Best free Zapier alternatives (open source, 2026)
Updated · 20 repos compared · data refreshed nightly from GitHub
The best free Zapier alternative for most people is n8n (208k GitHub stars). selfhost-ai describes itself as a Zapier alternative. All 20 options below are open source and run on your own computer or server, so there's no subscription.
Zapier (workflow automation) is a paid, closed-source product. The open-source projects below do the same job and run on your own computer or server. Stars and activity come straight from GitHub.
Top picks
- Editor's pick#59 TRENDING
Fair-code workflow automation platform with native AI capabilities. Combine visual building with custom code, self-host or cloud, 400+ integrations.
- Needs:
- Hardware not stated in its README
- Trade-off
- Better than Zapier: the biggest community (208k stars), very active development. Worse: license not detected by GitHub; check it before commercial use.
One-command installer for a self-hosted AI stack on your own server: n8n, Ollama, Open WebUI, OpenClaw, Dify, Flowise, Supabase, ComfyUI, Qdrant & 30+ tools. Docker Compose, automatic HTTPS via Caddy,
- Needs:
- Hardware not stated in its README
- Trade-off
- Better than Zapier: a permissive Apache-2.0 license, very active development. Worse: a small community, so fewer guides and fixes.
- Editor's pick
AI Agents & MCPs & AI Workflow Automation • (~400 MCP servers for AI agents) • AI Automation / AI Agent with MCPs • AI Workflows & AI Agents • MCPs for AI Agents
- Needs:
- Hardware not stated in its README
- Trade-off
- Better than Zapier: very active development. Worse: license not detected by GitHub; check it before commercial use.
Comparison
✓ yes · ✗ no · – not stated in the README. Hardware details are read from each README and may be incomplete.
Zapier vs open source: what you give up
- Setup. Zapier is ready as soon as you sign up. These projects need installing, usually with Python, Node or Docker.
- Hardware. Most READMEs don't state hardware needs; heavier models run much faster with a GPU. 4 mention Mac support.
- Polish and support. Paid products usually have a smoother interface, managed updates and customer support. Open source gives you privacy, no usage limits and no monthly bill.
- Maintenance. 20 of 20 were updated in the last 30 days.
- License. 16 of 20 use a standard open-source license (MIT, Apache, GPL and similar). Check the license before commercial use.
How we picked
Projects that describe themselves as a Zapier alternative come first, then projects that do the same job, ranked by how well they match and by GitHub stars. Projects that need a paid API key, and projects from Zapier's own company, are left out. Stars and activity are verified with the GitHub API every night; hardware details come from each README. Full method.
FAQ
Is there a free alternative to Zapier?
Yes. We list 20 free, open-source GitHub projects that do the same job as Zapier. The most popular are n8n, ponytail and paperclip.
What is the best open-source Zapier alternative?
It depends on your setup. Best overall: n8n. Closest Zapier replacement: selfhost-ai. Also excellent: activepieces. Compare GitHub stars, license and hardware needs in the table on this page.
Can I run a Zapier alternative on a Mac?
Yes. According to their READMEs, qwen-code, sim and cherry-studio run on macOS.
Do I need a GPU to replace Zapier?
Most READMEs don't state hardware needs. Expect heavier models to run much faster with a GPU.
Are these Zapier alternatives really free?
Yes. All 20 are open source on GitHub, and projects that need a paid API key are left out. 16 use a standard open-source license such as MIT, Apache or GPL; check the license before commercial use.