Zapier replacement -Actovr Pieces | Tom Karels

Zapier replacement -Actovr Pieces

YouTube

This video introduces Activepieces, an open-source, self-hostable automation platform presented as a potent alternative to expensive services like Zapier and Make.com. The speaker highlights its rapid growth, boasting nearly 20,000 GitHub stars and over 100,000 active installations, alongside 500+ native integrations and built-in AI agents with full MCP support. A primary advantage emphasized is its "no per-task pricing" and unlimited runs, a significant draw for users burdened by high costs from traditional automation tools. The video offers a practical demonstration of Activepieces' user interface, illustrating how to set up automation flows from pre-built templates or from scratch, integrating various services like Gmail, OpenAI, and Notion. While praising its AI-native design and open-source foundation, including its acceptance into Y Combinator, the speaker also addresses several limitations. These include a comparatively smaller integration count (500 vs. Zapier's 8,000+), enterprise governance features confined to paid tiers, somewhat unclear documentation for custom pieces, and potential performance bottlenecks for self-hosted queues under high demand. Ultimately, the video concludes that Activepieces is an excellent choice for individual developers and smaller teams looking to cut costs and maintain full control over their automation infrastructure. However, it may not be the optimal solution for large enterprises or big teams that require an extensive array of integrations, advanced governance, and guaranteed 24/7 high-performance uptime, where investing in a paid, fully managed platform might still be more suitable.

Activepieces automation

Introduction to Activepieces

Introduced as one of the fastest-growing open-source automation platforms.
Boasts nearly 20,000 GitHub stars and over 100,000 active installations.
Features over 500 native integrations.
Includes built-in AI agents and full MCP (Multimodal Cognitive Programs) support for tools like Claude, Cursor, and other AI agents.
Positioned as a potential replacement for paid automation tools like Zapier and Make.com, offering no per-task pricing and unlimited runs.
It's AI-native and built from the ground up for AI.
Became open-source under MIT license and was accepted into Y Combinator.
Has been shipping weekly since its inception.

Motivation for Seeking Alternatives

Timestamps

00:00

Introduction to ActivepiecesOverview of Activepieces as a rapidly growing open-source automation platform, highlighting key features and potential as a Zapier/Make.com alternative.

00:45

Motivation: High Automation CostsDiscusses the rising costs of traditional automation platforms and the search for more affordable, open-source options.

00:58

Activepieces Core BenefitsExplains Activepieces' open-source, self-hostable nature, unlimited runs, AI-native capabilities, and community backing.

01:47

Getting Started & Platform DemoDemonstrates the Docker installation process and navigates the Activepieces UI, showing flow creation from templates and scratch with various integrations.

03:33

MCP Server AdvantageDetails how Activepieces integrates with LLM agents through MCP servers, simplifying access to numerous tools.

04:24

Drawbacks and LimitationsCritiques Activepieces' fewer integrations compared to competitors, enterprise feature limitations, documentation, and self-hosting performance concerns.

05:17

Who Should Use Activepieces?Provides a concluding recommendation on the ideal users for Activepieces (small teams, individual devs) and those who might be better off with other solutions (large enterprises).

Target Audience

Individual developers, small to medium-sized businesses, and startups who are looking for a cost-effective, open-source, and self-hostable automation platform. It's particularly useful for those who want full control over their automation workflows, zero per-task billing, and are comfortable with self-hosting solutions. Companies experiencing high automation bills from Zapier or Make.com would also find this video beneficial.

Use Cases

-Automating internal business workflows to reduce operational costs and gain full control over data.
-Integrating AI agents (LLMs) with various SaaS tools for advanced, customizable automations without proprietary plugin limitations.
-Building custom automation pipelines for specific niche needs where existing platforms are too restrictive or expensive.
-For developers who want to self-host their automation infrastructure, contributing to or extending the platform's capabilities.
-Migrating away from expensive per-task billing models of commercial automation tools to a flat-rate, unlimited execution environment.