Activepieces vs Automa
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted automation & workflows options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Activepieces
Open-source no-code business automation
VS
Automa
Browser automation via drag-and-drop visual workflows
| Feature | Activepieces | Automa |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 97 · Excellent | 70 · Good |
| Category | Automation & Workflows | Automation & Workflows |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Language | TypeScript | Vue |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker | source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 24,701 | ★ 21,640 |
| First released | 2022 | 2021 |
| Replaces | Zapier, Make | Zapier, UiPath |
What are Activepieces and Automa?
Activepieces
Activepieces is an open-source, no-code automation tool for building workflows that connect business apps. It targets teams wanting an open Zapier alternative with an accessible UI. It is deployed via Docker.
- No-code flow builder
- Growing library of pieces
- AI-assisted automation
- MIT-licensed core
Automa
Automa is an open-source browser extension that automates repetitive web tasks using a visual block-based workflow builder. Workflows run locally in the browser and can be scheduled or triggered.
- Visual workflow builder
- Browser task automation
- Scheduling and triggers
- Runs locally
Activepieces vs Automa: key differences
Activepieces is written in TypeScript, while Automa is built with Vue. Automa is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Activepieces. Activepieces lists first-class Docker deployment; Automa does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Activepieces if…
- Truly open-source license
- Friendly no-code UI
- Active development
Watch out for
- Fewer integrations than n8n
- Younger project
Choose Automa if…
- Visual block builder
- Runs entirely locally
- Scheduling and triggers
Watch out for
- Browser extension only
- Complex flows get fiddly
Frequently asked questions
Is Activepieces or Automa better?
Neither is universally better. Activepieces has the larger community, while Automa is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Activepieces and Automa free and open-source?
Yes. Activepieces is licensed under MIT and Automa under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Activepieces and Automa with Docker?
Activepieces: yes. Automa: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Activepieces or Automa?
Automa has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Activepieces. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.