Activepieces vs StackStorm
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
StackStorm
Event-driven automation, often called IFTTT for ops
| Feature | Activepieces | StackStorm |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 97 · Excellent | 86 · Excellent |
| Category | Automation & Workflows | Automation & Workflows |
| License | MIT | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 2,048 MB |
| Deployment | docker | docker, kubernetes, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 24,701 | ★ 6,539 |
| First released | 2022 | 2014 |
| Replaces | Zapier, Make | Zapier, AWS Systems Manager |
What are Activepieces and StackStorm?
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
StackStorm
StackStorm is an event-driven automation platform that connects triggers to actions through rules and workflows. It is commonly used for auto-remediation, security responses and continuous deployment.
- Event-driven rules and triggers
- Large pack ecosystem for integrations
- Workflow engine for complex automation
- ChatOps integration
Activepieces vs StackStorm: key differences
Activepieces is written in TypeScript, while StackStorm is built with Python. Licensing differs — MIT for Activepieces versus Apache-2.0 for StackStorm. Activepieces is the lighter option, starting around 512 MB of RAM against 2,048 MB for StackStorm. StackStorm is the more established project (first released 2014), while Activepieces arrived in 2022. Activepieces has the considerably larger community, at 24,701 GitHub stars versus 6,539.
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 StackStorm if…
- Powerful for ops automation
- Extensive integration packs
Watch out for
- Heavy multi-component install
Frequently asked questions
Is Activepieces or StackStorm better?
Activepieces is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider StackStorm if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Activepieces and StackStorm free and open-source?
Yes. Activepieces is licensed under MIT and StackStorm under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Activepieces and StackStorm with Docker?
Activepieces: yes. StackStorm: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Activepieces or StackStorm?
Activepieces has the smaller minimum footprint at 512 MB of RAM, compared to about 2,048 MB for StackStorm. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.