# an open source alternative to Zapier

**There is real demand, but the market is already crowded by live open-source Zapier alternatives with strong adoption.**

Confidence: high  ·  107 signals  ·  checked 2026-08-01

[Full report with live links](https://showsitsworks.com/idea/an-open-source-alternative-to-zapier)

## Who is already building this

*From data*

- Automatisch is the clearest live competitor: an open-source Zapier alternative with 13,923 stars and a recent push on 2026-02-11.
  - [automatisch/automatisch](https://github.com/automatisch/automatisch) `github` — 2021-09-30
- Activepieces is another live open-source Zapier alternative, and its launch on Hacker News got 231 points and 62 comments.
  - [Launch HN: Activepieces (YC S22) – Open-Source Zapier Alternative](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34723989) `hackernews` — 2023-02-09
- Trigger.dev entered the same conversation as a developer-first open-source Zapier alternative and its first Show HN drew 745 points and 190 comments.
  - [Show HN: We built a developer-first open-source Zapier alternative](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34610686) `hackernews` — 2023-02-01
- Flot is a much smaller open-source Make alternative with 30 stars, and it looks stale with its last push on 2025-04-28.
  - [FlotHQ/flot](https://github.com/FlotHQ/flot) `github` — 2024-08-26
- Flowra is a tiny self-hostable workflow automation engine with 4 stars and a very recent push on 2026-06-25, but it is still just an early project.
  - [adam-eques/flowra](https://github.com/adam-eques/flowra) `github` — 2026-06-25
- Zapier itself is still a major ecosystem force: its developer packages show 205,964 monthly downloads for @zapier/zapier-sdk-core, 718,682 for @zapier/zapier-durable, 474,176 for zapier-platform-schema, 271,641 for zapier-platform-cli, and 483,656 for zapier-platform-core.
  - [npm: @zapier/zapier-sdk-core](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@zapier/zapier-sdk-core) `registries` — 2026-07-30
  - [npm: @zapier/zapier-durable](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@zapier/zapier-durable) `registries` — 2026-07-31
  - [npm: zapier-platform-schema](https://www.npmjs.com/package/zapier-platform-schema) `registries` — 2026-07-30
  - [npm: zapier-platform-cli](https://www.npmjs.com/package/zapier-platform-cli) `registries` — 2026-07-30
  - [npm: zapier-platform-core](https://www.npmjs.com/package/zapier-platform-core) `registries` — 2026-07-30

## What people actually say

*From data*

- "We found current workflow" — Trigger.dev’s founders were explicit that they built from a real pain point, even if the excerpt cuts off before the full complaint.
  - [Show HN: We built a developer-first open-source Zapier alternative](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34610686) `hackernews` — 2023-02-01
- "For the past few months we’ve been building Trigger.dev" — the project was framed as a response to existing workflow automation pain for developers.
  - [Show HN: We built a developer-first open-source Zapier alternative](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34610686) `hackernews` — 2023-02-01
- "Hey, HN community, We're so excited to share Automatisch with HN finally." — this is a founder launch note, not a complaint, but it shows active builder attention in the space.
  - [Show HN: Automatisch – Open source workflow automation, an alternative to Zapier](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34519639) `hackernews` — 2023-01-25
- "I have previously shared how I used n8n to automate and create my infographic in less than 1 minute😁" — a user describing a concrete self-hosted automation workflow.
  - [Sharing my self hosting journey with n8n](https://community.n8n.io/t/sharing-my-self-hosting-journey-with-n8n/33420) `discourse` — 2023-11-26
- "If you're using platforms like Zapier or Make to automate workflows for yourself or provide it as a service to your clients," — a founder is addressing real operational use, not a theoretical market.
  - [Show HN: Alternative for Zapier/Make to cut the costs significantly](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31554787) `hackernews` — 2022-05-30

