Automatisch vs StackStorm

A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted automation & workflows options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.

Not the right match-up?
FeatureAutomatischStackStorm
Deploy effortUnder-an-hour setupUnder-an-hour setup
Health score66 · Good86 · Excellent
CategoryAutomation & WorkflowsAutomation & Workflows
LicenseAGPL-3.0Apache-2.0
LanguageJavaScriptPython
Setup difficultyMediumHard
Min. RAM512 MB2,048 MB
Deploymentdockerdocker, kubernetes, bare-metal
GitHub stars★ 13,980★ 6,539
First released20222014
ReplacesZapierZapier, AWS Systems Manager

What are Automatisch and StackStorm?

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

Read the full Automatisch guide →

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

Read the full StackStorm guide →

Automatisch vs StackStorm: key differences

Automatisch is written in JavaScript, while StackStorm is built with Python. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Automatisch versus Apache-2.0 for StackStorm. Automatisch 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 Automatisch arrived in 2022. Automatisch has the considerably larger community, at 13,980 GitHub stars versus 6,539.

Why pick each one

Choose Automatisch if…

  • Privacy-friendly
  • Simple workflow builder
  • Open source

Watch out for

  • Smaller integration set
  • Still maturing
Automatisch details

Choose StackStorm if…

  • Powerful for ops automation
  • Extensive integration packs

Watch out for

  • Heavy multi-component install
StackStorm details

Frequently asked questions

Is Automatisch or StackStorm better?

Automatisch 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 Automatisch and StackStorm free and open-source?

Yes. Automatisch is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and StackStorm under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.

Can I run Automatisch and StackStorm with Docker?

Automatisch: yes. StackStorm: yes.

Which is lighter on resources, Automatisch or StackStorm?

Automatisch 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.

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