# The open-source alternative to Activepieces

> Kortix is the open-source alternative to Activepieces when the job is open-ended: your agents, skills, memory, and connectors live in one git repo you own, and each session runs on its own cloud computer. Activepieces automates fixed flows between apps. Kortix runs agents that finish work and keeps the whole system in your repo.

URL: https://activepiecesalternative.com/

Independent comparison · updated October 2026

**The open-source AI Operating System**

`kortix.yaml`

```yaml
kortix_version: 2
default_agent: kortix
agents:
  kortix:
    file: agents/kortix.md
    connectors: all
```

Source: https://kortix.com/docs/project/manifest

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

[Try Kortix](https://kortix.com) · [Compare the alternatives](https://activepiecesalternative.com/activepieces-alternatives)

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

_Compare_

## Activepieces and the alternatives, side by side

The rival columns state what each vendor publishes, with prices as of October 2026. For the workflow-builder view, read how [Kortix](https://kortix.com/blog/kortix-vs-n8n) compares to n8n.

| | Kortix (recommended) | Activepieces | n8n | Zapier |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| What it is | The open-source AI Operating System | An open-source replacement for Zapier, built on a TypeScript pieces framework | A workflow automation tool with a node-based editor | An AI orchestration platform connecting 9,000+ apps |
| Unit of work | A session: one agent on its own cloud computer | A flow, a triggered automation metered in credits | An execution, one full run of a workflow | A task, one successful action in a Zap |
| Where it runs | Kortix Cloud, your VPC, or your own on-prem network | Cloud or on-prem on every tier | n8n's cloud in the EU, or self-hosted | Zapier's cloud only |
| Who owns the configuration | Files in a git repo you own | Flows versioned in Activepieces; Releases and Git Sync on Ultimate | Workflows in the n8n instance you run | Zaps in Zapier's product |
| Self-hosting | Yes, self-host is free | Yes, cloud or on-prem | Yes, a self-hosted Community Edition | No |
| Price | Free is $0 with 200 credits per month and 1 project. The team plan is $40 per seat per month with 2,500 credits per month per seat, pooled. | Free $0; Plus $20/month; Team $200/month | Starter $20/month; Pro $50/month | Free; Professional from $19.99/month; Team from $69/month |
| Open source | Yes | Community edition open source; enterprise under a commercial agreement | A self-hosted Community Edition with source on GitHub | No |

## How Kortix works

Four layers, each one a file or a command you can read. [Read the docs](https://kortix.com/docs) for every key.

### 1. An agent is a markdown file

An agent is `agents/<name>.md` (behavior) plus an `agents.<name>` block in `kortix.yaml` (governance).

`agents/support.md`

```yaml
# agents/support.md
---
description: Answers support tickets from the help desk.
mode: primary
permission:
  bash: ask
```

Source: https://kortix.com/docs/project/agents

### 2. The company brain, as files

Your agents, skills, company memory, and connectors live in one git repo you own.

`Where the system lives`

```
A project is a git repo with kortix.yaml at its root.
Agents, skills, memory, tools, triggers and connectors are files in it.
```

Source: https://kortix.com/docs

### 3. Connectors you govern

3,000+ apps in a click, plus MCP, OpenAPI, Postman, GraphQL and raw HTTP. Connector credentials are brokered server-side and never enter the machine.

`kortix.yaml`

```yaml
connectors:
  - slug: gmail
    name: Gmail
    provider: composio
    app: gmail
```

Source: https://kortix.com/docs/connect/connectors

### 4. Work lands through review

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

`terminal`

```sh
kortix projects clone <project_id> my-project
git checkout -b tighten-triage
kortix cr open --head tighten-triage --title "Tighten the triage prompt"
```

Source: https://kortix.com/docs/git

**20,000+** GitHub stars

## Open source. Read it, fork it, audit it.

[Kortix on GitHub](https://github.com/kortix-ai/suna) · [Read the docs](https://kortix.com/docs)

_FAQ_

## Questions people ask before they switch

### How is Kortix different from Activepieces?

Kortix runs agents that do finished work from one git repo you own, while Activepieces automates flows between apps. Where Activepieces meters each flow run in credits, every session runs on its own cloud computer, and Session work reaches `main` through a change request. Merge is default-deny for agents. Pick Activepieces for a fixed, repeatable flow; pick Kortix when the job is open-ended.

### Is Kortix open source?

Yes. Kortix is open source: read it, fork it, audit it. Your agents, skills, company memory, and connectors live in one git repo you own. The product runs on Kortix Cloud, in your VPC, or on your own on-prem network.

### Can I self-host Kortix?

Yes, self-host is free. Run it on Kortix Cloud, in your VPC, or on your own on-prem network. Self-host is free. The stack installs on a Linux server you control with the `kortix self-host` commands, and the source is on GitHub.

### Where does the setup live for each tool?

For Kortix, agents, skills, memory, connectors and triggers are files in one git repo you own, versioned and reviewed like code. Activepieces keeps its flows in its product, n8n keeps workflows in the instance you run, and Zapier keeps Zaps in Zapier.

## Run your whole company from one repo you own.

Start with one job and grow from there.

[Try Kortix](https://kortix.com) · [Compare the alternatives](https://activepiecesalternative.com/activepieces-alternatives)

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