## People asking to be sold to

*From data*

- "I built Aivaro because my brother was spending $30+ per month on Zapier for workflows I could describe in one sentence."
  - [Show HN: Aivaro – Open-source AI alternative to Zapier](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47296631) `hackernews` — 2026-03-08
- "Great opportunity if you're a user of Zapier/Make or if you provide services based on these platforms, to cut your costs significantly."
  - [Show HN: Alternative for Zapier/Make to cut the costs significantly](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31554787) `hackernews` — 2022-05-30
- "This means you can use DoTenX automations as the back-end of your applications" — a builder is willing to adopt automation as infrastructure, not just personal tooling.
  - [An open source no-code automation and more](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31723788) `hackernews` — 2022-06-13
- "I pay $7 a month for a server and I self-host a bunch of services for personal use: - n8n" — self-hosting is already part of the buying decision for some users.
  - [Ask HN: What do you self-host?](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34708324) `hackernews` — 2023-02-08
- "No-code business automation tool" — the market is clearly selling on removing code and reducing setup time, which is a willingness-to-adopt signal rather than a rejection.
  - [Launch HN: Activepieces (YC S22) – Open-Source Zapier Alternative](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34723989) `hackernews` — 2023-02-09
  - [automatisch/automatisch](https://github.com/automatisch/automatisch) `github` — 2021-09-30

## Where the opening is

*Model estimate*

- The data does not show a clear gap in basic open-source Zapier replacement: Automatisch, Activepieces, Trigger.dev, n8n, Pipedream, and DoTenX all cover overlapping parts of the workflow automation space.
  - [automatisch/automatisch](https://github.com/automatisch/automatisch) `github` — 2021-09-30
  - [Show HN: We built a developer-first open-source Zapier alternative](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34610686) `hackernews` — 2023-02-01
  - [Launch HN: Activepieces (YC S22) – Open-Source Zapier Alternative](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34723989) `hackernews` — 2023-02-09
  - [Show HN: Trigger.dev V2 – a Temporal alternative for TypeScript devs](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37750763) `hackernews` — 2023-10-03
  - [Show HN: Pipedream 2.0 – AWS Lambda + Zapier alternative](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30941740) `hackernews` — 2022-04-07
  - [Show HN: Alternative for Zapier/Make to cut the costs significantly](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31554787) `hackernews` — 2022-05-30
  - [An open source no-code automation and more](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31723788) `hackernews` — 2022-06-13
- The strongest opening looks narrower: a developer-first, self-hosted product that is easier to adopt than n8n and more general than Trigger.dev’s code-centric task model.
  - [Show HN: We built a developer-first open-source Zapier alternative](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34610686) `hackernews` — 2023-02-01
  - [Show HN: Trigger.dev V2 – a Temporal alternative for TypeScript devs](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37750763) `hackernews` — 2023-10-03
  - [Ask HN: What do you self-host?](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34708324) `hackernews` — 2023-02-08
- Another possible gap is simplifying the discovery and reuse of workflows, since users explicitly complain about having to hunt for reusable n8n workflows.
  - [16,223 Free n8n Workflows Put together for Everyone](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45308967) `hackernews` — 2025-09-20
- The evidence does not show a big untapped market for yet another generic visual automation builder; it shows a crowded category with many adjacent positions.
  - [automatisch/automatisch](https://github.com/automatisch/automatisch) `github` — 2021-09-30
  - [Launch HN: Activepieces (YC S22) – Open-Source Zapier Alternative](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34723989) `hackernews` — 2023-02-09
  - [FlotHQ/flot](https://github.com/FlotHQ/flot) `github` — 2024-08-26
  - [Show HN: Trigger.dev V2 – a Temporal alternative for TypeScript devs](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37750763) `hackernews` — 2023-10-03
  - [Show HN: Pipedream 2.0 – AWS Lambda + Zapier alternative](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30941740) `hackernews` — 2022-04-07
  - [Show HN: Tracecat – Open-source security alert automation / SOAR alternative](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39819458) `hackernews` — 2024-03-25
  - [Show HN: Alternative for Zapier/Make to cut the costs significantly](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31554787) `hackernews` — 2022-05-30
  - [An open source no-code automation and more](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31723788) `hackernews` — 2022-06-13

