12 tools · 18 hosting options · verified july 2026
Automation tools — priced from real data
Every tool, every hosting option — Cloud, self-host VPS, and your own server. Cheapest monthly cost at 5,000 runs/mo, computed live from each vendor's real plans. The unit is a run (one workflow execution), not an op.
Cheapest qualifying plan at 5,000 runs/mo, 3 steps per workflow — computed live from each vendor's real plans. Toggle Monthly / Annual to see the billed-yearly price (real $/mo paid annually) and the saving where a vendor offers one. Self-host VPS = rented server (scales with volume); own server = home electricity (monthly) plus a one-off hardware cost. Values marked ~ are estimates for custom tiers. Verified July 2026 — see the price changelog.
save up to 33% paid yearly
n8n
Fair-code automation for developers & self-hosters · 3 hosting options
n8n Cloud
Cloud$68.59/mo
per mo @ 5,000 runs · Cloud Pro 10k
$57.16/mo
billed annually @ 5,000 runs · Cloud Pro 10k
save 17% vs monthly
- 572+ integrations
- Max steps / workflow: Unlimited
- Execution timeout: No limit*
- AI / LLM nodes
- Code steps
- EU data residency
n8n (self-host · VPS)
Self-host · VPS$8/mo
per mo @ 5,000 runs · self-hosted*
- 572+ integrations
- Max steps / workflow: Unlimited
- Execution timeout: No limit*
- AI / LLM nodes
- Code steps
- EU data residency
n8n (self-host · own server)
Self-host · own server$3/mo
electricity / mo @ 5,000 runs
One-off hardware: ~$90
1-2 vCPU, 2GB (Raspberry Pi 4 / mini PC), SQLite
- 572+ integrations
- Max steps / workflow: Unlimited
- Execution timeout: No limit*
- AI / LLM nodes
- Code steps
- EU data residency
Make
Visual automation builder with the best cloud value · 1 hosting option
Make
Cloud$18.82/mo
per mo @ 5,000 runs · Core 20k
$16/mo
billed annually @ 5,000 runs · Core 20k
save 15% vs monthly
- 2,594+ integrations
- Max steps / workflow: Unlimited
- Execution timeout: 40 min
- AI / LLM nodes
- Code steps
- EU data residency
Pipedream
Code-first automation platform for developers · 1 hosting option
Pipedream
Cloud$75/mo
per mo @ 5,000 runs · Basic + overage
$59/mo
billed annually @ 5,000 runs · Basic + overage
save 21% vs monthly
- 3,391+ integrations
- Max steps / workflow: Unlimited
- Execution timeout: 30 sec (free) / 12 min (paid)
- AI / LLM nodes
- Code steps
- EU data residency
Zapier
The most integrations, built for non-technical users · 1 hosting option
Zapier
Cloud$193.5/mo
per mo @ 5,000 runs · Professional 10k
$129/mo
billed annually @ 5,000 runs · Professional 10k
save 33% vs monthly
- 9,725+ integrations
- Max steps / workflow: 2 steps (free)
- Execution timeout: 15 min
- AI / LLM nodes
- Code steps
- EU data residency
Activepieces
MIT-licensed (open-core) automation, Zapier-like UI · 3 hosting options
Activepieces Cloud
Cloud$0/mo
per mo @ 5,000 runs · Cloud
- 754+ integrations
- Max steps / workflow: Unlimited
- Execution timeout: No limit*
- AI / LLM nodes
- Code steps
- EU data residency
Activepieces (self-host · VPS)
Self-host · VPS$8/mo
per mo @ 5,000 runs · self-hosted*
- 754+ integrations
- Max steps / workflow: Unlimited
- Execution timeout: No limit*
- AI / LLM nodes
- Code steps
- EU data residency
Activepieces (self-host · own server)
Self-host · own server$3/mo
