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Activepieces vs Workato

A side-by-side look at 2 AI & ML tools for 2026 — the verdict, pricing, ratings, features, and what readers think.

Activepieces
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
Workato
workato.com
Best for mid-size and large IT teams that need governed integration and AI agents

Enterprise automation and iPaaS platform that connects apps, data and AI agents with governance built in.

Visit Workato

Pricing compared

Activepieces
$20/mo
  • Free tier Yes
  • Free trial Free plan, no card; 1,000 credits per month
Workato
Quote-based; four editions (Standard to Workato ONE)
  • Free tier No
  • Free trial Free start offered; contact sales for plans

Head to head

Activepieces Workato
Starting price $20/mo Quote-based; four editions (Standard to Workato ONE)
Free tier Yes No
Free trial Free plan, no card; 1,000 credits per month Free start offered; contact sales for plans
Platforms Web · Self-hosted · API Web · API

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.
Workato
Pros
  • One platform covers integration, workflow orchestration, data pipelines and AI agents.
  • Governance features include SAML SSO, role-based access control and encryption at rest and in transit.
  • Pre-built MCP servers and an AI/MCP gateway are included from the Business MCP edition.
  • Supports on-premise connectivity through on-premise agents.
  • Regional logins listed for Europe, Singapore, Japan, Korea, Australia, Israel and the UK.
Cons
  • No public per-seat or per-task price; costs need a sales conversation.
  • Edition limits such as concurrency and workbots add planning overhead.
  • Enterprise-oriented, so it is heavier than needed for small teams.
  • Higher-tier AI features such as Agent Studio sit in the top edition.