Activepieces vs Huginn
Self-host pick — both replace Zapier (Workflow automation / iPaaS).
Both Activepieces and Huginn self-host as a replacement for Zapier (Workflow automation / iPaaS). Pick Activepieces if you want the lighter footprint — 10min docker-compose, $5-10 vps — node. Pick Huginn if you need single-user / personal automation, especially monitoring and scraping workflows — 20min (Rails app + Postgres) and $5 vps.
| Activepiecesopen-source | Huginnopen-source | |
|---|---|---|
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Setup time | 10min docker-compose | 20min (Rails app + Postgres) |
| Monthly cost | $5-10 VPS — Node.js + Postgres + Redis stack. | $5 VPS. |
| GitHub | activepieces/activepieces | huginn/huginn |
| Replaces | Zapier | Zapier |
Good fit for
Activepieces
Teams that want a true MIT license without the commercial-reselling restriction n8n carries.
Weak at:Smaller integration catalog than n8n; younger project so some pieces are thinner than the Zapier equivalent.
Huginn
Single-user / personal automation, especially monitoring and scraping workflows.
Weak at:Not a Zapier-shaped UI; multi-user is awkward; agent ecosystem is much smaller than Zapier's.
In a terminal? npx -y github:SolvoHQ/os-alt-cli zapier prints Zapier's self-host options including both —
how the CLI works →
FAQ
Which is easier to self-host, Activepieces or Huginn?
Activepieces: 10min docker-compose. Huginn: 20min (Rails app + Postgres).
What does each cost to run?
Activepieces: $5-10 VPS — Node.js + Postgres + Redis stack.. Huginn: $5 VPS.. Both projects are free and open source.
Do Activepieces and Huginn replace the same SaaS?
Yes — both are open-source alternatives to Zapier.