7 Top Free Zapier Alternatives in 2025: Compared Head to

Zapier is all great until the bill shows up, or until you’re cut off due to high usage. Sure, many people want automation but don’t want to pay for it. And the good news is that you don’t have to.

There are solid tools that cost nothing and still let you link apps, run workflows, and even “do AI stuff.” I’ve pulled together seven of the best free Zapier alternatives you can start using today.

In this post, I’ll explain what makes each tool worth your time, what they do best, and where they fall short. If you want free automation that actually works, this list gives you real choices.

1. n8n

The automation landscape has changed a lot over the last couple of years, and there’s a huge new player out there who seems to have appeared out of nowhere and completely overtook the market. Of course, I’m talking about everyone’s darling tool for all sorts of agent work and integrations – n8n.

The no.1 thing you need to know about it is that there are two main flavors of n8n: (1) the hosted version that’s rather expensive – basically exactly on par with Zapier price-wise, and (2) the open-source free version that you can host on your own server.

Of course, what we’d want is the latter…since you’re not here to spend money. The good news is that you can install n8n on your local machine/laptop with no real hassle.

The absolute easiest way to do it is to: (1) Install Docker desktop on your machine. (2) Pull the official n8n image (n8nio/n8n). (3) Run it as a container.

It literally takes one minute. After you’re done with that, you can start creating workflows and automations, and even integrate your setup with external tools and services (stuff like Gmail, social media platforms, etc.). And in case you don’t want to build things from scratch, the n8n site has more than 5k templates you can use.

Pros 👍

• It’s open-source and you can run it on any compatible server on the web, plus locally on your laptop.
• There are no limitations on the number of workflows and automations you can set up using this open source version. It also supports more than 1,000 integrations at this point.
• It’s the best experience on the market for setting AI agents.

Cons 👎

• This is a pro-level tool, and while that’s normally a huge plus, it also makes the interface a bit less intuitive to work with compared to tools like Zapier
• The self-hosted setup is not too obvious if you haven’t dealt with open-source tools like this before

Pricing 💰

The open-source version is free, and there are no real limitations on usage. The hosted pro version starts from $20 and gives you access to one shared project. You cannot set up projects on the open-source version.

2. IFTTT

IFTTT (short for “If This Then That”) is a simple automation tool that connects apps and smart devices through small workflows called applets. It’s probably the most old-school among this type of tools. I remember it being on the market years ago already.

So each applet runs on a trigger-and-action setup, like “if a new email arrives, then send a text.” Granted, it is a much simpler type of automation than Zapier, but it might be good for some.

The platform stands out for its wide support of both everyday web apps and even things like smart home products…from Gmail and Slack to Alexa, Philips Hue, and smart thermostats.

The free plan lets you create up to two custom applets, but those can run as many times as you want with no execution limits. Each one can use a single trigger and a single action, which is often enough for straightforward tasks. You can also tap into a large library of ready-made applets for quick setup, and even use webhooks or APIs for custom triggers.

IFTTT’s free plan is best for personal use. It’s not built for complex business workflows, but it makes everyday automation easy and accessible.

Pros 👍

• IFTTT is extremely beginner-friendly. You don’t need coding skills or any technical setup anywhere – like you do with n8n. Just pick a trigger, add an action, and turn it on.
• Smart home support does stand out. Not every automation tool will let you connect your Gmail with a smart bulb for instance. IFTTT makes it easy to mix apps and devices in one simple workflow.

Cons 👎

• Just two automations on the free account is not a lot. You quickly run out of room there.
• Multi-step chains and branching aren’t included either, so anything beyond basic one-trigger, one-action flows requires an upgrade.

Pricing 💰

IFTTT Pro gives you more applets to run, multi-action workflows, and delivers advanced options like queries and filters. Plans start at $2.99 per month, which is not a lot, for sure, compared to the other tools on this list. This makes it one of the more affordable upgrades compared to other Zapier alternatives.

