Automation · replacement recipe

A handful of stable automations

Replaces Zapier, Make. 8 ways out. Best: Make (switch vendor), about $46 saved in year one.

Modeled, not measured. Savings use public prices and planning assumptions: the bill you stop paying, minus the new tool, your upkeep time and your setup time at $50/hour, over the first 12 months. No verified migrations yet. Check the must-haves in each recipe before you switch.

What you use

  • Webhook triggers
  • Scheduled jobs
  • Mapping
  • Retries
  • Failure alerts

Not covered

  • Thousands of connectors
  • Arbitrary visual builder
  • Enterprise controls
  • Zero-maintenance API updates

Check before switching

  • Task/credit units mapped per workflow
  • Connector and API permissions checked
  • High enough bill to justify work
  • Commercial license checked

Agents: get_recipe("fixed-automations") on the Stackcut MCP server.

8 ways out, best first

Switch vendorMakeSaves $46 in year one
$19.99/mo today → $12/mo · setup 1 h · then $96/yr · payback 6.3 mo
1 seat. Make Core $12/mo for 10,000 credits vs Zapier Professional from $19.99.
Covers 100% of the core features
Make Core $12/mo for 10,000 credits vs Zapier Professional from $19.99.
Sources: zapier.commake.com
Replace with AIReplace with AI: three custom jobsCosts $280 more in year one
$19.99/mo today → $10/mo + 0.25 h upkeep · setup 4 h + $50
Three low-volume, stable jobs fitting the starting tier
Sources: zapier.com
Open sourcen8nCosts $1,220 more in year one
$19.99/mo today → $5/mo + 2 h upkeep · setup 4 h
1 seat. Self-hosted Community edition is free with unlimited executions (you run it).
Covers 100% of the core features
Self-hosted Community edition is free with unlimited executions (you run it).
License: source_available
Sources: zapier.comn8n.io
Open sourceActivepiecesCosts $1,220 more in year one
$19.99/mo today → $5/mo + 2 h upkeep · setup 4 h
1 seat. MIT-core open source; free tier or Plus $20/mo flat.
Covers 100% of the core features
MIT-core open source; free tier or Plus $20/mo flat.
License: open_source
Sources: zapier.comactivepieces.com
Open sourcen8nCosts $1,316 more in year one
$12/mo today → $5/mo + 2 h upkeep · setup 4 h
1 seat. Self-host free.
Covers 100% of the core features
Self-host free.
License: source_available
Sources: make.comn8n.io
Open sourceActivepiecesCosts $1,316 more in year one
$12/mo today → $5/mo + 2 h upkeep · setup 4 h
1 seat. Open-source alternative; self-host or hosted free tier.
Covers 100% of the core features
Open-source alternative; self-host or hosted free tier.
License: open_source
Sources: make.comactivepieces.com
Open sourceActivepiecesSavings not modeled yet
License: MIT core with separately licensed enterprise features; validate the exact edition.
Sources: activepieces.com
Open sourcen8nSavings not modeled yet
License: Sustainable Use License / source-available, not an unrestricted open-source SaaS-resale license. Review permitted use before hosting for customers.
Sources: n8n.io

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