The open-source alternative to Zapier Agents

Looking for something like Zapier Agents, but open source and free to start? Alfera is the AI coworker your whole team shares: a company brain that syncs your apps, connections shared per person or per team, permissions on every action, and Slack, WhatsApp and email. Self-host it in one click, or start on Alfera Cloud.

In one line: Alfera is open source with a company brain, vs a closed agent step inside Zapier.

AI agent builder inside an automation platformAlfera on GitHub
Hire your coworkerBook a demo
Zapier AgentsAI agent builder inside an automation platformOpen source, or Alfera Cloud
What it isAI agents that act across Zapier's 9,000+ app connections. Since Oct 6, 2026 the agent features live in the AI by Zapier step in Zaps.The AI coworker your whole team shares, with a company brain that syncs your apps. Open source.
Open sourceNoYes, AGPL-3.0
Self-hostNot publishedYes: one click on DigitalOcean or AWS, or one command on any server
PriceAgents Free: 400 activities/month. Agents Pro: $33.33/month billed annually, 1,500 activities/monthFree to start: open source to self-host, and Alfera Cloud starts with $10 of free AI usage
Where it worksWeb app, Chrome extension, SlackSlack, WhatsApp, email from its own address, the web app, a Mac app, the API and MCP
Team useOn Team and Enterprise accounts all users share one pool of activities. Agent sharing is listed on the Enterprise plan only.Multiplayer: one coworker for the whole team. It knows who is asking, and each connection is shared with everyone, one project, or one person
PermissionsIn AI by Zapier, a 'Require approval before running' toggle is set per tool. Agents can also be told to ask for confirmation via a messaging app.Allow, ask first, or never, per connection and per action. Approvals in Slack, email or the app, and every action logged
Starts on its ownOn Demand, Schedule by Zapier, Zap workflows and MCP, or an app event (e.g. Gmail, Google Sheets, Slack). AI by Zapier can use any Zap trigger.On a schedule, from a webhook, or on 600+ app events
ModelsAI by Zapier offers Standard, Advanced and Premium model tiers, or a named model. Bring your own key: Not published.230+ models: Claude, GPT, Gemini, open models, your ChatGPT plan, or your own

Where Zapier Agents is the better choice

Zapier users who want AI agents that work across their existing apps, on command and on their own.

  • Connects to 9,000+ apps through Zapier's integration directory
  • Agent steps can be mixed with deterministic Zap steps (filters, paths) and every run shows in Zap History with tools called and tasks used
  • Chrome extension lets people use agents from the browser

Everything Alfera does

  • A company brain that syncs your apps. Connect Google Drive, Notion, Slack and the rest. Documents sync on their own, keep every version, and every answer draws on them.
  • One coworker for the whole team. It knows who is asking. Many people, many tasks at once, each with their own chats and connections, and shared chats when you want.
  • 3,000+ app connections, shared the way you choose. Each connection is open to everyone, one project, or one person. A personal mailbox stays personal; the support inbox is the team’s.
  • Permissions on every action. Allow, ask first, or never, per connection and per action. Approvals land in Slack, email or the app, and every action is logged.
  • Where your team already is. Slack, WhatsApp, email from its own address, the web app, a Mac app, and your own code through the API and MCP.
  • It starts work by itself. On a schedule, from a webhook, or on 600+ app events in Gmail, HubSpot, Stripe and more.
  • Its own computer. Every chat runs in a sandbox with a terminal and a browser, and its files stay from one chat to the next.
  • Any model. 230+ models: Claude, GPT, Gemini, open models, your ChatGPT plan, or a model you run yourself.
  • Open source, and free to start. AGPL-3.0. Self-host it in one click on DigitalOcean or AWS, or start on Alfera Cloud with $10 of free AI usage.

Zapier Agents and Alfera

Alfera. Alfera is the AI coworker your whole team shares. It has a company brain that syncs your apps, 3,000+ app connections shared per person or per team, permissions on every action, and it works in Slack, WhatsApp, email and the web app. It starts work by itself, runs on any model, and it is open source: self-host it in one click or start free on Alfera Cloud. Zapier Agents is not open source.

Sources

Facts about Zapier Agents come from its own pages, read on 16 October 2026. Something out of date? Write to hello@alfera.ai and we will fix it.