Hi there! I am always on the hunt for good tools to make my work easier. n8n is one I like a lot. It is an open-source workflow automation tool. You can build custom workflows with nodes. It connects apps and automates tasks without much code. But sometimes, you need other options. Maybe for better features or lower costs. In this post, I share the top n8n competitors and alternatives. I cover their features, pricing, and where to get them.
Why Choose n8n Alternatives?
I use n8n because it is free and flexible. But it can be hard for beginners. Some alternatives are easier or have more integrations. Others work better for teams. If you want cloud hosting or AI features, look at these n8n competitors. They help with workflow automation in different ways.
Read Now: n8n Workflow Automation Guide for 2025
Top n8n Competitors and Alternatives
I picked these based on popularity and features. They are good workflow automation tools like n8n. I list features, pricing, and access for each. I also made a table to compare them quickly.
Comparison Table of n8n and Its Alternatives
| Tool | Key Feature | Starting Price | Free Tier? | Access Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| n8n | Open-source, self-hosted, 500+ integrations | €20/mo (Starter) | Yes (Community) | n8n.io |
| Zapier | Easy no-code zaps, 8,000+ apps | $19.99/mo (Professional) | Yes | zapier.com |
| Make | Visual builder, 2,000+ apps, AI agents | $9/mo (Core) | Yes | make.com |
| Pipedream | Code-first, API integrations, AI agents | $29/mo (Basic) | Yes | pipedream.com |
| Node-RED | Low-code for IoT, event-driven | Free (Open-source) | Yes | nodered.org |
| Activepieces | AI-first, no-code flows, open-source option | $25/mo (Plus) | Yes | activepieces.com |
| Integrately | Ready-made automations, 1,400+ apps | $19.99/mo (Starter) | 14-day trial | integrately.com |
| Microsoft Power Automate | RPA, 1,400+ connectors, AI builder | $15/mo (Premium) | 30-day trial | powerautomate.microsoft.com |
| IFTTT | Simple applets, 900+ services | $2.99/mo (Pro) | Yes | ifttt.com |
| Gumloop | Drag-and-drop AI automation, 105+ nodes | $37/mo (Solo) | Yes | gumloop.com |
| Apache Airflow | Python-based DAGs, scalable pipelines | Free (Open-source) | Yes | airflow.apache.org |
| Tray.ai | AI agents and iPaaS, 600+ connectors | Custom (Usage-based) | No | tray.ai |
| Empler AI | Agentic AI workflows, unlimited builds | $499/mo (Explorer) | No | empler.ai |
| Workato | Usage-based integrations, recipe packs | ~$10,000/year (Base) | No | workato.com |
| GPTBots.ai | No-code AI agents, multimodal | Custom (Business/Enterprise) | Yes (Free plan) | gptbots.ai |
1. Zapier: Easy Automation for Everyone
I find Zapier great for quick setups. It connects apps with “zaps.” No code needed.
Features: Automates workflows, AI agents, chatbots. Over 8,000 app integrations. Secure with SOC 2 compliance. Good for leads and support.
Pricing: Free tier with 100 tasks/mo. Professional at $19.99/mo (annual). Team at $69/mo. Enterprise custom.
Where to access: Sign up for free at zapier.com. Use a web or an app.
2. Make: Visual and Powerful
Make was Integromat. I like its drag-and-drop style. It feels like n8n but with more polish.
Features: No-code builder. 2,500+ apps. AI agents, real-time monitoring. Routers, filters. GDPR compliant.
Pricing: Free with 1,000 credits/mo. Core $9/mo. Pro $16/mo. Teams $29/mo. Enterprise custom.
Where to access: Sign up at make.com. No card for free.
Also Read: How to Self Host n8n
3. Pipedream: For Developers
I use Pipedream when I need code in workflows. It is flexible like n8n.
Features: AI agent builder. API connects. 2,800+ tools. SOC 2, GDPR secure.
Pricing: Free tier. Basic $29/mo. Advanced $49/mo. Connect $99/mo. Business custom.
Where to access: Sign up at pipedream.com. No card needed.
4. Node-RED: Open-Source Like n8n
Node-RED is my go-to for IoT projects. It is free and similar to n8n.
Features: Low-code for events. Real-time data transform. 5,000+ nodes. Runs on Raspberry Pi or cloud.
Pricing: Free open-source.
Where to access: Install via npm at nodered.org. Community flows at flows.nodered.org.
5. Activepieces: AI-Focused Option
Activepieces is new to me, but exciting. It has AI agents.
Features: No-code flows. 424 pieces. Tables for data. Open-source core. MCP servers.
Pricing: Free with 1,000 tasks/mo. Plus $25/mo. Business $150/mo. Enterprise custom.
Where to access: Sign up at activepieces.com. Self-host option.
6. Integrately: Ready-to-Use Automations
I pick Integrately for fast setups. It has millions of ready workflows.
Features: 20M+ automations. 1,400+ apps. SmartConnect. Multi-step scheduler.
Pricing: 14-day trial. Starter $19.99/mo. Professional $39/mo. Growth $99/mo. Business $239/mo.
Where to access: Sign up at integrately.com/signup.
7. Microsoft Power Automate: Enterprise Ready
I use this with Microsoft tools. It has RPA.
Features: Low-code RPA. 1,400+ connectors. AI builder. Templates. Secure governance.
Pricing: 30-day trial. Premium $15/user/mo. Process $150/bot/mo.
Where to access: Sign up at powerautomate.microsoft.com. Needs email.
8. IFTTT: Simple for Home and Business
IFTTT is basic but reliable. Good for starters.
Features: Applets for tasks. 900+ services. Multi-actions, filters. Mobile apps.
