HEAD-TO-HEAD BENCHMARK // AUTOMATION
n8n logo
n8n
VS
Activepieces logo
Activepieces

Comprehensive side-by-side technical comparison between n8n and Activepieces.

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The Quick Verdict: Which One Should You Choose?

n8n logo
Choose n8n if:

Choose n8n for enterprise-scale complex data transformations, multi-branch logic, custom code execution, and 400+ native connectors.

Activepieces logo
Choose Activepieces if:

Choose Activepieces for a clean, modern TypeScript piece framework, straightforward UX, and lightweight memory footprint.

Technical Specification & Architecture Matrix

Feature / Metricn8nActivepieces
Software Categoryautomationautomation
Deployment ModelSelf-Hosted / Private CloudSelf-Hosted / Private Cloud
Licensing & IP RightsSustainable Use LicenseMIT
Pricing & Seat Model$0 / Unlimited Users (FOSS)$0 / Unlimited Users (FOSS)
GitHub Community Stars★ 207,127★ 25,023
Primary Tech StackTypeScript, Node.js, VueTypeScript, Fastify, Angular, PostgreSQL
Self-Hosting DifficultyEasyEasy
Hardware & RAM Footprint1 GB - 2 GB RAM (Hetzner CX22 / $4/mo)1 GB - 2 GB RAM (Hetzner CX22 / $4/mo)
Detailed Inspect PageInspect n8n Stack →Inspect Activepieces Stack →
ENGINEERING TRADE-OFFS

Key Advantages & Trade-offs

n8n logo

n8n Analysis

✓ Core Strengths
  • ✓100% data sovereignty & on-premises privacy with no third-party data mining.
  • ✓Zero per-seat licensing fees; scale unlimited team members on private VPS.
  • ✓Full inspection and custom modification of source code (Sustainable Use License license).
✗ Considerations & Trade-offs
  • ✗Requires basic Linux or Docker server administration and automated backup scheduling.
  • ✗Community support via GitHub issues and Discord rather than formal enterprise SLA.
Activepieces logo

Activepieces Analysis

✓ Core Strengths
  • ✓100% data sovereignty & on-premises privacy with no third-party data mining.
  • ✓Zero per-seat licensing fees; scale unlimited team members on private VPS.
  • ✓Full inspection and custom modification of source code (MIT license).
✗ Considerations & Trade-offs
  • ✗Requires basic Linux or Docker server administration and automated backup scheduling.
  • ✗Community support via GitHub issues and Discord rather than formal enterprise SLA.
DEPLOYMENT TEMPLATES

Production Docker Compose Configurations

n8n docker-compose.ymlCustom Generator →
version: "3.8"
services:
  n8n:
    image: docker.n8n.io/n8nio/n8n:latest
    container_name: n8n
    restart: unless-stopped
    ports:
      - "${PORT:-5678}:5678"
    environment:
      - N8N_HOST=${DOMAIN:-localhost}
      - N8N_PORT=5678
      - N8N_PROTOCOL=http
      - WEBHOOK_URL=http://${DOMAIN:-localhost}:${PORT:-5678}/
      - DB_TYPE=postgresdb
      - DB_POSTGRESDB_HOST=postgres
      - DB_POSTGRESDB_PORT=5432
      - DB_POSTGRESDB_DATABASE=n8n
      - DB_POSTGRESDB_USER=n8n
      - DB_POSTGRESDB_PASSWORD=${DB_PASSWORD:-n8n_secure_pass}
    volumes:
      - n8n_data:/home/node/.n8n
    depends_on:
      - postgres
  postgres:
    image: postgres:15-alpine
    container_name: n8n-postgres
    restart: unless-stopped
    environment:
      POSTGRES_USER: n8n
      POSTGRES_PASSWORD: ${DB_PASSWORD:-n8n_secure_pass}
      POSTGRES_DB: n8n
    volumes:
      - n8n_pg_data:/var/lib/postgresql/data
volumes:
  n8n_data:
  n8n_pg_data:
Activepieces docker-compose.ymlCustom Generator →
version: '3.8'

services:
  activepieces:
    image: activepieces/activepieces:latest
    restart: unless-stopped
    ports:
      - "${PORT:-8080}:80"
    environment:
      - AP_ENCRYPTION_KEY=${ENCRYPTION_KEY:-random_32_characters_encryption_key}
      - AP_JWT_SECRET=${JWT_SECRET:-jwt_secret_token_change_now}
      - AP_POSTGRES_DATABASE=activepieces
      - AP_POSTGRES_HOST=db
      - AP_POSTGRES_PORT=5432
      - AP_POSTGRES_USERNAME=postgres
      - AP_POSTGRES_PASSWORD=${DB_PASSWORD:-activepieces_pass}
    depends_on:
      - db

  db:
    image: postgres:15-alpine
    restart: unless-stopped
    environment:
      - POSTGRES_DB=activepieces
      - POSTGRES_PASSWORD=${DB_PASSWORD:-activepieces_pass}
    volumes:
      - activepieces_pgdata:/var/lib/postgresql/data

volumes:
  activepieces_pgdata:

n8n vs Activepieces: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the primary difference between n8n and Activepieces?

n8n is a self-hosted open-source software (Sustainable Use License licensed) focused on Fair-code workflow automation platform with 400+ nodes and native AI agents. In contrast, Activepieces is a self-hosted open-source solution (MIT licensed) focused on Your friendliest open source all-in-one business automation tool.

How much money can a 25-person team save by choosing n8n?

Commercial per-seat SaaS tools typically charge $10–$40/user/month ($3,000–$12,000/year for 25 seats). Self-hosting open-source software on a private VPS (typically $10–$25/month on Hetzner or DigitalOcean) reduces recurring software expenses by up to 95%.

What are the production server hardware requirements for self-hosting?

For n8n, recommended baseline memory is 1 GB - 2 GB RAM (Hetzner CX22 / $4/mo). For Activepieces, recommended memory is 1 GB - 2 GB RAM (Hetzner CX22 / $4/mo). Both can be provisioned using modern Docker Compose configurations.

Is data export and migration supported between n8n and Activepieces?

Yes. Open-source solutions prioritize data portability with standard SQL database dumps, JSON/CSV exports, or native markdown files, ensuring zero vendor lock-in.