The main alternatives to Zapier are Make (cheaper per operation, visual), n8n (self-hostable, counts whole workflow runs), Activepieces (open-source core, counts runs), Windmill (open source, developer-focused), and custom integration code for critical, high-volume flows. Zapier’s Pro plan lists from $19.99 a month for 750 tasks billed annually, and every successful action step counts as a task. The biggest difference between the options is how they count usage — per step or per run — which decides how costs scale.
Prices are vendor list prices as of September 2026 — see sources below. Updated .
| Option | Type | Pricing | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Make | Managed SaaS | Free: 1,000 credits/month. Core: $12/month for 10,000 credits (monthly billing); annual billing discounted. | Teams that want a powerful visual builder at a lower cost than Zapier. |
| n8n | Source-available | Self-hosted Community edition free for internal use; Cloud from €20/month for 2,500 executions (annual). | Multi-step, high-volume workflows and teams that want to self-host. |
| Activepieces | Open source | Self-hosted Community edition free (MIT core); Cloud Plus $20/month for 10,000 credits. | Teams that want an open-source tool with a simple builder; one credit per run regardless of steps. |
| Windmill | Open source | Free to self-host (AGPLv3 / Apache 2.0 core) — see Windmill for cloud pricing. | Developer teams that want scripts, workflows, and internal tools in one platform. |
| Custom integration code | Custom build | One-time build plus hosting; no per-task fees. | Business-critical, high-volume integrations where reliability and cost at scale matter. |
Best for: Teams that want a powerful visual builder at a lower cost than Zapier.
Watch out for: Each module action counts as a credit, so long scenarios use credits quickly.
Pricing: Free: 1,000 credits/month. Core: $12/month for 10,000 credits (monthly billing); annual billing discounted.
Best for: Multi-step, high-volume workflows and teams that want to self-host.
Watch out for: More technical than Zapier, and its Sustainable Use License restricts some commercial uses.
Pricing: Self-hosted Community edition free for internal use; Cloud from €20/month for 2,500 executions (annual).
More on n8n →Best for: Teams that want an open-source tool with a simple builder; one credit per run regardless of steps.
Watch out for: The Community edition is the automation core; team and governance features are in paid tiers. AI steps cost extra credits.
Pricing: Self-hosted Community edition free (MIT core); Cloud Plus $20/month for 10,000 credits.
Best for: Developer teams that want scripts, workflows, and internal tools in one platform.
Watch out for: Built for developers rather than business users.
Pricing: Free to self-host (AGPLv3 / Apache 2.0 core) — see Windmill for cloud pricing.
Best for: Business-critical, high-volume integrations where reliability and cost at scale matter.
Watch out for: Needs engineering to build and monitoring to run.
Pricing: One-time build plus hosting; no per-task fees.
More on Custom integration code →Custom workflow and approval apps that replace email chains — routing requests, enforcing approval rules, and keeping a full audit trail.
Vendor pricing changes. Figures reflect each source as of September 2026; check the vendor before deciding.
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