Pricing: Free with 2 applets. Pro $2.99/mo. Pro+ $8.99/mo.
Where to access: Sign up at ifttt.com. Apps on iOS and Android.
9. Gumloop: AI-Powered Drag-and-Drop
I tried Gumloop for its easy interface. It mixes AI with workflows well.
Features: Drag-and-drop builder. 105+ nodes and integrations like Gmail, LinkedIn, Salesforce. AI routing for decisions. Background triggers. Enterprise access controls, audit logs, and VPC.
Pricing: Free with 2k credits/mo. Solo $37/mo (10k credits). Team $244/mo (60k credits). Enterprise custom.
Where to access: Sign up at gumloop.com. Start free.
10. Apache Airflow: Scalable Data Pipelines
Apache Airflow suits big data tasks. I use it for complex schedules.
Features: Python DAGs. Scalable with unlimited workers. Dynamic pipelines. Extensible operators. Elegant UI for monitoring. Integrations with AWS, GCP, and Azure.
Pricing: Free open-source.
Where to access: Download and install from airflow.apache.org. Use pip or Docker.
11. Tray.ai: AI Agents and Integrations
Tray.ai is good for enterprise AI. I like its agent builder.
Features: Merlin Agent Builder for reasoning agents. 600+ connectors. Workflows, APIs, security like RBAC, HIPAA. Add-ons for support, logging.
Pricing: Usage-based. Pro, Team, and Enterprise plans. Pay for tasks; custom pricing.
Where to access: Sign up at tray.ai. Contact for demo.
12. Empler AI: Agentic Automations
Empler AI focuses on AI agents. It fits workflow automation needs.
Features: Unlimited AI agents and workflows. Ready templates. Credit-based for LLM usage. Private requests. Support for setups.
Pricing: Explorer $499/mo (25k credits). Superior $999/mo (50k). Ultimate $1,999/mo (125k). Enterprise custom.
Where to access: Book a demo at empler.ai via Calendly.
13. Workato: Enterprise Integration Platform
I use Workato for big teams. It scales well.
Features: Recipes for automations. Premium connectors. Usage-based. Platform editions with add-ons. Integrations for business apps.
Pricing: Usage-based, starts ~$10,000/year for the base. Custom for higher needs.
Where to access: Sign up at workato.com. Book a demo.
14. GPTBots.ai: No-Code AI Agents
GPTBots.ai is great for AI-driven tasks. I build agents fast.
Features: No-code builder. Custom LLMs like ChatGPT. Integrations with Google Drive, Slack, Zapier. AI support, SDR, search, insights. Knowledge base, Text2SQL.
Pricing: The Free plan is limited. Business (10k credits, 100 agents). Enterprise custom. Credit top-ups extra.
Where to access: Start free at gptbots.ai. Book a demo.
You’ll Love This: How to earn money through n8n
Comments by AI USTAD
As an AI USTAD, I have tried all these tools hands-on. I started with n8n for its open-source freedom. I built custom workflows for data sync and alerts. It saved me hours, but the setup took time on my server. Zapier was easier – I made zaps in minutes for email to Slack. Its free tier is good for tests, but I hit task limits quickly. Make impressed me with visuals; I automated reports with AI, and the pro plan felt worth it for search logs. Pipedream let me add code, like custom APIs for my projects – great for devs like me. Node-RED was fun for home IoT, free and lightweight on Pi.
Activepieces shone with AI agents; I created smart bots that think, but free tasks ran out fast. Integrately was plug-and-play; I activated ready automations for social posts, cheap for basics. Power Automate integrated well with Office; I used RPA for desktop tasks, but it needs the Microsoft ecosystem. IFTTT was simple for personal use, like lights on sunset, but limited for complex work. Gumloop surprised me with drag-and-drop AI; I built flows with 105 nodes fast, and the solo plan gave enough credits for daily use.
Apache Airflow handled my data pipelines like a pro, free and scalable, but Python knowledge is key. Tray.ai‘s agents reasoned well in tests; enterprise features like HIPAA are solid, though pricing needs a quote. Empler AI lets me make unlimited agents; the credits system works for heavy LLM use, but starts at $499. Workato scaled for team integrations; $10k base is steep, but the value is in recipes and add-ons. GPTBots.ai was quick for no-code bots; free plan to test, business for more agents – great for customer support automations.
Overall, if you are technical, stick with n8n or Node-RED. For ease, go to Zapier or Make. Pricing matters – free tiers help try before you buy. I rate n8n 8/10 for flexibility, but alternatives like Make get 9/10 for polish. New ones like Gumloop earn 8.5/10 for AI focus, while Workato is 9/10 for enterprise.
Conclusion
I hope this helps you find the best n8n alternative. Workflow automation tools make life easy. Pick based on your needs – free, AI, or enterprise. Try free tiers first. Let me know what you think!
FAQs
What is n8n?
n8n is an open-source tool for workflow automation. It uses nodes to connect apps and automate tasks.
What are the best n8n competitors?
The top ones are Zapier, Make, and Pipedream. Others like Gumloop, Workato, and GPTBots.ai are strong too.
Is there a free alternative to n8n?
Yes, Node-RED is free and open-source. Apache Airflow is free, too. Gumloop and GPTBots.ai have free tiers.
How does pricing compare for n8n alternatives?
n8n starts at €20/mo. Zapier at $19.99/mo. Make at $9/mo. Gumloop at $37/mo. Workato ~$10,000/year. Many have free plans.
Where can I access these workflow automation tools?
Most are web-based. Sign up on their sites like zapier.com or make.com. Some like Node-RED need to be installed.
