# Best open source workflow automation tools > The best open source workflow automation tool is Apache Airflow, with 47,062 GitHub stars, the Apache-2.0 license and a Docker image; Kestra and changedetection.io are strong alternatives. n8n ranks higher on these signals but is source-available, not open source. This page also breaks the picks down by team size and use: Apache Airflow leads for startups, small business, enterprise and solo developers. The overall ranking weighs GitHub stars, commits in the last year, Docker images, open-source licenses and recent commits across the 31 apps in the automation & workflows category of the appsgit catalog. ## Key facts | Fact | Value | |---|---| | Question | What is the best open source workflow automation tool? | | Picks | 25 | | Top pick | n8n (206,738 stars) | | Data as of | Oct 7, 2026 | | Canonical URL | https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-workflow-automation | ## Top picks 10 of the 31 apps in the automation & workflows category, ranked on GitHub stars, commits in the last year, Docker images, open-source licenses and recent commits. - [n8n](https://appsgit.com/apps/n8n) (206,738 stars, Sustainable Use License, source-available, TypeScript, Docker): n8n has 206,738 GitHub stars, is source-available under the Sustainable Use License 1.0 (not an open-source license), ships a Docker image and had 9,029 commits in the last year; it replaces Zapier and IFTTT. - [Apache Airflow](https://appsgit.com/apps/apache-airflow) (47,062 stars, Apache-2.0, Python, Docker): Apache Airflow has 47,062 GitHub stars, uses the Apache-2.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 7,745 commits in the last year. - [Kestra](https://appsgit.com/apps/kestra) (29,274 stars, Apache-2.0, Java, Docker): Kestra has 29,274 GitHub stars, uses the Apache-2.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 4,392 commits in the last year; it replaces Zapier. - [changedetection.io](https://appsgit.com/apps/changedetection-io) (34,796 stars, Apache-2.0, Python, Docker): changedetection.io has 34,796 GitHub stars, uses the Apache-2.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 557 commits in the last year. - [Activepieces](https://appsgit.com/apps/activepieces) (24,913 stars, MIT, TypeScript, Docker, AI features): Activepieces has 24,913 GitHub stars, uses the MIT license, ships a Docker image and had 5,647 commits in the last year; it replaces Zapier and IFTTT. - [Temporal](https://appsgit.com/apps/temporal) (23,487 stars, MIT, Go, Docker): Temporal has 23,487 GitHub stars, uses the MIT license, ships a Docker image and had 2,022 commits in the last year. - [Huginn](https://appsgit.com/apps/huginn) (50,023 stars, MIT, Ruby): Huginn has 50,023 GitHub stars, uses the MIT license and had 375 commits in the last year; it replaces Zapier and IFTTT. - [Windmill](https://appsgit.com/apps/windmill) (18,108 stars, AGPL-3.0, Rust, Docker): Windmill has 18,108 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 4,452 commits in the last year; it replaces Zapier. - [Gotenberg](https://appsgit.com/apps/gotenberg) (13,228 stars, MIT, Go, Docker): Gotenberg has 13,228 GitHub stars, uses the MIT license, ships a Docker image and had 366 commits in the last year; it replaces Adobe Acrobat. - [Leon](https://appsgit.com/apps/leon) (17,555 stars, MIT, TypeScript, AI features): Leon has 17,555 GitHub stars, uses the MIT license and had 824 commits in the last year. ## Best for startups Ranked for startups on GitHub stars, commits in the last year, Docker images, open-source licenses, project websites and recent commits. - [Apache Airflow](https://appsgit.com/apps/apache-airflow) (47,062 stars, Apache-2.0, Python, Docker): Apache Airflow has 47,062 GitHub stars, uses the Apache-2.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 7,745 commits in the last year. For startups it also scores on a Docker image, a permissive license (Apache-2.0), a project website and a commit in the last 90 days. - [n8n](https://appsgit.com/apps/n8n) (206,738 stars, Sustainable Use License, source-available, TypeScript, Docker): n8n has 206,738 GitHub stars, is source-available under the Sustainable Use License 1.0 (not an open-source license), ships a Docker image and had 9,029 commits in the last year; it replaces Zapier and IFTTT. For startups it also scores on a Docker image, a project website and a commit in the last 90 days. - [Kestra](https://appsgit.com/apps/kestra) (29,274 stars, Apache-2.0, Java, Docker): Kestra has 29,274 GitHub stars, uses the Apache-2.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 4,392 commits in the last year; it replaces Zapier. For startups it also scores on a Docker image, a permissive license (Apache-2.0), a project website and a commit in the last 90 days. - [changedetection.io](https://appsgit.com/apps/changedetection-io) (34,796 stars, Apache-2.0, Python, Docker): changedetection.io has 34,796 GitHub stars, uses the Apache-2.