electricity / mo @ 5,000 runs
One-off hardware: ~$90
1-2 vCPU, 2GB (Raspberry Pi 4 / mini PC), SQLite
- 754+ integrations
- Max steps / workflow: Unlimited
- Execution timeout: No limit*
- AI / LLM nodes
- Code steps
- EU data residency
Automatisch
Simple EU-friendly open-source automation — development quiet since Jan 2026 · 2 hosting options
Automatisch (self-host · VPS)
Self-host · VPS$8/mo
per mo @ 5,000 runs · self-hosted*
- 92+ integrations
- Max steps / workflow: Unlimited
- Execution timeout: No limit*
- AI / LLM nodes
- Code steps
- EU data residency
Automatisch (self-host · own server)
Self-host · own server$3/mo
electricity / mo @ 5,000 runs
One-off hardware: ~$90
1-2 vCPU, 2GB (Raspberry Pi 4 / mini PC), SQLite
- 92+ integrations
- Max steps / workflow: Unlimited
- Execution timeout: No limit*
- AI / LLM nodes
- Code steps
- EU data residency
Node-RED
Event-driven automation for IoT and hardware · 2 hosting options
Node-RED (self-host · VPS)
Self-host · VPS$8/mo
per mo @ 5,000 runs · self-hosted*
- 6,092+ integrations
- Max steps / workflow: Unlimited
- Execution timeout: No limit
- AI / LLM nodes
- Code steps
- EU data residency
Node-RED (self-host · own server)
Self-host · own server$3/mo
electricity / mo @ 5,000 runs
One-off hardware: ~$90
1-2 vCPU, 2GB (Raspberry Pi 4 / mini PC), SQLite
- 6,092+ integrations
- Max steps / workflow: Unlimited
- Execution timeout: No limit
- AI / LLM nodes
- Code steps
- EU data residency
Pabbly Connect
Flat-priced automation — triggers & internal steps are free tasks · 1 hosting option
Pabbly Connect
Cloud$19/mo
per mo @ 5,000 runs · Standard
$16/mo
billed annually @ 5,000 runs · Standard
save 16% vs monthly
- 1,857+ integrations
- Max steps / workflow: Unlimited
- Execution timeout: n/a (not published)
- AI / LLM nodes
- Code steps
- EU data residency
Zoho Flow
Task-tiered automation inside the Zoho ecosystem, EU data centers · 1 hosting option
Zoho Flow
Cloud$37/mo
per mo @ 5,000 runs · Standard 10k
$31/mo
billed annually @ 5,000 runs · Standard 10k
save 16% vs monthly
- 1,042+ integrations
- Max steps / workflow: Unlimited
- Execution timeout: n/a (not published)
- AI / LLM nodes
- Code steps
- EU data residency
Relay.app
AI-first automation with human-in-the-loop steps · 1 hosting option
Relay.app
Cloud$198/mo
per mo @ 5,000 runs · Professional 10k
$99/mo
billed annually @ 5,000 runs · Professional 10k
save 50% vs monthly
- 186+ integrations
- Max steps / workflow: Unlimited
- Execution timeout: n/a (not published)
- AI / LLM nodes
- Code steps
- EU data residency
Latenode
Usage-based automation billed per CPU second, JS + NPM included · 1 hosting option
Latenode
Cloud$0/mo
per mo @ 5,000 runs · Free
- 847+ integrations
- Max steps / workflow: Unlimited
- Execution timeout: 3 min (Free) / 10 min (PAYG)
- AI / LLM nodes
- Code steps
- EU data residency
IFTTT
Applet-count pricing with unlimited runs — consumer-grade simplicity · 1 hosting option
IFTTT
Cloud$4.99/mo
per mo @ 5,000 runs · Pro
$2.99/mo
billed annually @ 5,000 runs · Pro
save 40% vs monthly
- 1,050+ integrations
- Max steps / workflow: 2 (Free) / multi (Pro+)
- Execution timeout: n/a (not published)
- AI / LLM nodes
- Code steps
- EU data residency
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