n8n alternatives: 10 cloud and self-hosted automation platforms

n8n is one of the most popular automation builders, but it is not suitable for everyone. Some people do not want to administer their own server, others are constrained by the Sustainable Use License (n8n cannot be resold as their own service), while others need ready-made integrations with Russian CRMs or a builder specifically designed for AI agents. Below are 10 n8n alternatives divided into four groups: cloud services, open-source platforms for self-hosting, LLM application builders, and frameworks for developers.

n8n alternatives compared

Cloud alternatives: nothing to install

Zapier

Zapier is the oldest and best-known automation service, with more than 8,000 apps in its catalog. A scenario (Zap) is built from a trigger and actions without writing a single line of code. The free plan includes 100 tasks per month; after that, the price increases with the number of completed actions, so at high volumes Zapier is noticeably more expensive than n8n running on your own VPS. Zapier cannot be installed on your own server.

Make

Make (formerly Integromat) is structurally the closest to n8n: a scenario is drawn on a canvas using blocks, with branching, loops, error handling, and array processing. The free plan includes 1,000 credits per month and 2 active scenarios that can run no more than once every 15 minutes. It is cloud-only.

Albato

Albato is a no-code integration service with a Russian-language interface. Its main advantage for Russian businesses is its ready-made connections to services that are poorly represented or unavailable among Western competitors, such as amoCRM and Bitrix24. A free plan is available for evaluation. Like Zapier, it is a cloud service with no option to install it on your own server.

Open-source alternatives for self-hosting

Activepieces

Activepieces is the most direct n8n replacement among open-source projects. Its interface is simpler than n8n’s, while the Community Edition is distributed under the MIT license, allowing it to be embedded into your own products and used in commercial projects without the restrictions imposed by n8n. Enterprise features are separated into a dedicated codebase with a paid license. It can be deployed on a VPS via Docker just like n8n, and a cloud version is also available.

Node-RED

Node-RED is a Node.js visual data-flow editor and an OpenJS Foundation project, originally created at IBM. It is popular for its lightweight design: Node-RED runs even on a Raspberry Pi, so it is often used in smart homes (together with Home Assistant) and industrial IoT—for MQTT, sensors, and devices. It has fewer ready-made integrations with business services than n8n, but its Apache 2.0 license imposes no usage restrictions.

Windmill

Windmill is a platform for developers: workflows are written in Python, TypeScript, Go, Bash, or SQL, and Windmill turns them into operational workflows with schedules, queues, and simple web interfaces. It is a good fit if n8n’s visual blocks seem limiting and writing code is more convenient. The open-source version is distributed under the AGPLv3 license.

Alternatives for AI agents and LLM apps

Dify

Dify is a platform for building applications based on large language models: AI agents, chatbots, and knowledge bases with document search (RAG). In n8n, AI is one node in a general-purpose workflow; in Dify, everything is built around the model: prompts, context, agent tools, and conversation logs. It can be deployed via Docker Compose, supports cloud models through APIs, and works with local models through Ollama. Its license is based on Apache 2.0 but includes restrictions: for example, a multi-user SaaS based on Dify requires a commercial license.

Flowise

Flowise is a visual builder for LLM chains and agents: model, memory, vector database, and tool blocks are connected on a canvas, much like in n8n. A ready-made chatbot can be embedded into a website or called via API, including from an n8n workflow. It is licensed under Apache 2.0 and can be installed via npm or Docker.

Frameworks for code-based AI agents

These two tools are often compared with n8n, although they are not builders but libraries for developers: agents are defined in code, and the open-source versions do not include a visual canvas. They are chosen when agent logic is more complex than what is practical to assemble from blocks.

CrewAI

CrewAI is a Python framework for multi-agent systems distributed under the MIT license. Agents are assigned roles, goals, and tools, and work as a team (crew): for example, a “researcher” collects data, an “analyst” processes it, and an “editor” writes the final text. Flows provide precise control over the order of steps: these are event-driven workflows into which agent teams can be integrated. It works with any language models, including local ones. Companies can use the paid CrewAI AMP platform for deployment and monitoring.

LangGraph

LangGraph is a framework from the creators of LangChain for building agents as graphs: each step is a node, and transitions between nodes are defined in code, including loops, branching, and pauses for human approval. Versions are available for Python and JavaScript, under the MIT license. It is chosen when full control is required over how the agent reasons and maintains state—at the cost of having to write everything manually.

How to choose an n8n replacement

• You do not want to administer a server — Make (the editor most similar to n8n) or Zapier (the largest integration catalog). For amoCRM, Bitrix24, and other Russian services, choose Albato.
• You need your own server, but n8n’s license is an issue (selling access to clients or embedding it into your own product) — Activepieces.
• Smart home and devices — Node-RED.
• A development team and code-based workflows — Windmill.
• Complex agent logic and a team of developers — CrewAI (role-based agents) or LangGraph (an agent as a graph with full state control).
• The main task is an AI agent or chatbot with a knowledge base — Dify or Flowise. They are often used together with n8n: the agent runs in Dify or Flowise, while n8n connects it to CRMs, email, and messengers. To see what agents in n8n itself can do, read AI agents in n8n.

Self-hosted platforms require no more than the same VPS as n8n. The exception is local neural networks in Dify or Flowise: they require a server with a GPU; otherwise, the model will respond too slowly.