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 557 commits in the last year. For startups it also scores on a Docker image, a permissive license (Apache-2.0), a project website and a commit in the last 90 days. - [Activepieces](https://appsgit.com/apps/activepieces) (24,913 stars, MIT, TypeScript, Docker, AI features): Activepieces has 24,913 GitHub stars, uses the MIT license, ships a Docker image and had 5,647 commits in the last year; it replaces Zapier and IFTTT. For startups it also scores on a Docker image, a permissive license (MIT), a project website and a commit in the last 90 days. ## Best for small business and solo developers Ranked for small business and solo developers (the same order for each) on GitHub stars, commits in the last year, Docker images, open-source licenses and recent commits. - [n8n](https://appsgit.com/apps/n8n) (206,738 stars, Sustainable Use License, source-available, TypeScript, Docker): n8n has 206,738 GitHub stars, is source-available under the Sustainable Use License 1.0 (not an open-source license), ships a Docker image and had 9,029 commits in the last year; it replaces Zapier and IFTTT, and appsgit has a step-by-step deploy guide for it. For small business it also scores on a Docker image, a project website, a commit in the last 90 days and an appsgit deploy guide. - [Apache Airflow](https://appsgit.com/apps/apache-airflow) (47,062 stars, Apache-2.0, Python, Docker): Apache Airflow has 47,062 GitHub stars, uses the Apache-2.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 7,745 commits in the last year; appsgit has a step-by-step deploy guide for it. For small business it also scores on a Docker image, an open-source license, a project website, a commit in the last 90 days and an appsgit deploy guide. - [Kestra](https://appsgit.com/apps/kestra) (29,274 stars, Apache-2.0, Java, Docker): Kestra has 29,274 GitHub stars, uses the Apache-2.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 4,392 commits in the last year; it replaces Zapier. For small business it also scores on a Docker image, an open-source license, a project website and a commit in the last 90 days. - [changedetection.io](https://appsgit.com/apps/changedetection-io) (34,796 stars, Apache-2.0, Python, Docker): changedetection.io has 34,796 GitHub stars, uses the Apache-2.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 557 commits in the last year. For small business it also scores on a Docker image, an open-source license, a project website and a commit in the last 90 days. - [Activepieces](https://appsgit.com/apps/activepieces) (24,913 stars, MIT, TypeScript, Docker, AI features): Activepieces has 24,913 GitHub stars, uses the MIT license, ships a Docker image and had 5,647 commits in the last year; it replaces Zapier and IFTTT. For small business it also scores on a Docker image, an open-source license, a project website and a commit in the last 90 days. ## Best for enterprise Ranked for enterprise on GitHub stars, commits in the last year, open-source licenses and recent commits. - [n8n](https://appsgit.com/apps/n8n) (206,738 stars, Sustainable Use License, source-available, TypeScript, Docker): n8n has 206,738 GitHub stars, is source-available under the Sustainable Use License 1.0 (not an open-source license), ships a Docker image and had 9,029 commits in the last year; it replaces Zapier and IFTTT. For enterprise it also scores on a commit in the last 90 days. - [Apache Airflow](https://appsgit.com/apps/apache-airflow) (47,062 stars, Apache-2.0, Python, Docker): Apache Airflow has 47,062 GitHub stars, uses the Apache-2.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 7,745 commits in the last year. For enterprise it also scores on an open-source license and a commit in the last 90 days. - [Huginn](https://appsgit.com/apps/huginn) (50,023 stars, MIT, Ruby): Huginn has 50,023 GitHub stars, uses the MIT license and had 375 commits in the last year; it replaces Zapier and IFTTT. For enterprise it also scores on an open-source license and a commit in the last 90 days. - [changedetection.io](https://appsgit.com/apps/changedetection-io) (34,796 stars, Apache-2.0, Python, Docker): changedetection.io has 34,796 GitHub stars, uses the Apache-2.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 557 commits in the last year. For enterprise it also scores on an open-source license and a commit in the last 90 days. - [Kestra](https://appsgit.com/apps/kestra) (29,274 stars, Apache-2.0, Java, Docker): Kestra has 29,274 GitHub stars, uses the Apache-2.