3. Make

Make is a no-code automation platform that lets you build rather complex workflows with a visual drag-and-drop editor. Instead of Zapier’s straight-line setup, Make allows branching, loops, filters, and error handling. You can merge data from different sources, run calculations, and even add custom functions to fine-tune your workflows.

Its library includes over 2,000 app connectors, from Google Workspace and Slack to Shopify and Dropbox, and you can connect to almost any API with HTTP modules.

The free plan is generous in features. You get 1,000 operations each month, however you can run only two active scenarios. Branching and filtering are included, and you can access the full app library. Still, you can collaborate with unlimited users and design detailed flows that would be impossible in Zapier’s free tier. For tech-savvy users, Make offers serious power without cost.

Pros 👍

• Make gives you powerful workflow tools for free. Branching, loops, filters, and access to its full app library are included, so you can design advanced automations without paying.
• It also supports over 2,000 integrations and connects to any API through HTTP modules. This broad reach means you can tie together nearly all the tools you use.

Cons 👎

• The interface can feel overwhelming at first. Building complex scenarios requires understanding data flows and sometimes JSON, which is not the best match for everyone.
• The free plan’s 1,000 monthly operations and 15-minute trigger checks can also limit high-volume or time-sensitive tasks.

Pricing 💰

Paid plans increase the number of operations and shorten the minimum time interval between triggers. Upgrading also removes volume limits, making Make better for heavy use or faster automations. The core features remain available even on free.

4. Pabbly Connect

Pabbly Connect is another cloud-based no-code tool that helps you link apps and set up automations. Its free plan stands out because it actually includes unlimited workflows. You’re not limited to just a handful, and you can add as many steps as needed.

The plan gives you 100 tasks per month, but those only apply to actions that interact with outside apps. Internal steps like filters, delays, or routers don’t count, so your 100 tasks stretch much further.

You can schedule workflows to run on their own with the built-in scheduler, or trigger them instantly with webhooks. Pabbly also includes an API module for connecting to apps outside its library of 800+ integrations. All features (even things like routers, filters, formatters, scheduling) are available in the free plan.

For small businesses or anyone starting with automation, Pabbly Connect’s free tier makes it possible to build complex workflows without burning through tasks too quickly.

Pros 👍

• Pabbly Connect’s free plan gives you unlimited workflows and access to advanced tools like routers, formatters, and webhooks. Internal steps don’t count toward your task quota, so the 100 tasks provided can cover more real actions than on other platforms.
• All plans, including free, support unlimited workflows. You don’t need to pay extra to unlock “premium” apps.

Cons 👎

• There’s no live chat support. While Pabbly offers support via email, it lacks live chat support on the free plan. However, they do have a Facebook Group with 13,000+ members where you can get help.

Pricing 💰

Upgrading from the free plan starts at $14 per month for 10,000 tasks. Each paid tier scales up with higher task counts. Pabbly has also offered lifetime deals in the past, giving users ongoing monthly tasks for a one-time payment.

5. OttoKit

OttoKit is a cloud-based, no-code automation tool built in the style of Zapier that started as a for-WordPress solution, but has evolved into much more over time.

It uses a familiar setup that you’ll find in every other tool – based on triggers, actions, and workflows – so anyone who has tried Zapier will find it easy to learn. The interesting trait of OttoKit is its deep integration with WordPress plugins like WooCommerce, Elementor, and others. This means you can automate tasks that happen all within your site.

The free plan gives you 250 tasks per month and up to 20 workflows, which is a lot more than what you get from Zapier’s free plan. It covers most integrations, including over 1,000 apps like AirTable, Asana, Brevo, Facebook, GitHub, and of course Gmail, Slack, and the likes, plus lots of WordPress-specific tools. Advanced formatting tools are reserved for paid tiers, but the free allowance is generous enough for most small businesses and creators.

