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Open Source n8n Alternatives

A curated collection of the 6 best open source alternatives to n8n.

The best open source alternative to n8n is Flowise AI. If that doesn't suit you, we've compiled a ranked list of other open source n8n alternatives to help you find a suitable replacement. Other interesting open source alternatives to n8n are: Kestra, ActivePieces, Automa, and Automatisch.

n8n alternatives are mainly Workflow Automation Tools but may also be AI Agent Platforms or Workflow Orchestration Tools. Browse these if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of n8n.

Piotr Kulpinski's profile

Written by Piotr Kulpinski

Open source platform for building AI agents, chatbots, and multi-agent systems using a drag-and-drop interface, with support for 100+ LLMs and RAG.

Screenshot of Flowise AI website

Flowise is an open source platform for building AI agents and LLM-powered applications through a visual, drag-and-drop interface. It targets developers and teams who want to prototype and ship agentic systems without writing orchestration logic from scratch. The core idea is modular: you connect building blocks together visually, then deploy the result as a production-ready API or embedded chat widget.

There are two main flow types. Agentflow handles multi-agent systems where work is distributed across coordinated agents, each with defined roles and tools. Chatflow covers single-agent setups and chatbots, including tool calling and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) from external data sources. Both support Human in the Loop (HITL), letting a human review or approve agent actions before they proceed.

Flowise connects to over 100 LLMs, embedding models, and vector databases. Finished flows are accessible via REST API, a TypeScript or Python SDK, or an embeddable chat widget. That makes it practical to drop AI functionality into an existing product without rebuilding infrastructure around it. If you've used something like Langflow or Dify, the general approach will feel familiar, though the feature sets differ.

Observability is built in. Full execution traces are available for every run, and the platform integrates with Prometheus and OpenTelemetry for teams that need production monitoring. Horizontal scaling is supported through message queues and workers, and deployment works in both cloud and on-premises environments.

The self-hosted version is fully open source. Flowise also offers a managed cloud with a free tier (2 flows, 100 predictions/month) and paid plans starting at $35/month for individuals who want unlimited flows. The Pro plan adds workspaces, role-based access control, and priority support for larger teams.

Flowise has recently joined Workday, though the open source project continues to be developed and maintained.

Looking for open source alternatives to other popular services? Check out other posts in the alternatives series and openalternative.co, a directory of open source software with filters for tags and alternatives for easy browsing and discovery.

YAML-based orchestration platform with 1400+ plugins for running data pipelines, AI workflows, and infrastructure automation across teams at scale.

Screenshot of Kestra website

Kestra is a workflow orchestration platform built around a simple idea: one engine for every team. Data engineers, infrastructure teams, and AI practitioners often end up maintaining separate tools that don't talk to each other. Kestra replaces that fragmentation with a single, declarative platform where all workflows live, run, and get monitored together.

Workflows are written in YAML, which means they're version-controlled, reviewable, and deployable through standard CI/CD pipelines. You don't have to rewrite existing code. Tasks can run in Python, Bash, Node.js, Go, or containers, so teams keep their existing logic and just wire it into Kestra's orchestration layer.

Key capabilities:

  • 1400+ plugins covering cloud providers, databases, messaging systems, data tools (dbt, Airbyte, Spark), CI/CD, and SaaS services
  • Event-driven and scheduled triggers including cron, webhooks, and message queue events, all handled by the same engine
  • Built-in governance with retries, timeouts, SLAs, RBAC, and audit logs baked in, not bolted on
  • Dual interface where developers work in code and non-engineers use the UI, both staying in sync
  • API-first design so executions and workflow management can be automated or integrated into other systems
  • AI workflow support for orchestrating RAG pipelines, model retraining, evaluation, and agent workflows with full observability

Compared to tools like n8n or Temporal, Kestra leans heavily on the declarative YAML approach and cross-team scope. It's not aimed at a single persona. The platform is designed so analysts can build workflows themselves without waiting on engineering, as JP Morgan Chase's team demonstrated when processing billions of rows across thousands of weekly API pulls.

Deployment options include self-hosted on Docker or Kubernetes, an Enterprise Edition with SSO, multi-tenancy, and hybrid/air-gapped support, and a managed Cloud offering. The open-source version is free with no time limit. Over 250 workflow blueprints are available to get started without building from scratch.

Open-source integration platform for seamless workflow automation. Connect apps, automate tasks, and boost productivity effortlessly.

Screenshot of ActivePieces website

ActivePieces is a powerful, open-source integration platform that empowers users to automate their workflows without writing a single line of code. This versatile tool bridges the gap between various applications and services, enabling seamless connectivity and task automation.

