activepieces/Activepieces
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
Activepieces is an open-source AI workflow automation platform, an alternative to Zapier and n8n, with around 400 ready-made connectors and MCP support. You build automations and AI agents on a visual canvas, self-host the whole thing, and let agents call tools through the Model Context Protocol.
Our Review
Activepieces has 22,000 GitHub stars by being the most credible self-hostable answer to Zapier for teams that also want AI agents in the mix. The pitch: instead of paying per task on a closed cloud, you run a visual automation builder yourself, and AI agents are treated as a native part of it rather than an add-on.
What Activepieces does:
- •Visual automation builder chain triggers and actions on a flow canvas to automate work across apps, with no code required.
- •~400 connectors (pieces) integrations for common SaaS tools, all open source and extendable with your own pieces.
- •AI agents build agents that reason and act inside your automations, going beyond fixed step-by-step flows.
- •MCP support expose tools to agents and connect to roughly 400 MCP servers through the Model Context Protocol.
- •Self-hosted or cloud run it with Docker on your own infrastructure, or use Activepieces Cloud.
- •Extensible and typed write custom pieces in TypeScript when a connector does not exist yet.
Getting started:
Self-host with Docker from the repo, or sign up for Activepieces Cloud. Build a flow by picking a trigger and actions, or create an AI agent, then turn it on. Docs at activepieces.com/docs.
Limitations:
Activepieces uses a mixed license: the core is open source (MIT), but some enterprise features sit under a separate commercial license, so a self-hosted build may not match the cloud; review terms before commercial use. Self-hosting means running and scaling the stack yourself. As a fast-moving project with frequent releases, connectors and APIs change, and very complex logic can still be easier in code.
Our Verdict
Activepieces is one of the best open-source choices in 2026 if you want Zapier-style automation you can self-host and that takes AI agents seriously. If recurring per-task pricing or data leaving your servers is a problem, Activepieces gives you the builder and the agents on your own infrastructure, with 22,000 stars behind it.
For vibe builders, it is a no-code automation canvas: pick a trigger, add actions from around 400 connectors, and let an AI agent handle the fuzzy steps, without writing code.
For developers, Activepieces self-hosts with Docker, is extensible with TypeScript pieces, and speaks MCP, so it fits agent stacks and existing infrastructure. Check the license tiers if you plan to offer it as a service.
Skip Activepieces if you want a fully managed tool with zero ops and do not mind per-task pricing; hosted Zapier is simpler to start. If your need is a single scripted job, a small script may be lighter than a platform.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Activepieces?
Activepieces is an open-source, self-hostable workflow automation platform, often used as an alternative to Zapier and n8n. You chain triggers and actions from around 400 connectors on a visual canvas to automate work, and you can build AI agents that act inside those automations. It supports the Model Context Protocol so agents can call tools.
Is Activepieces free and open source?
Yes. Activepieces has an open-source core under the MIT license and is free to self-host as of 2026. Some enterprise features are under a separate commercial license, and a hosted Activepieces Cloud is available with free and paid tiers. For most self-hosted automation, the open-source core is enough.
How is Activepieces different from Zapier?
Zapier is a closed, fully hosted automation tool priced per task. Activepieces is open source and self-hostable, so you can run unlimited automations on your own infrastructure without per-task fees, and it treats AI agents and MCP as first-class. Choose Zapier for zero-ops convenience; choose Activepieces for self-hosting, data control, and AI-native automation.
Does Activepieces support AI agents and MCP?
Yes. As of 2026, Activepieces is built around AI agents and the Model Context Protocol. You can add agents that reason and act within a workflow, and connect to roughly 400 MCP servers so agents can use external tools. This makes it suited to AI automation, going beyond fixed trigger-action flows.
Can I self-host Activepieces?
Yes. Activepieces is designed to be self-hosted as of 2026 using Docker, so you can run the automation builder and your agents on your own infrastructure and keep workflow data in your environment. A managed Activepieces Cloud is available if you prefer not to operate it. Review the license tiers for commercial redistribution.
How do I install Activepieces?
Visit the GitHub repository at https://github.com/activepieces/activepieces for installation instructions.
What license does Activepieces use?
Activepieces uses the MIT license.
What are alternatives to Activepieces?
Explore related tools and alternatives on My AI Guide.
Open source & community-verified
MIT licensed: free to use in any project, no strings attached. 22,548 developers have starred this, meaning the community has reviewed and trusted it.
Reviewed by My AI Guide for relevance, quality, and active maintenance before listing.
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