## How big the market might be

*Model estimate*

- This search found 3 named projects, with 1 dead, 1 slow, and 1 unknown in the counted facts, but the broader query also surfaced multiple live competitors with meaningful activity.
  - [automatisch/automatisch](https://github.com/automatisch/automatisch) `github` — 2021-09-30
  - [Launch HN: Activepieces (YC S22) – Open-Source Zapier Alternative](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34723989) `hackernews` — 2023-02-09
  - [FlotHQ/flot](https://github.com/FlotHQ/flot) `github` — 2024-08-26
  - [adam-eques/flowra](https://github.com/adam-eques/flowra) `github` — 2026-06-25
  - [generalchand/otomate](https://github.com/generalchand/otomate) `github` — 2023-08-10
  - [harsha-acc/otomate](https://github.com/harsha-acc/otomate) `github` — 2023-08-11
  - [sumansinha1729/Zapier-killer](https://github.com/sumansinha1729/Zapier-killer) `github` — 2025-09-02
  - [apexgpy41/-automatisch---automatisch-main-41](https://github.com/apexgpy41/-automatisch---automatisch-main-41) `github` — 2025-06-18
  - [TechForce-Lyron0785/automatisch](https://github.com/TechForce-Lyron0785/automatisch) `github` — 2026-04-21
  - [bibektimilsina00/runmycrew](https://github.com/bibektimilsina00/runmycrew) `github` — 2026-05-13
- The biggest open-source competitor in the results, Automatisch, has 13,923 stars and a recent push in 2026-02-11.
  - [automatisch/automatisch](https://github.com/automatisch/automatisch) `github` — 2021-09-30
- The largest monthly package download count seen in the search was 11,535 for docker: airbyte/source-zapier-supported-storage.
  - [docker: airbyte/source-zapier-supported-storage](https://hub.docker.com/r/airbyte/source-zapier-supported-storage) `registries`
- There were 7 first-hand complaints, 15 stated wants, and 3 unsolved questions across community sources.
  - [activepieces/activepieces: Your friendliest open source AI automation tool ✨ Workflow automation tool 200+ integration / Enterprise automation tool / Zapier Alt](https://github.com/sing1ee/url-notes/issues/429) `githubissues` — 2025-04-14
  - [Sharing my self hosting journey with n8n](https://community.n8n.io/t/sharing-my-self-hosting-journey-with-n8n/33420) `discourse` — 2023-11-26
  - [Why Isn't My Spreadsheet Changing From Input Values of An Outside Source?](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/56587277/why-isnt-my-spreadsheet-changing-from-input-values-of-an-outside-source) `stackexchange` — 2019-06-13
  - [Is there a way to replace .zapierrc by environment variables?](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/54883403/is-there-a-way-to-replace-zapierrc-by-environment-variables) `stackexchange` — 2019-02-26
  - [Snowflake → Zapier Integration](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/64212097/snowflake-%e2%86%92-zapier-integration) `stackexchange` — 2020-10-05
  - [Ask HN: What do you self-host?](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34708324) `hackernews` — 2023-02-08
  - [16,223 Free n8n Workflows Put together for Everyone](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45308967) `hackernews` — 2025-09-20
  - [Zapier or another IFTTT service](https://meta.discourse.org/t/zapier-or-another-ifttt-service/58296/3) `discourse` — 2017-03-03
  - [Top 10 best Zapier alternatives I've tested in 2026](https://www.gumloop.com/blog/zapier-alternatives) `tavily`
  - [An open source no-code automation and more](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31723788) `hackernews` — 2022-06-13
  - [Inkscape 1.4](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41878858) `intent` — 2024-10-18
  - [This open-source automation tool made me forget about ...](https://www.xda-developers.com/open-source-automation-tool-made-me-forget-about-zapier) `tavily`
  - [Ask HN:  Has anyone tried the p90x exercise program?](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=803864) `intent` — 2009-09-03
  - [Inkscape 1.4 Released](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41877417) `intent` — 2024-10-18
  - [Show HN: Hiro – Fast and responsive notetaking meets semantic search](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6479159) `intent` — 2013-10-01
- Matching discussion showed up in community.n8n.io and meta.discourse.org, which means real users are still talking about self-hosted automation outside GitHub.
  - [Sharing my self hosting journey with n8n](https://community.n8n.io/t/sharing-my-self-hosting-journey-with-n8n/33420) `discourse` — 2023-11-26
  - [N8n Experts at PocketNinja LLC: Affordable Automation Alternatives](https://community.n8n.io/t/n8n-experts-at-pocketninja-llc-affordable-automation-alternatives/137358) `discourse` — 2025-06-23
  - [Quire integration](https://community.n8n.io/t/quire-integration/12214/3) `discourse` — 2025-10-13
  - [Add Docker NGINX https revproxy after initial setup in docker environment](https://community.n8n.io/t/add-docker-nginx-https-revproxy-after-initial-setup-in-docker-environment/176688/16) `discourse` — 2025-09-01
  - [Zapier or another IFTTT service](https://meta.discourse.org/t/zapier-or-another-ifttt-service/58296/3) `discourse` — 2017-03-03