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 4,392 commits in the last year; it replaces Zapier. For enterprise it also scores on an open-source license and a commit in the last 90 days. ## How this list was made - Candidates: the 31 apps in the automation & workflows category. Archived projects and projects with no commit in the last two years are left out. - Base score: GitHub stars on a log scale plus commits in the last 12 months (log scale, capped at 1,000). - Bonus points for a published Docker image, an OSI-approved open-source license and a commit in the last 90 days. - Each "Best for" section re-ranks the same apps with that audience's profile (for example startups add points for permissive licenses, project websites and recent commits; small business for Docker images and deploy guides). - Source-available apps can rank, but they are labelled and never described as open source. ## FAQ ### Is n8n free? Not by the OSI definition. n8n is source-available rather than open source: its code is public under the Sustainable Use License 1.0, which is not an OSI-approved open-source license. The Sustainable Use License allows use and changes for your own internal business or personal purposes, but not reselling the software or offering it as a paid hosted service. Check the license in the repository before using it commercially. ### Which open source workflow automation tool is best for a startup? Apache Airflow ranks first for startups, with 47,062 GitHub stars, the Apache-2.0 license and a Docker image; n8n (source-available) and Kestra follow. The startups ranking adds points for Docker images, permissive licenses, project websites and recent commits on top of stars and activity. ### Which open source workflow automation tool is best for a small business? Apache Airflow ranks first for small business, with 47,062 GitHub stars, the Apache-2.0 license and a Docker image; n8n (source-available) and Kestra follow. The small business ranking adds points for Docker images, open-source licenses, project websites, recent commits and deploy guides on top of stars and activity. ### Can I self-host these workflow automation tools with Docker? Yes, 8 of the 10 picks. n8n, Apache Airflow and Kestra publish Docker images, so you can run them on a VPS or home server with Docker Compose. The others install from their own packages or source; follow each project's install guide. ### Are all of these workflow automation tools open source? 9 of the 10 apps on this list are open source; 1 is source-available. Source-available licenses add conditions, such as limits on hosted or commercial use, so read them before you deploy. ## Related questions - [What is the best open source home automation platform?](https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-home-automation) - [What is the best open source CI/CD tool?](https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-ci-cd-tools) - [What is the best open source developer tool?](https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-developer-tools) - [What is the best open source low-code platform?](https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-low-code-platforms) - [What is the best open source document management system?](https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-document-management) - [What is the best open source email marketing tool?](https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-email-marketing) - [What is the best open source e-commerce platform?](https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-ecommerce-platforms) - [What is the best open source SSO and identity provider?](https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-identity-providers) ## See also - [All automation & workflows apps](https://appsgit.com/categories/automation) - [All home automation & IoT apps](https://appsgit.com/categories/home-automation) - [All CI/CD & deployment apps](https://appsgit.com/categories/ci-cd) - [Open-source alternatives to Zapier](https://appsgit.com/alternatives/zapier) - [Open-source alternatives to IFTTT](https://appsgit.com/alternatives/ifttt) - [Open-source alternatives to Buffer / Hootsuite](https://appsgit.com/alternatives/hootsuite) - [Open-source alternatives to Adobe Acrobat](https://appsgit.com/alternatives/adobe-acrobat) - [n8n vs Activepieces](https://appsgit.com/compare/n8n-vs-activepieces) - [n8n vs Huginn](https://appsgit.com/compare/n8n-vs-huginn) - [n8n vs Node-RED](https://appsgit.com/compare/n8n-vs-node-red) - [How to self-host n8n with Docker Compose](https://appsgit.com/guides/n8n) - [How to self-host Apache Airflow with Docker Compose](https://appsgit.com/guides/apache-airflow) --- Canonical page: https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-workflow-automation Source: appsgit (https://appsgit.com), the app store for github. 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