n8n
Open-source workflow automation you can self-host for free
n8n is the automation tool developers prefer: source-available, self-hostable on a $5 VPS, with code nodes, LangChain-style AI agents and 400+…
Make
Visual automation builder with cheaper operations than Zapier
Make (formerly Integromat) lets you draw automations as scenarios on a canvas, with branching, iterators and error handling that Zapier hides. It has AI agents and 2,000+ app modules, and the price per operation is a fraction of Zapier's.
Best for: complex multi-step automations
What works
- Visual canvas shows the whole flow
- Much cheaper per run than Zapier
- AI agents and MCP support
What to know
- Steeper learning curve
- Credit model changed in 2025 and confused users
Alternatives
Zapier
The biggest integration library, easiest to start with
Zapier connects 8,000+ apps and now ships agents, tables, interfaces and chatbots on top of its classic trigger-action Zaps. It is the simplest to…
Relay.app
Automation with AI steps and human approvals built in
Relay.app is a newer automation tool designed around AI: every workflow can include AI steps, and human-in-the-loop approvals are a first-class…
