n8n alternatives: 7 apps ranked by verified data
Common reasons people leave n8n: fair-code licence restricts commercial resale, and less friendly for non-technical users. We ranked 7 alternatives by how directly each one replaces n8n, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Activepieces currently ranks first.
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Show all 7 alternativesThe best n8n alternative for…
The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.
Best n8n alternative for most people
ActivepiecesMIT-licensed integrations and a simpler builder, also self-hostable.
Best n8n alternative for a free option
Node-REDFully open-source (Apache 2.0) flow tool, strong for IoT and event handling.
Best n8n alternative for a free plan you can upgrade
MakeHosted visual builder that non-technical teammates find easier.
Best n8n alternative for open source
AutomatischOpen-source Zapier alternative focused on simple self-hosted flows.
Best n8n alternative for self-hosting
WindmillCode-first, self-hosted alternative that adds internal UIs on top of workflows.
Best n8n alternative for Mac
Node-REDFully open-source (Apache 2.0) flow tool, strong for IoT and event handling.
Best n8n alternative for Windows
Node-REDFully open-source (Apache 2.0) flow tool, strong for IoT and event handling.
Best n8n alternative for Linux
Node-REDFully open-source (Apache 2.0) flow tool, strong for IoT and event handling.
Best n8n alternative for working in the browser
ZapierFar more prebuilt app integrations and no servers to manage.
n8n alternatives: common questions
What is the best alternative to n8n?
Activepieces ranks first right now. MIT-licensed integrations and a simpler builder, also self-hostable. Make and Zapier follow it in our ranking.
Is there a free alternative to n8n?
Yes. Activepieces (open source), Make (free plan + paid), Zapier (free plan + paid) and Node-RED (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.
Is there an open-source alternative to n8n?
Yes: Activepieces, Node-RED, Automatisch and Windmill. Activepieces, Node-RED and Automatisch can also be self-hosted.
Which n8n alternatives work on Linux?
Node-RED runs on Linux.
Why do people switch from n8n?
The complaints we hear most: fair-code licence restricts commercial resale; less friendly for non-technical users; SSO and version control need paid editions.
How is this list ranked?
Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces n8n, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.