Activepieces vs n8n
A side-by-side look at 2 AI & ML tools for 2026 — the verdict, pricing, ratings, features, and what readers think.
activepieces.com
Best for teams wanting open-source, self-hostable automation with AI agents
Open-source workflow automation and AI agents your whole team can build, with self-hosting on every plan.
Visit Activepieces
Pricing compared
Activepieces
$20/mo
n8n
€20/mo (billed annually)
Head to head
| Activepieces | n8n | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $20/mo | €20/mo (billed annually) |
| Free tier | Yes | — |
| Free trial | Free plan, no card; 1,000 credits per month | Free trial on cloud plans, no credit card required |
| Platforms | Web · Self-hosted · API | Web · Self-hosted · API · CLI |
Pros & cons
Activepieces
Pros
- Open-source MIT core that can be self-hosted with Docker or Kubernetes.
- Unlimited flows on every plan; a run is one credit however many steps it has.
- 770+ open-source integrations plus HTTP and webhook pieces for any API.
- Agents, chat, flows and tables share one workspace, with MCP server support.
- Approval steps let you gate actions that touch money, customers or production.
Cons
- AI steps cost 2, 10 or 20 credits unless you bring your own AI keys on Plus or above.
- Free plan is limited to 1,000 credits and 5 users.
- SSO and standard roles start at the USD 200/month Team plan.
- The company says its SOC 2 program is still in progress, with no certification claimed.
n8n
Pros
- Every plan includes unlimited users and workflows; pricing is by monthly executions.
- Self-hosting is supported, so data can stay in your own environment.
- Built-in AI Agent node, MCP server and client support, and human approval for tool calls.
- Code steps in JavaScript or Python sit next to the visual editor.
- 500+ native integrations plus any API over HTTP.
Cons
- Cloud Starter allows 5 concurrent executions and a 5-minute maximum execution time.
- SSO and LDAP are not on Starter or Pro; they start at Business (self-hosted only) and Enterprise.
- The Business plan is listed at €667/mo billed annually, a large step up from Pro at €50/mo.
- More technical than no-code tools, so non-technical users may find it harder to start.