Key benefits of ActivePieces include:

  • No-Code Simplicity: Build complex workflows using an intuitive drag-and-drop interface, making automation accessible to users of all technical levels.
  • Extensive App Integrations: Connect with popular services like Slack, Google Workspace, Trello, and many more to streamline your daily operations.
  • Customizable Triggers: Set up automated actions based on specific events or schedules, ensuring your workflows respond dynamically to your needs.
  • Open-Source Flexibility: Benefit from community-driven development, transparency, and the ability to self-host for complete control over your data.
  • Time and Resource Savings: Eliminate repetitive tasks and reduce human error, allowing your team to focus on high-value activities.
  • Scalable Solutions: Whether you're a small business or a large enterprise, ActivePieces adapts to your growing automation needs.

With ActivePieces, you can create powerful automations that sync data between apps, send notifications, update records, and much more. Its user-friendly interface and robust capabilities make it an ideal choice for businesses looking to optimize their processes and boost overall productivity.

Automa is a browser extension for automating repetitive tasks, form filling, screenshots, and web scraping using a visual block-based interface.

Screenshot of Automa website

Automa is a powerful browser extension that simplifies web automation through an intuitive block-based interface. With Automa, you can easily create workflows to automate repetitive tasks, fill forms, capture screenshots, and scrape website data without writing complex code.

Key features of Automa include:

  • Visual Workflow Builder: Connect blocks to create custom automation workflows
  • Diverse Block Types: Choose from a variety of blocks to handle different automation tasks
  • Data Scraping: Extract data from websites and export it as JSON, CSV, or directly to Google Sheets
  • Workflow Recording: Automatically generate workflows by recording your browser actions
  • Flexible Triggers: Set workflows to run on schedule or when visiting specific websites
  • Workflow Marketplace: Discover and use pre-built workflows shared by the Automa community

Automa empowers users to:

  • Save Time: Automate repetitive tasks and focus on more important work
  • Increase Productivity: Streamline workflows and reduce manual data entry
  • Customize Automation: Tailor workflows to fit specific needs and processes
  • Collaborate: Share and import workflows within teams or the broader Automa community

Whether you're a marketer collecting data, a researcher gathering information, or simply looking to streamline your daily browsing tasks, Automa provides a user-friendly solution for browser automation without requiring extensive programming knowledge.

Self-hosted automation tool that connects your apps and services, enabling powerful integrations and efficient data flow across your ecosystem.

Screenshot of Automatisch website

Automatisch is a robust, open-source integration platform that revolutionizes the way you connect and automate your digital tools. By providing a self-hosted solution, it puts you in control of your data and workflows, ensuring maximum privacy and customization.

Key benefits of Automatisch include:

  • Seamless Integration: Connect hundreds of apps and services effortlessly, creating powerful automations that streamline your processes.
  • Data Sovereignty: Host Automatisch on your own infrastructure, maintaining full control over your sensitive information and complying with data regulations.
  • Extensibility: Leverage the open-source nature to add custom integrations and tailor the platform to your specific needs.
  • User-Friendly Interface: Design complex workflows with an intuitive, drag-and-drop interface, making automation accessible to both technical and non-technical users.
  • Cost-Effective: Eliminate subscription fees for multiple integration tools by using a single, self-hosted solution.
  • Community-Driven: Benefit from continuous improvements and updates driven by a passionate community of developers and users.

Whether you're a small business owner, a developer, or an enterprise IT manager, Automatisch provides the flexibility and power to create efficient, automated workflows that save time and reduce errors across your organization.

Create intelligent automation workflows combining AI agents with your favorite apps and services. Connect, automate, and scale your operations without complex coding.

Screenshot of ByteChef website

ByteChef is a versatile open-source automation platform that brings together AI capabilities and workflow automation in one powerful solution. The platform excels at creating sophisticated AI agents that can handle multi-step workflows while seamlessly integrating with popular SaaS applications and APIs.

Key features include:

  • Support for multiple LLM providers including OpenAI, Groq, and self-hosted options
  • Visual workflow builder with optional code customization
  • Rich integration library with 20+ popular services like Slack, GitHub, and Salesforce
  • Enterprise-grade security and performance capabilities
  • Flexible deployment options (cloud or on-premise)

The platform bridges the gap between business teams and developers, offering both no-code visual tools and deep technical customization options. Whether you're building AI-powered chatbots, automating complex business processes, or creating custom integration workflows, ByteChef provides the flexibility and power to handle diverse automation needs.

Real users praise ByteChef for its ability to deliver enterprise-grade automation without complexity, enabling teams to connect applications in minutes and deploy AI-powered workflows in days instead of weeks. The open-source nature ensures continuous community-driven improvements while maintaining high security and compliance standards.

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