Pros 👍

• OttoKit’s free plan includes 250 tasks per month, which is st still more than Zapier offers. This gives users enough room to build and test automations before considering an upgrade.
• Its WordPress support is a major strength. Built-in connections to popular plugins make it easy to tie website activity directly to automations.

Cons 👎

• OttoKit is still new, so it lacks the long track record and larger community that Zapier has. Also, data formatting tools are locked behind paid plans, which may create extra work if you need to adjust text or dates in free workflows.

Pricing 💰

Paid plans increase monthly task limits (5,000 and up) and unlock features like data formatting, trigger button, AI agents, and more. OttoKit is positioned as more affordable than Zapier for most users, with both regular subscriptions and a lifetime deal option that gives you a set number of tasks each month without ongoing fees.

6. Pipedream

Pipedream is a cloud-based platform for building automations geared more at developers rather than everyday users. You’re going to especially enjoy it if you want more control over your setup than what most no-code tools provide.

Instead of only dragging blocks around, you can write JavaScript or Python directly in your workflow. At the same time, you still get access to hundreds of ready-made integrations for popular apps.

The free plan is moderately generous. It gives you what they call 100 credits. Most workflow executions consume one credit, so you can think of it as 100 automation executions. It allows three active workflows and three connected accounts at a time. All core features are included, so you can use any integration, add unlimited steps per workflow, and even schedule tasks.

With real-time triggers, support for npm and Python libraries, and built-in logging and debugging, Pipedream makes it easy to handle custom logic without managing servers.

Pros 👍

• Pipedream gives developers huge flexibility. You can integrate almost any service because you can write your own code. If something isn’t pre-built, you can script it yourself using provided libraries. This makes it powerful for uncommon or complex workflows.
• The free tier is unusually generous for AI work. It comes with 2M AI tokens included. You might be able to handle real projects with that without paying.

Cons 👎

• Pipedream is not for non-technical users, I’d say. To make the most of it, you need some programming skill, since the interface depends heavily on you knowing your way around these things.

Pricing 💰

If you outgrow the free tier, paid plans start at $29 per month. Upgrading removes the monthly execution caps and raises memory and time limits. All basic features stay the same, so the main reason to pay is to handle higher volume or more intensive workflows.

7. Activepieces

Activepieces is an open-source no-code automation tool built to be a simpler alternative to Zapier. Its main selling point these days seems to be AI agents, but it also provides flow-based automations, similar to Zapier’s.

It has a clean drag-and-drop builder in the browser, the tool comes with about 400+ integrations, called “pieces,” for popular apps like Shopify, Brevo, GitHub, Google Drive, and more. For apps not yet included, users can connect with webhooks or make direct API calls.

The free cloud plan gives 1,000 tasks each month and includes every core feature. Those who need more can upgrade, but there’s also another option: self-hosting. Because Activepieces is MIT-licensed open source, anyone can run it on their own server with Docker and unlock unlimited tasks at no cost (similar to the n8n solution we discussed at the start).

This dual setup makes Activepieces a nice flexible choice – easy to try in the cloud, yet fully free and scalable if you’re ready to host it yourself.

Pros 👍

• Open-source freedom. Activepieces is fully MIT-licensed, so you can self-host without limits. This gives you complete control over your automations, your data, and how much you scale.
• Easy to use. The interface is clean and familiar, similar to Zapier’s. You can drag and drop steps, get started quickly thanks to the onboarding wizard, and use built-in helpers.

Cons 👎

• Smaller library. Activepieces has about 400 integrations, which is far, far fewer than more established platforms. You may need to rely on webhooks or API calls to connect missing apps.

Pricing 💰

The free cloud plan gives 1,000 tasks each month with all features included. For heavier use, paid tiers start at $25 per month for unlimited tasks and 10 active flows vs 2 on the free tier. Remember – you can also self-host the open-source version and get unlimited tasks at no cost.

Found your solution yet?

So which solution caught your eye? I think I’m team n8n at this point.

Have we missed out any great Zapier alternatives? If so, please share in the comments below.