What is Workflow Automation?
Workflow automation lets you connect APIs, trigger actions, and build complex pipelines without writing code for every integration. Self-hosting your automation platform means no per-task pricing, no vendor lock-in, and complete control over your data and workflows.
Tools like n8n and Activepieces provide visual workflow builders that rival Zapier and Make — but run entirely on your own VPS. You pay only for the server, not per execution. A single $5/mo VPS can handle thousands of automations that would cost hundreds on SaaS platforms.
This approach is ideal for developers, startups, and small businesses who want to automate without recurring per-seat or per-task fees.
$ apt list --installable
Popular Workflow Automation Software
Top open-source tools you can self-host on your VPS.
n8n
Visual workflow automation with 400+ integrations. The most popular open-source Zapier alternative with a powerful node-based editor.
Read our guideActivepieces
Open-source, type-safe automation tool with a clean UI and rapidly growing library of connectors and community pieces.
Official siteWindmill
Developer-first workflow engine supporting Python, TypeScript, Go, and SQL scripts. Great for technical teams who prefer code over drag-and-drop.
Official siteTemporal
Durable execution platform for building reliable distributed systems and long-running workflows with automatic retries.
Official siteVPS Specifications
What you need to run workflow automation workloads.
$ top --providers --for=automation
Best Providers for Workflow Automation
Hand-picked based on specs, pricing, and suitability for workflow automation workloads.
Hetzner
Excellent price-to-performance with 20TB bandwidth for webhook-heavy workflows
Get Started
$ man automation
Frequently Asked Questions
How much RAM does n8n need?
n8n runs well on 2GB RAM for basic workflows. For production use with many concurrent executions, 4GB is recommended. Heavy workflows with large data payloads may need 8GB.
Can I replace Zapier with a self-hosted solution?
Yes. n8n and Activepieces cover most Zapier use cases including webhooks, scheduled triggers, and API integrations. A $5/mo VPS replaces hundreds in Zapier fees.
Is self-hosted automation reliable?
With proper setup (Docker Compose, auto-restart policies, monitoring), self-hosted automation is highly reliable. Most tools support webhook retries and error handling out of the box.
What operating system should I use?
Ubuntu 22.04 or 24.04 LTS is the most common choice. All major automation tools provide Docker images that work on any Linux distribution.
Can I run multiple automation tools on one VPS?
Yes. With Docker Compose you can run n8n alongside other services like a database and reverse proxy. A 4GB RAM VPS comfortably handles this stack.
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