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Automatisch vs n8n: Which Automation Tool to Self-Host?

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Quick Verdict

n8n is the better tool for most self-hosters. It has far more integrations, a more polished editor, and active weekly releases. Automatisch is a simpler, fully open-source (AGPLv3) Zapier clone with a familiar step-based interface, but its integration library is limited and development is slower.

Overview

n8n is the leading self-hosted workflow automation platform with 400+ integrations, a visual canvas editor, advanced error handling, and enterprise features. It uses the Sustainable Use License.

Automatisch is an open-source (AGPLv3) business automation tool that closely mirrors Zapier's UI. It uses a simple trigger-action model with a step-by-step builder. The project is newer and smaller, with fewer integrations but a clean, focused interface.

Feature Comparison

Feature Automatisch n8n
License AGPLv3 Sustainable Use License
UI style Zapier-like step builder Canvas with nodes and wires
Integrations ~40 400+
Custom code Not supported JavaScript + Python
Error handling Basic Error workflows, retries
Credential management Encrypted per-connection Encrypted centralized store
Branching Limited IF, Switch, Merge nodes
Webhook triggers Yes Yes
Multi-user Basic (roles planned) Yes (roles + permissions)
Execution history Basic logs Detailed per-node execution data
Docker services 4 (app + worker + PostgreSQL + Redis) 2 (n8n + PostgreSQL)
Community size ~3k GitHub stars 60k+ GitHub stars

Installation Complexity

Automatisch runs four services: main app, worker, PostgreSQL, and Redis. Three secret keys must be generated (ENCRYPTION_KEY, WEBHOOK_SECRET_KEY, APP_SECRET_KEY).

services:
  main:
    image: automatischio/automatisch:0.15.0
  worker:
    image: automatischio/automatisch:0.15.0
    environment:
      WORKER: "true"
  postgres:
    image: postgres:14.5
  redis:
    image: redis:7.0.4
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n8n runs two services: n8n and PostgreSQL. One encryption key is required.

Automatisch's four-container setup is more complex. Default credentials are user@automatisch.io / sample — change these immediately.

Performance and Resource Usage

Metric Automatisch n8n
RAM (idle) ~300 MB (app + worker + DB + Redis) ~350 MB (app + DB)
CPU Low Low
Disk ~500 MB ~500 MB

Comparable resource usage. Automatisch's separate worker process handles background jobs independently, similar to n8n's queue mode.

Community and Support

Metric Automatisch n8n
GitHub stars ~3k 60k+
Release cadence Monthly Weekly
Last release v0.15.0 (Aug 2025) v2.8.3 (Feb 2026)
Documentation Basic (docs.automatisch.io) Comprehensive (docs.n8n.io)
Backing Small team n8n GmbH (VC-funded)

n8n has a 20x larger community and significantly faster development. Automatisch's v0.15.0 release is from August 2025 — several months without a new release is a concern for a pre-1.0 project.

Use Cases

Choose Automatisch If...

  • AGPLv3 licensing specifically fits your requirements
  • You want the closest Zapier clone experience
  • Your workflows are simple trigger-action pairs
  • You only need integrations with major platforms (Google, Slack, Notion, etc.)
  • You want a straightforward UI with minimal learning curve

Choose n8n If...

  • You need more than 40 integrations
  • You need custom code execution (JavaScript/Python)
  • You want advanced workflows with branching, merging, and sub-workflows
  • You need granular error handling and retry logic
  • You want active development with weekly updates
  • You need a large community for support and examples

Final Verdict

Pick n8n. Automatisch has a clean UI and the right idea — a simple, open-source Zapier clone — but it's too early in development. With ~40 integrations versus n8n's 400+, no custom code support, and a release gap of several months, Automatisch can't compete for most use cases today.

If Automatisch reaches 1.0 with a broader integration library and consistent releases, it could be a legitimate contender. For now, n8n (or Activepieces for MIT licensing) is the practical choice.

FAQ

Is Automatisch still being developed?

The project is still active on GitHub with occasional commits, but the last tagged release (v0.15.0) was August 2025. Development appears slower than competing projects.

Can Automatisch replace Zapier for simple workflows?

For very simple trigger-action workflows using supported apps (Google Sheets, Slack, Notion, Discord, etc.), yes. But Zapier supports 6,000+ apps versus Automatisch's ~40 — the gap is enormous.

Why would I choose AGPLv3 over n8n's license?

AGPLv3 is an OSI-approved open-source license. If your organization requires OSI-approved licensing, or if you want to modify and redistribute the software, AGPLv3 gives you those rights. n8n's Sustainable Use License restricts offering n8n as a managed service.

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