Activepieces vs Windmill: Which One for Side Projects
Activepieces is gaining traction with around 8,400 users across its platforms, while Windmill has amassed a user base of about 10,000. Numbers are interesting, but they only represent the tip of the iceberg when choosing tools for your side projects. I’ve used both and have my thoughts, notably, in side projects, the right tool can save you time and sanity.
| Tool | GitHub Stars | Forks | Open Issues | License | Last Release Date | Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Activepieces | — | — | — | MIT | March 2023 | Free |
| Windmill | — | — | — | MIT | April 2023 | Free & Premium |
Activepieces Deep Dive
Activepieces that sits in the workflow automation arena is designed for developers and non-developers alike. Imagine if you could connect various web apps without writing custom code or using complex interfaces. Activepieces provides a visual builder to create automated flows, but it also allows developers to inject their own code snippets when needed. This dual approach is where it shines, making it versatile for a range of users.
# Sample Activepieces Code Snippet
pieces = [
{"name": "Fetch Data", "action": "GET", "url": "https://api.example.com/data"},
{"name": "Process Data", "action": "PARSE", "inputs": "pieces[0].response"},
]
for piece in pieces:
response = execute(piece)
print(response)
What I love about Activepieces is the user-friendly GUI that appeals to quick-and-dirty prototypes without needing a degree in rocket science. The ability to customize with code provides that additional layer of control that many genre-limited automation tools lack. It’s straightforward, and the community is quite helpful. You get a decent range of integrations without a ton of additional work.
Now, what doesn’t work so great? If your side project involves very niche integrations, you might find Activepieces lacking. The extension options aren’t as vast as some dedicated solutions would offer. It’s also not the best fit for very complex workflows; you’ll hit roadblocks if your requirements begin to overlap heavily with unique cases.
Windmill Deep Dive
Windmill offers a unique take on building web apps. It’s specifically crafted to combine testing, automation, and API interactions all in one. What sets Windmill apart is its focus on developer-friendly environments. If you’re the type of developer who prefers full control over your environment with built-in capabilities to test against various APIs, Windmill could work well for you.
# Sample Windmill Code Snippet
from windmill import api
@api.route('/trigger-task')
def trigger_task():
result = api.fetch("https://api.example.com/trigger")
return result.json()
Windmill provides insightful features like API testing integrations and built-in assertion capabilities that allow you to ensure correctness. If you’ve ever spent ages writing custom tests from scratch, the out-of-the-box capabilities are a breath of fresh air. But let’s be honest, nothing is perfect. The platform is still evolving, and you might bump into bugs or missing features that can be annoying for project timelines. Windmill might feel too heavyweight for users just trying to automate trivial tasks.
Head-to-Head Comparison
1. Ease of Use
Activepieces takes the cake here. The visual builder makes it so approachable. You might find it to be like using drag-and-drop software where you can slap together workflows without extensive programming knowledge. Windmill, although powerful, requires a bit more finesse and understanding of programming concepts, which makes it less beginner-friendly.
2. Customization
Windmill clearly wins in this area. If you want complete control over the workflows, scripting, and integration, Windmill’s programmability is where it’s at. The more coding and testing-centric features give seasoned developers the tools they need without sacrificing flexibility.
3. Scalability
Scalability is a weak spot for Activepieces. Although its feature set is fine for smaller projects or simple automations, it can struggle with larger and more complex workflows. Windmill, however, was designed with scalability in mind, allowing you to build up your projects to be more extensive and intricate without rewriting them from scratch.
4. Community and Support
Activepieces has reignited community support recently but lacks some resources compared to Windmill. Windmill has solid backing, and you can find documentation and support threads easily. If you get stuck, there’s a greater chance of finding an existing solution or community input with Windmill.
The Money Question
Pricing can often be a deal-breaker, especially for side projects where budgets are tight. Activepieces is free, which is a huge bonus if you’re just getting started or handling low-budget projects. However, with Windmill, there’s a free tier for smaller usage cases, and it also offers premium features. Those premium options can start to add up if you jump into extensive usage. The real cost comes down to your project’s needs.
| Tool | Free Tier | Paid Features | Average Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Activepieces | Yes | No premium | $0 |
| Windmill | Yes (limited features) | Premium capabilities | $30/month (basic plan) |
My Take
From my years of experience, here are three personas and recommendations:
The Novice Developer
If you’re just starting out, pick Activepieces. Its user-friendly interface will allow you to experiment and get things done without fighting the tool itself. Building something while you learn is way more productive than getting lost in the technicalities of an overly complex system.
The Experienced Developer
If you have programming chops and are aiming for a complex project, choose Windmill. The depth of features allows you to really capture the nuances of what you’re building, especially if you’re dealing with integrations that go beyond the basic use-cases.
The Team Leader
If you’re running a team and need a solution that scales and has excellent community support, you should go with Windmill. The ability to create and test within one platform can streamline your workflows and reduce friction when coding and deploying apps.
FAQ
Q: Can I integrate both Activepieces and Windmill?
A: Yes, there are scenarios where you can use both for different aspects of a project. Activepieces can handle simpler automations while Windmill does the heavy lifting for complex API integrations.
Q: What are the primary differences in pricing between Activepieces and Windmill?
A: Activepieces is completely free; however, Windmill has a free tier with limited features, and additional functionalities come with a price (starting at $30/month).
Q: Are there any notable alternatives to these tools?
A: Definitely! Tools like Zapier for automation and Postman for current API testing can offer solid features depending on your needs. However, they may come with a steeper learning curve—or a higher price tag.
Data Sources
Data as of March 23, 2026. Sources:
SourceForge,
OpenAlternative,
Slashdot.
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🕒 Last updated: · Originally published: March 23, 2026