## What could go wrong

*Model estimate*

- This is a crowded category with well-known incumbents and strong brand gravity around Zapier, Make, and n8n.
  - [automatisch/automatisch](https://github.com/automatisch/automatisch) `github` — 2021-09-30
  - [Launch HN: Activepieces (YC S22) – Open-Source Zapier Alternative](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34723989) `hackernews` — 2023-02-09
  - [FlotHQ/flot](https://github.com/FlotHQ/flot) `github` — 2024-08-26
  - [Show HN: Trigger.dev V2 – a Temporal alternative for TypeScript devs](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37750763) `hackernews` — 2023-10-03
  - [Show HN: Pipedream 2.0 – AWS Lambda + Zapier alternative](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30941740) `hackernews` — 2022-04-07
  - [Ask HN: What do you self-host?](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34708324) `hackernews` — 2023-02-08
  - [Top 10 best Zapier alternatives I've tested in 2026](https://www.gumloop.com/blog/zapier-alternatives) `tavily`
- A generic open-source alternative risks becoming a feature checklist product instead of a differentiated wedge.
  - [automatisch/automatisch](https://github.com/automatisch/automatisch) `github` — 2021-09-30
  - [Launch HN: Activepieces (YC S22) – Open-Source Zapier Alternative](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34723989) `hackernews` — 2023-02-09
  - [Show HN: Trigger.dev V2 – a Temporal alternative for TypeScript devs](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37750763) `hackernews` — 2023-10-03
  - [Show HN: Pipedream 2.0 – AWS Lambda + Zapier alternative](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30941740) `hackernews` — 2022-04-07
  - [Show HN: Alternative for Zapier/Make to cut the costs significantly](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31554787) `hackernews` — 2022-05-30
  - [An open source no-code automation and more](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31723788) `hackernews` — 2022-06-13
- The user acquisition problem is real: several projects exist, but only a few have meaningful stars or visible community traction.
  - [automatisch/automatisch](https://github.com/automatisch/automatisch) `github` — 2021-09-30
  - [Launch HN: Activepieces (YC S22) – Open-Source Zapier Alternative](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34723989) `hackernews` — 2023-02-09
  - [FlotHQ/flot](https://github.com/FlotHQ/flot) `github` — 2024-08-26
  - [adam-eques/flowra](https://github.com/adam-eques/flowra) `github` — 2026-06-25
  - [generalchand/otomate](https://github.com/generalchand/otomate) `github` — 2023-08-10
  - [harsha-acc/otomate](https://github.com/harsha-acc/otomate) `github` — 2023-08-11
  - [sumansinha1729/Zapier-killer](https://github.com/sumansinha1729/Zapier-killer) `github` — 2025-09-02
  - [apexgpy41/-automatisch---automatisch-main-41](https://github.com/apexgpy41/-automatisch---automatisch-main-41) `github` — 2025-06-18
  - [TechForce-Lyron0785/automatisch](https://github.com/TechForce-Lyron0785/automatisch) `github` — 2026-04-21
  - [bibektimilsina00/runmycrew](https://github.com/bibektimilsina00/runmycrew) `github` — 2026-05-13
- If you ship a self-hosted tool, support and setup complexity can become the product bottleneck, as the n8n community threads suggest.
  - [Sharing my self hosting journey with n8n](https://community.n8n.io/t/sharing-my-self-hosting-journey-with-n8n/33420) `discourse` — 2023-11-26
  - [Add Docker NGINX https revproxy after initial setup in docker environment](https://community.n8n.io/t/add-docker-nginx-https-revproxy-after-initial-setup-in-docker-environment/176688/16) `discourse` — 2025-09-01

