Activepieces is an open-source, self-hosted automation platform designed as an alternative to Zapier, targeting both technical and non-technical users. It enables the creation of AI-powered workflows and automations through a user-friendly, no-code builder, with a strong emphasis on extensibility via a TypeScript-based "pieces" framework.

How It Works

The core of Activepieces is its "pieces" framework, which allows developers to create reusable integration modules as TypeScript npm packages. These pieces are automatically discoverable and usable within the workflow builder, supporting LLM integrations through tools like Claude Desktop and Cursor. This approach fosters an open ecosystem, with a significant portion of the 280+ available pieces contributed by the community, ensuring broad service coverage and rapid expansion.

Quick Start & Requirements

• Install: Docker is the recommended installation method.
• Prerequisites: Docker and Docker Compose.
• Resources: Requires sufficient resources for Docker containers.
• Docs: https://www.activepieces.com/docs/

Highlighted Details

• Over 200 pre-built pieces for popular services like Google Sheets, OpenAI, and Discord.
• AI-first design with native AI pieces and an AI SDK for agent creation.
• Features include loops, branches, auto-retries, HTTP requests, and code execution with NPM.
• Supports human-in-the-loop approvals and human input interfaces (chat, forms).

Maintenance & Community

The project has a substantial list of contributors and is actively maintained. Community engagement is encouraged via a Discord server.

Licensing & Compatibility

The Community Edition is released under the MIT license, allowing for commercial use and integration with closed-source applications. Enterprise features are under a separate Commercial License.

Limitations & Caveats

While the Community Edition is MIT licensed, enterprise features require a commercial license, necessitating a review of feature parity for commercial adoption. The project is actively developed, implying potential for breaking changes between releases.