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Last updated: October 29, 2026
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Zapier vs Activepieces (2027): Prices, Limits and Which One to Pick
Choose Zapier if you want the easiest automation tool with the largest app library: it's free for 100 tasks a month with two-step Zaps, and Professional costs $19.99 a month on annual billing for 750 tasks ($29.99 monthly). Choose Activepieces if you want an open-source alternative with a more generous free plan: it includes 1,000 credits a month, unlimited flows and 5 users for free, and Plus costs $20 a month. At about the same entry price, Activepieces gives you more volume; Zapier gives you more integrations and polish.
- Zapier: Free 100 tasks/month, two-step Zaps, 15-minute polling, 1 seat; Professional $19.99 (annual) or $29.99 (monthly) for 750 tasks; Team $69 (annual) for 2,000 tasks.
- Activepieces: Free 1,000 credits/month, unlimited flows, 5 users; Plus $20/month; open source, can be self-hosted.
- Billing unit: Zapier 1 task per action step; Activepieces credits.
- Free plan volume: 1,000 credits vs 100 tasks.
- Zapier offers the largest library of app integrations.
Zapier vs Activepieces at a glance
| Zapier | Activepieces | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | 100 tasks/month, two-step Zaps, 1 seat | 1,000 credits/month, unlimited flows, 5 users |
| Entry paid plan | Professional $19.99/month (annual) for 750 tasks | Plus $20/month |
| Team plan | Team $69/month (annual) for 2,000 tasks, up to 25 users | See pricing page |
| Open source | No | Yes |
| Self-hosting | No | Yes |
| Best for | Non-technical teams needing many apps | Budget-conscious teams, open-source fans |
Pricing compared
Free plans
Activepieces' free plan is far more generous: 1,000 credits a month, unlimited flows and 5 users, against Zapier's 100 tasks, two-step Zaps only and 1 seat. A small team can run real multi-step automations on Activepieces' free plan; on Zapier's, only simple two-step ones.
Entry paid plans
Zapier Professional costs $19.99 a month on annual billing ($29.99 monthly) for 750 tasks, with multi-step Zaps, premium apps, webhooks and 2-minute polling. Activepieces Plus costs $20 a month. At the same price, compare how many automation runs each plan covers for your workflows.
Team plans
Zapier Team costs $69 a month on annual billing ($103.50 monthly) for 2,000 tasks, up to 25 users, shared workspaces and SAML SSO.
How tasks add up on Zapier
Zapier counts one task for every action step that runs. A workflow with a trigger and five actions that runs 1,000 times a month uses about 5,000 tasks, well above Professional's 750. That's the main reason teams look at alternatives such as Activepieces, Make and n8n.
| Workflow | Runs/month | Zapier tasks used | Zapier plan needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Form to CRM (1 action) | 300 | 300 | Professional (750) |
| Lead routing (3 actions) | 500 | 1,500 | Team (2,000) or higher Professional tier |
| Onboarding sequence (5 actions) | 1,000 | 5,000 | Higher task tier |
Open source and self-hosting
Activepieces is open source, so you can self-host it on your own server, inspect the code and keep data on your infrastructure. That's useful for teams with data-residency requirements or developers who want to extend it with custom pieces. Zapier is a cloud-only service.
Features that decide the choice
| If you need… | Better choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The widest range of app integrations | Zapier | Largest library |
| The most generous free plan | Activepieces | 1,000 credits, 5 users |
| Multi-step automations for free | Activepieces | Zapier Free is two-step only |
| Self-hosting and open source | Activepieces | Zapier is cloud-only |
| Enterprise security and admin | Zapier Team and above | SAML SSO, shared workspaces |
| The easiest setup for non-technical users | Zapier | Mature, polished builder |
Three real-world scenarios
A freelancer automating invoices and notifications
Three or four simple automations with a few steps each: Activepieces' free plan covers them. On Zapier, multi-step automations require Professional at $19.99 a month.
A 10-person sales team connecting niche tools
If your CRM, dialer and calendar tools are all in Zapier's library but not in Activepieces', Zapier is the practical choice. Check both libraries before deciding.
