Activepieces
Self-hosted workflow automation with 280+ connectors — a visual no-code alternative to Zapier and Make.
Activepieces is an open-source (MIT) workflow automation platform. Build multi-step flows visually — triggers fire, actions execute, data transforms between services. Self-hosted means unlimited runs with no per-task fees.
What you get
- Visual drag-and-drop flow editor
- 280+ pre-built connectors (Slack, Gmail, Google Sheets, webhooks, databases, AI)
- Unlimited flows and executions (hardware-limited, not license-limited)
- Built-in AI pieces (OpenAI, Anthropic, custom models)
- Execution history and per-flow logging
- Multi-user with project isolation
Requirements
| Resource | Minimum | Included on Automation plan |
|---|---|---|
| RAM | 4 GB (app + Postgres + Redis) | 4 GB (Plus: 8 GB) |
| Storage | 20 GB | 30 GB (Plus: 60 GB) |
| CPU | 2 cores | Shared |
Install
Deploy from the installer
Control panel → App installer → Activepieces. Assign a domain (e.g.
auto.yourdomain.com). The stack (app + Postgres + Redis) provisions in about two minutes.Create your admin account
Visit
https://auto.yourdomain.com. The first visitor creates the admin account — do this immediately after install to prevent unauthorized access.Connect your first service
Click Create Flow → Add trigger. When you choose a service (e.g. Gmail, Slack), you'll be prompted to authenticate via OAuth or API key. Credentials are encrypted and stored on your server.
Building your first flow
Add a trigger
Every flow starts with a trigger:
- Schedule — run every hour, day, or custom cron
- Webhook — fire when an external service POSTs data
- App event — new email, new Slack message, new row in Google Sheets
Add actions
After the trigger, chain actions:
- Send email (via SMTP or API)
- Create row in a database or spreadsheet
- Call HTTP endpoint (any API)
- Transform data with code (JavaScript/TypeScript)
- AI: Generate text with OpenAI/Anthropic
Test with sample data
Click Test flow to run it once with sample input. Debug each step's output before publishing.
Publish
Click Publish. The flow is now live and will fire automatically on trigger events.
Common automation recipes
| Recipe | Trigger | Actions |
|---|---|---|
| New form → email + CRM | Webhook (form submit) | Send email + create contact in CRM |
| Daily report | Schedule (09:00 daily) | Query DB → format → send Slack message |
| Order notification | Webhook (WooCommerce) | Send Telegram message + log to Google Sheet |
| Content moderation | New comment (webhook) | AI classify → if spam, delete + notify admin |
| Backup alert | Schedule (daily) | Check backup status API → alert on failure |
Connecting AI
Activepieces has native AI pieces:
- Settings → Connections → Add → choose OpenAI or Anthropic
- Paste your API key (you pay providers directly, at cost)
- In any flow, add an AI: Generate text action
- Use data from previous steps as context
Use cases: auto-categorize support tickets, generate email responses, summarize reports, classify form submissions.
SMTP configuration
For flows that send email, configure SMTP under Settings → Connections:
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Host | smtp.resend.com |
| Port | 465 |
| Username | resend |
| Password | Your API key |
| From | automations@yourdomain.com |
Multi-user and projects
- Invite team members under Settings → Team
- Create separate projects for different departments or clients
- Each project has isolated flows, connections, and execution history
Troubleshooting
| Issue | Fix |
|---|---|
| Flow not triggering | Check trigger is Published (draft flows don't fire); verify webhook URL or schedule |
| OAuth connection expired | Re-authenticate the connection in Settings → Connections |
| Actions timing out | Increase timeout in flow settings; check target service is responsive |
| High memory usage | Reduce concurrent flow workers; upgrade to Automation Plus |
| Container won't start | Check Redis and Postgres health in panel |
Backups
Daily off-site backups cover the full stack (app + Postgres + Redis). Restore from Panel → Backups.