n8n Cloud alternatives: 5 open-source picks
n8n Cloud costs $27.73/mo — $332.76 a year. These 5 alternatives replace it for $0, led by Activepieces Community Edition, Automatisch and n8n. All 5 are open source. License, stars and last commit checked by hand on 2026-08-29. No trials, no crippled tiers.
A genuinely open-source workflow runner with a simpler one-container path.
licenseMIT
runsyour server
installRun one Docker container for personal/testing use, or Docker Compose with PostgreSQL and Redis for production.
enginesAI pieces connect to providers such as OpenAI, Anthropic and Google Gemini using user-supplied credentials.
dataSingle-container mode stores data under ~/.activepieces; production uses PostgreSQL and Redis, with files/logs optionally in S3-compatible storage.
the catch vs n8n CloudActivepieces has a smaller node ecosystem and requires you to provide the uptime, upgrades, backups and security n8n Cloud manages.
setupRequires Docker; public webhooks need a reachable HTTPS URL, while production also needs PostgreSQL, Redis and managed secrets.
facts verified 2026-08-10
A smaller AGPL automation server for people who do not need n8n's entire ecosystem.
licenseAGPL-3.0
runsyour server
installClone the repository and run Docker Compose.
dataApplication and credential data stays on the user's server in PostgreSQL, with Redis for queues/cache; credentials are encrypted.
the catch vs n8n CloudAutomatisch is much narrower than n8n's ecosystem and still leaves every operational responsibility with you.
setupRequires Docker, PostgreSQL/Redis configuration and secret management; the default sample login must be changed immediately.
facts verified 2026-08-10
Node-based workflow automation with 400+ integrations, AI agent nodes, and code steps, self-hosted via Docker
licenseSustainable Use License
runsyour server
setupnot verified by us yet — check the repo README
facts verified 2026-08-29
Turns Python/TypeScript/Go/SQL scripts into workflows, cron jobs, and internal apps with a low-code UI builder
licenseAGPL-3.0 (+EE)
runsyour server
setupnot verified by us yet — check the repo README
facts verified 2026-08-29
Open-source background jobs and durable workflows for TypeScript with retries, queues, and observability
licenseApache-2.0
runsyour server
setupnot verified by us yet — check the repo README
facts verified 2026-08-29
What each one is, in full: Activepieces Community Edition · Automatisch · n8n · Windmill · Trigger.dev
last updated 2026-08-29 · no votes, no pay-to-list · just what's real
how to choose a n8n Cloud alternative
Easiest to get running
n8n — a one-click install, no server to maintain.
Most proven
n8n, with 130,000 GitHub stars — the largest community of the 5, which usually means more answers when something breaks.
what you give up by leaving n8n Cloud
- managed hosting
- backups
- scaling
- email support
- reduced ops burden
- team/admin features
None of the picks above covers all of it. The full verdict says which gaps matter.
n8n Cloud alternatives at a glance
| tool | license | running it | platforms | stars | active |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Activepieces Community Edition | MIT | docker to self-host | web, self-hosted | 23,604 | 2026-08 |
| Automatisch | AGPL-3.0 | docker to self-host | web, self-hosted | 13,923 | 2026-01 |
| n8n | Sustainable Use License | one-click install | self-hosted, web | 130,000 | 2026-08 |
| Windmill | AGPL-3.0 (+EE) | docker to self-host | self-hosted, web | 15,000 | 2026-08 |
| Trigger.dev | Apache-2.0 | docker to self-host | self-hosted, web | 12,000 | 2026-08 |
why people still pay for n8n Cloud
They pay to avoid maintaining an automation server that their business workflows depend on. If none of that applies to you, any pick above saves $332.76 a year.
questions about switching from n8n Cloud
Is there an open-source alternative to n8n Cloud?
Yes: Activepieces Community Edition, Automatisch, n8n and 2 more. Every tool on this page is open source: no trials, no crippled tiers.
Can open source really replace n8n Cloud?
Our verdict is YES. n8n (130k stars), Activepieces Community Edition (24k stars), Windmill (15k stars) are mature open-source replacements for n8n Cloud — self-host in one command and stop paying $27.73/mo. The full verdict, and what you give up by switching, is at caniopensourceit.online/n8n-cloud.
What is the easiest open-source n8n Cloud alternative to set up?
n8n — a one-click install, no server to maintain.
What is the most popular open-source n8n Cloud alternative?
By GitHub stars, n8n (130,000). Activepieces Community Edition is next with 23,604.
