Make alternatives: 3 free & open-source picks
Curated, verified, and actually free. No trials, no crippled tiers. Star counts and last-activity dates checked by hand, not scraped and forgotten.
A polished visual workflow builder with hundreds of connectors and one Docker command.
licenseMIT
runsyour server
installRun one Docker container for personal/testing use, or Docker Compose with PostgreSQL and Redis for production.
enginesAI pieces connect to providers such as OpenAI, Anthropic and Google Gemini using user-supplied credentials.
dataSingle-container mode stores data under ~/.activepieces; production uses PostgreSQL and Redis, with files/logs optionally in S3-compatible storage.
the catch vs MakeActivepieces is less mature for Make-style complex mapping, branching and run inspection, and production use still needs infrastructure.
setupRequires Docker; public webhooks need a reachable HTTPS URL, while production also needs PostgreSQL, Redis and managed secrets.
facts verified 2026-08-10
A cleaner, smaller automation canvas when your scenarios do not need Make's long tail.
licenseAGPL-3.0
runsyour server
installClone the repository and run Docker Compose.
dataApplication and credential data stays on the user's server in PostgreSQL, with Redis for queues/cache; credentials are encrypted.
the catch vs MakeAutomatisch's connector catalog and transformation canvas are far narrower than Make's long-tail scenario system.
setupRequires Docker, PostgreSQL/Redis configuration and secret management; the default sample login must be changed immediately.
facts verified 2026-08-10
The closest broad replacement, with more self-hosting and fewer glossy scenario diagrams.
licensen8n Sustainable Use License
runsyour server
installInstall with Docker or npm; Docker is the recommended production path.
enginesAI nodes connect to OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Ollama and many other model/vector backends.
dataSQLite stores workflows, credentials and executions by default; PostgreSQL is supported, with binary data in the database, filesystem or object storage.
the catch vs Maken8n is the closest substitute but its workflow UX is more technical and self-hosting replaces Make's managed execution layer.
setupRequires a server, HTTPS and a public webhook URL for many integrations, plus ongoing updates, backups and provider credentials.
facts verified 2026-08-10
last updated 2026-08-10 · no votes, no pay-to-list · just what's real
| tool | license | running it | platforms | stars | active |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Activepieces Community Edition | MIT | docker to self-host | web, self-hosted | 23,604 | 2026-08 |
| Automatisch | AGPL-3.0 | docker to self-host | web, self-hosted | 13,923 | 2026-01 |
| n8n Community Edition | n8n Sustainable Use License | docker to self-host | web, self-hosted | — | — |
They pay because workflows evolve and break; a maintained builder reduces the upkeep. If none of that applies to you, any pick above saves $144 a year.
Is there a free alternative to Make?
Yes: Activepieces Community Edition, Automatisch, n8n Community Edition. Every tool on this page is either open source or genuinely free to use long-term: no trials, no crippled tiers.
Should I just build my own Make?
Our verdict is PARCIAL. A handful of workflows can be coded quickly, but Make's paid value is the visual builder, app modules, scheduling, observability, and maintenance. If you'd rather build, the exact one-shot prompt is free at puedovibecodearlo.app/make.
