Best free automation tools and Zapier alternatives (2026)
Short version: for the most free runs in a hosted tool, Activepieces or Make (1,000 credits a month each; Make allows 2 active scenarios, Activepieces unlimited flows); for two-step Zaps, Zapier (100 tasks a month); for running it on your own server, n8n self-hosted.
| Tool | What you get | Limits | Card required | The catch | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Activepieces | 1,000 credits a month, unlimited flows, up to 5 users, plus agents, tables, MCPs and API access. | 1,000 credits/month; up to 5 users | No (stated by vendor) | Usage is metered in credits (the page's plan card says 1,000 a month; its comparison table says daily); heavier automation needs Plus ($20/month). | activepieces.com/pricing checked 2026-10-24 |
| n8n | Self-hosted n8n Community Edition; hosted n8n Cloud offers a free trial with 800 Assistant credits and 1,000 executions. | Cloud is paid; self-host needs server | No (stated by vendor) | Cloud is a trial only; self-hosting means running your own server. | n8n.io/pricing checked 2026-10-23 |
| Pipedream | Every feature in development: managed auth for 3,000+ APIs, 10,000+ prebuilt tools and triggers, MCP servers, and unlimited team members. | Development only (production needs the $99/mo Startup plan); community support | No (stated by vendor) | Free is for building and testing only; serving real external users in production requires the paid Startup plan. | pipedream.com/pricing checked 2026-10-20 |
| IFTTT | 2 Applets, unlimited Applet runs, standard speeds, mobile app. | 2 applets | Vendor doesn't say | Only 2 Applets. | ifttt.com/plans checked 2026-10-21 |
| Make | 1,000 credits a month, no-code visual workflow builder, 3,500+ apps, routers and filters, 1 MB data storage and 1 data store. | 1,000 credits a month, 2 active scenarios, 15-minute minimum interval | Vendor doesn't say | Only 2 active scenarios and runs at most every 15 minutes; scenarios stop when credits run out and unused credits expire. | make.com/en/pricing checked 2026-10-22 |
| Zapier | Zaps, Tables and Forms, with 100 tasks a month. | 100 tasks/month; two-step Zaps | Vendor doesn't say | Zaps are two-step only (one trigger, one action), and every step and connector call uses tasks. | zapier.com/pricing checked 2026-10-25 |
Every row is taken from the vendor's official pricing page, checked 2026-10-20 to 2026-10-25. "Vendor doesn't say" means the official page does not mention it. Plans change, so confirm on the vendor's site.
Order: tools whose pricing page says no credit card is needed come first, then those whose page does not say, then card required; tools with unpublished limits go last, and ties are alphabetical. Affiliate status plays no part.
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FAQ
Is there a free alternative to Zapier?
Make and Activepieces each list 1,000 credits a month on their free plans, compared with Zapier's 100 tasks a month. n8n is free to self-host.
What are the limits of Zapier's free plan?
100 tasks a month and two-step Zaps only (one trigger, one action).
Is n8n free?
Self-hosted n8n is free; you run your own server. Hosted n8n Cloud offers a free trial with 800 Assistant credits and 1,000 executions.
Which free automation tools need no credit card?
n8n, Activepieces and Pipedream say no card is needed. The Zapier, Make and IFTTT pricing pages do not say either way.