A startup with a developer who wants data control
Self-hosted Activepieces keeps data on your servers and costs only hosting. Zapier can't be self-hosted.
Try Activepieces free → 1,000 credits a month, unlimited flows · Affiliate link
Hidden costs to watch
- Zapier task usage: every action step counts.
- Zapier monthly billing: $29.99 instead of $19.99 for Professional.
- Activepieces self-hosting: server costs and maintenance time.
- Integration gaps: a missing connector can mean building a custom one.
- Premium apps on Zapier require a paid plan.
Alternatives worth comparing
| Tool | Free option | Entry price | Why consider it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Make | 1,000 credits/month | Core about $9/month (annual) * | Visual builder, low price |
| n8n | Free self-hosted Community edition | Starter €20/month (annual) | Technical teams |
| Pabbly Connect | 100 tasks/month | One-time lifetime plans | Pay once |
* From 2026 pricing guides. See Zapier pricing, Zapier alternatives, Make vs Zapier and best workflow automation software.
How to choose in 5 steps
- List your automations with steps and monthly runs.
- Check both app libraries for every tool you use.
- Calculate Zapier tasks (action steps × runs).
- Build your top automation in both free plans.
- Choose the tool that covers your apps at the lowest real cost.
Terms explained
- Zap: a Zapier automation.
- Flow: an Activepieces automation.
- Task: Zapier's billing unit, one per action step.
- Credit: Activepieces' usage unit.
- Piece: an Activepieces integration or connector.
- Polling interval: how often a tool checks for new data.
Reliability and support
Zapier is a mature service used by many businesses, with detailed run history, automatic retries on some errors and support on paid plans (email and live chat on Professional). Activepieces' cloud plans include run history and support channels, and its open-source community helps self-hosted users. For business-critical automations, test error handling in both: what happens when an app is down, and how quickly you're alerted.
AI in automations
Both tools let you add AI steps to automations, such as summarizing a form submission or drafting a reply. Zapier includes AI by Zapier on Professional; Activepieces includes AI pieces. AI steps use tasks or credits like any other step, so include them when you estimate monthly usage.
Our verdict
Zapier is the better choice for non-technical teams that need the widest range of integrations and a polished, reliable builder. Activepieces is the better value for small teams and developers: its free plan includes 1,000 credits, unlimited flows and 5 users, it costs $20 a month on Plus, and it can be self-hosted. Check that Activepieces connects to your key apps; if it does, it will usually cost less.
How we compiled this page
Prices and limits come from Zapier's and Activepieces' official pricing pages, checked October 29, 2026. Zapier prices use annual billing unless noted.
FAQ
Is Activepieces cheaper than Zapier?
Usually, yes. Its free plan includes 1,000 credits and 5 users versus Zapier's 100 tasks and 1 seat, and Plus costs $20 a month.
Is Activepieces open source?
Yes. You can self-host it on your own server.
Does Zapier have more integrations?
Yes. Zapier has the largest library of app integrations.
Can I migrate Zaps to Activepieces?
Not automatically in most cases; you rebuild each automation as a flow. Start with your most important ones.
Which is easier to use?
Zapier, for most non-technical users. Activepieces is also visual and approachable.
Is Activepieces good for beginners?
Yes. Its visual builder is approachable, and its free plan lets beginners build multi-step flows without paying.
Can I self-host Zapier?
No. Zapier is cloud-only. Activepieces can be self-hosted because it's open source.
Does Activepieces have a team plan?
Activepieces' free plan already includes 5 users. Check its pricing page for team and enterprise options above Plus.
Which is better for webhooks?
Both support webhooks: Zapier on Professional and above, Activepieces on its plans.
How do I estimate my Zapier tasks?
Multiply the number of action steps in each Zap by how many times it runs each month, then add up all your Zaps. Compare the total with each plan's task allowance, and leave room for growth.
Which is better for AI automations?
Both support AI steps; choose based on which tool connects to the apps around your AI workflow.
Sources
zapier.com/pricing and activepieces.com/pricing, checked October 29, 2026. Make price from 2026 pricing guides.
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