## What to do this week

*Model estimate*

- Pick a sharper wedge than 'open source Zapier': developer-first code workflows, workflow reuse, or a better self-hosting experience.
  - [Show HN: We built a developer-first open-source Zapier alternative](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34610686) `hackernews` — 2023-02-01
  - [Show HN: Trigger.dev V2 – a Temporal alternative for TypeScript devs](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37750763) `hackernews` — 2023-10-03
  - [16,223 Free n8n Workflows Put together for Everyone](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45308967) `hackernews` — 2025-09-20
- Study Automatisch and n8n first, because they represent the clearest live open-source baseline in this search.
  - [automatisch/automatisch](https://github.com/automatisch/automatisch) `github` — 2021-09-30
  - [Sharing my self hosting journey with n8n](https://community.n8n.io/t/sharing-my-self-hosting-journey-with-n8n/33420) `discourse` — 2023-11-26
  - [Automatisch - Open Source Zapier Alternative](https://automatisch.io) `tavily`
  - [Ask HN: What do you self-host?](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34708324) `hackernews` — 2023-02-08
  - [Top 10 best Zapier alternatives I've tested in 2026](https://www.gumloop.com/blog/zapier-alternatives) `tavily`
- Talk to users who already self-host automation and are paying for Zapier today, since the strongest willingness-to-pay signal is cost pressure.
  - [Show HN: Aivaro – Open-source AI alternative to Zapier](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47296631) `hackernews` — 2026-03-08
  - [Show HN: Alternative for Zapier/Make to cut the costs significantly](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31554787) `hackernews` — 2022-05-30
  - [Ask HN: What do you self-host?](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34708324) `hackernews` — 2023-02-08
  - [This open-source automation tool made me forget about ...](https://www.xda-developers.com/open-source-automation-tool-made-me-forget-about-zapier) `tavily`
- Build around a concrete pain that appears in the data, such as easier workflow discovery or faster developer setup, instead of broad 'no-code automation'.
  - [Show HN: We built a developer-first open-source Zapier alternative](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34610686) `hackernews` — 2023-02-01
  - [16,223 Free n8n Workflows Put together for Everyone](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45308967) `hackernews` — 2025-09-20
  - [An open source no-code automation and more](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31723788) `hackernews` — 2022-06-13

## Competitor strength

| Project | Stars | Downloads/mo | Activity |
|---|---:|---:|---|
| [automatisch/automatisch](https://github.com/automatisch/automatisch) | 13,923 | — | slow |
| [FlotHQ/flot](https://github.com/FlotHQ/flot) | 30 | — | dead |
| [docker: airbyte/source-zapier-supported-storage](https://hub.docker.com/r/airbyte/source-zapier-supported-storage) | — | 11,535 | unknown |

## Domain names

- `zapierworkflow.com` — taken
- `zapierworkflow.io` — available
- `zapier.com` — taken
- `getzapier.com` — taken

---

Sources searched: hackernews (30), github (20), githubissues (1), discourse (6), intent (15), stackexchange (3), registries (16), tavily (7), devto (10)

Generated by Shows Its Work — https://showsitsworks.com/idea/an-open-source-alternative-to-zapier
Findings link to their sources. Estimates are marked as estimates.