Automatisch vs Skyvern
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted automation & workflows options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Automatisch | Skyvern |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 66 · Good | 96 · Excellent |
| Category | Automation & Workflows | Automation & Workflows |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | JavaScript | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 4,096 MB |
| Deployment | docker | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 13,980 | ★ 23,058 |
| First released | 2022 | 2024 |
| Replaces | Zapier | UiPath, Zapier |
What are Automatisch and Skyvern?
Automatisch
Automatisch is an open-source business automation tool that connects apps and services with visual workflows. It targets privacy-conscious teams wanting an open Zapier alternative. It is deployed via Docker.
- Visual automation flows
- Keeps data on your servers
- Growing connector catalog
- Open-source license
Skyvern
Skyvern automates browser-based workflows by combining large language models with computer vision, allowing it to operate on websites it has never seen before. It runs as a self-hosted service with an API.
- LLM-driven browser automation
- Works on unseen sites
- Vision-based interaction
- Workflow API
Automatisch vs Skyvern: key differences
Automatisch is written in JavaScript, while Skyvern is built with Python. Automatisch is the lighter option, starting around 512 MB of RAM against 4,096 MB for Skyvern. Automatisch is the more established project (first released 2022), while Skyvern arrived in 2024.
Why pick each one
Choose Automatisch if…
- Privacy-friendly
- Simple workflow builder
- Open source
Watch out for
- Smaller integration set
- Still maturing
Choose Skyvern if…
- Handles unseen websites
- Vision-based automation
- API-first design
Watch out for
- LLM costs add up
- Postgres required
Frequently asked questions
Is Automatisch or Skyvern better?
Neither is universally better. Skyvern has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Automatisch and Skyvern free and open-source?
Yes. Automatisch is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Skyvern under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Automatisch and Skyvern with Docker?
Automatisch: yes. Skyvern: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Automatisch or Skyvern?
Automatisch has the smaller minimum footprint at 512 MB of RAM, compared to about 4,096 MB for Skyvern. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.