Activepieces vs n8n
Two of the most-asked-about agents in the ai-agents space. Here's how they actually stack up.
Activepieces
Open-source AI automation platform that connects your apps with no-code workflows and AI agents
Free tier
Read full review →n8n
Open-source workflow automation with native AI nodes for technical teams
Free + $20/mo
Read full review →Side-by-side comparison
| Activepieces | n8n | |
|---|---|---|
| Tagline | Open-source AI automation platform that connects your apps with no-code workflows and AI agents | Open-source workflow automation with native AI nodes for technical teams |
| Pricing | Free tier | Free + $20/mo |
| Categories | ai-agents, automation, no-code | productivity, workflow-automation, open-source |
| Made by | Activepieces Inc. | n8n GmbH |
| Launched | 2022-10 | 2019-10 |
| Platforms | Web, Self-hosted | macOS, Linux, Windows, Web, Cloud |
| Status | active | active |
Activepieces highlights
- + Visual workflow builder with 200+ pre-built connectors for popular apps
- + AI agent steps that call OpenAI, Anthropic, and other LLMs inside flows
- + Open-source under MIT license with full self-hosting support
- + Human-in-the-loop approval steps for workflows requiring human review
- + Custom JavaScript and TypeScript code steps inside flows
n8n highlights
- + Native AI nodes: connect OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, Mistral, and local models directly in visual workflows
- + Code nodes let you write arbitrary JavaScript or Python at any point in a workflow
- + Self-host on your own infrastructure with Docker, Kubernetes, or bare metal at no licensing cost
- + 500+ pre-built integrations covering Slack, Salesforce, Notion, HubSpot, Google Sheets, and more
- + Multiple agent architectures built-in: ReAct, Plan-and-Execute, OpenAI Functions, and Tools Agent
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Activepieces or n8n?
Neither is universally better. Activepieces (Free tier) leans into ai-agents, while n8n (Free + $20/mo) is closer to productivity. Pick based on which workflow you actually do every day.
What is the price difference between Activepieces and n8n?
Activepieces is free tier. n8n is free + $20/mo. See the pricing row in the comparison table.
Can I use Activepieces and n8n together?
In most cases, yes. They serve overlapping but distinct needs, so running them side by side is common until you decide which fits your workflow.