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Open-source alternative to Zapier

The open-source Zapier alternative

Zapier runs a fixed sequence of steps you set up in its editor. Kortix is the open-source AI Operating System: agents do open-ended work across 3,000+ apps, on their own cloud computers, and land it in a git repo you own.

Open source · Any model, your keys · Self-host, VPC, or on-prem

The open-source AI Operating System

repo/acme-co
repo/acme-co   your whole company, as filesagents/        who does the workskills/        how your company does a jobmemory/        what it has learned so farkortix.yaml    rules, triggers, connectors, machine
Source: kortix.com/docs

3,000+ apps in a click, plus MCP, OpenAPI, Postman, GraphQL and raw HTTP.

Zapier, n8n, Make, and Kortix, side by side

The Zapier, n8n, and Make columns state what each vendor documents. The Kortix column quotes Kortix.

Our pick

Kortix

Open source
Yes
What it is
Open-source AI Operating System; agents, skills, memory, and connectors in one repo
Automation model
An agent does open-ended work on its own cloud computer
Self-hosting
Run it on Kortix Cloud, in your VPC, or on your own on-prem network
Plan shape
Free to start; team plan billed per seat, credits pooled

zapier.com

Zapier

Open source
No, a hosted service
What it is
Hosted workflow automation; Zaps move data between 9,000+ apps
Automation model
A Zap is a trigger and one or more action steps
Self-hosting
No, hosted by Zapier only
Plan shape
Free tier; paid plans draw from one shared pool of tasks

n8n.io

n8n

Open source
Source on GitHub; self-host with Docker
What it is
Workflow automation and AI agents you build visually or in code
Automation model
Visual workflows with code steps; agent runs traceable on the canvas
Self-hosting
Yes, on your infrastructure or n8n's cloud
Plan shape
Self-host free; paid cloud plans billed per execution

make.com

Make

Open source
No, a hosted service
What it is
Hosted visual automation; scenarios connect 3,500+ apps
Automation model
A scenario runs modules in order; each module action uses credits
Self-hosting
No, hosted on AWS; Enterprise adds an on-prem agent
Plan shape
Free tier; paid plans billed by credits used

Zapier, n8n, and Make rows reflect each vendor's public pricing page, checked October 2026. Check them before you buy.

Six layers, each one a file or a command you can read

Every layer an AI workforce needs, in one platform you own.

  1. Repo

    One git repo that is the company

    Agents, skills, memory, connector config and triggers are all text in one repo.

    repo/acme-co
    repo/acme-co   your whole company, as filesagents/        who does the workskills/        how your company does a jobmemory/        what it has learned so farkortix.yaml    rules, triggers, connectors, machine
    Source: kortix.com/docs
  2. Connectors

    Every tool your company already runs on

    3,000+ apps in a click, plus MCP, OpenAPI, Postman, GraphQL and raw HTTP.

    connectors
    3,000+ apps in a click, plus MCP, OpenAPI, Postman, GraphQL and raw HTTPConnector credentials are brokered server-side and never enter the machineEach tool call can be set to allow, ask or block, down to the arguments it was given
    Source: kortix.com/docs
  3. Models

    Run any model. Keep your keys

    Any model provider with your own keys. Or the ChatGPT plan you already pay for.

    models
    Kortix is model-agnosticPick the model per agent, per session or per messageBring your own API key from any major providerOr sign in with the ChatGPT subscription you already pay for
    Source: kortix.com/docs
  4. Harness

    The part that turns a model into an agent

    OpenCode is the harness. The harness gives it planning, tool use and multi-step runs it actually finishes.

    harness
    A model on its own answersThe harness gives it planning, tool use and multi-step runs it actually finishesSay allow, ask or deny per tool, down to a single shell commandOpen source, so the harness is never the thing you are locked into
    Source: kortix.com/docs
  5. Computer

    Every session gets its own computer

    One isolated sandbox per session. Each session has its own isolated machine and branch.

    computer
    Each session boots its own isolated Linux machinewith your repo and your tools already on itSession id, sandbox id and branch name are one and the same stringThousands run in parallel with no crossover between them
    Source: kortix.com/docs
  6. Review

    One place to start it, one gate to land it

    Session work reaches main through a change request. Merge is default-deny for agents.

    review
    Web, Slack, mobile, CLI and API all start the same sessionCron schedules and signed webhooks start sessions with no one askingSession work lands on main as a change request you read as a diff first
    Source: kortix.com/docs

Questions people ask before they switch from Zapier

Short answers on cost, open source, self-hosting, and how Kortix differs from n8n and Make.

Is there an open-source alternative to Zapier?

Yes. Kortix is the open-source AI Operating System: your agents, skills, company memory, and connectors live in one git repo you own. Instead of firing a fixed sequence of steps, an agent does the job on its own cloud computer and opens a change request you review.

Is there a free Zapier alternative?

Yes. Kortix is free to start, and self-host is free: run it on Kortix Cloud, in your VPC, or on your own on-prem network.

How is Kortix different from n8n or Make?

n8n and Make run workflows: a fixed sequence of steps you build in a visual editor and maintain. Kortix is an open-source AI Operating System where an agent takes an open-ended job, works on its own cloud computer, and lands the result through a change request.

Can I self-host a Zapier alternative?

Yes. Run Kortix on Kortix Cloud, in your VPC, or on your own on-prem network, and self-host is free. The configuration is a git repo you own, so you can read it, fork it, and audit it.

Run your whole company from one repo you own

Start with one job and grow from there.