers. Open source under MIT license eliminates vendor lock-in risk and guarantees complete code transparency. Free self-hosting with unlimited tasks represents significant savings versus proprietary alternatives. The active community of 270+ contributors ensures regular evolution and quick fixes. MCP protocol support positions Activepieces as an integration hub for the AI ecosystem, unique added value in the automation market.
Pricing
Activepieces offers two pricing models. The cloud version includes a free plan at 1,000 tasks per month, a Plus plan at $25 per month with unlimited tasks, a Business plan at $150 per month with advanced features, and an Embed plan at $800 per month for embedding in other SaaS products. The self-hosted Community Edition is entirely free with unlimited tasks under MIT license. Additional enterprise features are available under commercial license.
Conclusion
Activepieces is an excellent choice for developers and technical teams seeking a powerful, transparent and economical automation platform. Its open source model, 280+ integrations, MCP support and ability to self-host with unlimited tasks make it one of the most compelling alternatives to Zapier and Make. For non-technical profiles without server resources, the cloud version remains accessible from $25 per month.