n8n is the practical replacement: a visual workflow builder with a large connector library that you can run yourself. Huginn is the older, more programmable option for people who would rather describe agents than draw a flow.
What you are replacing
Zapier's advantage is the connector catalogue and the fact that a non engineer can build something that works before lunch. Self hosting swaps a subscription for a service you now operate, so the saving is real only if the automations matter enough to maintain.
TypeScript · Fair-code source available: Sustainable Use License for most master-branch source; .ee. files and directories use the n8n Enterprise License
Why it fits
The workflow model is close enough that existing Zaps translate conceptually, and the connector library is broad enough that most common integrations are already there. Running it yourself also means the data passing through the automation stays on your infrastructure, which is often the actual reason for the search.
What it does not replace
Licensing is not the plain permissive kind, so check the terms against how you intend to use it commercially. Self hosting also puts retries, queueing and credential storage on your side of the line.
It models automation as agents that watch, transform and emit events, which suits monitoring and scraping jobs better than a linear flow does. For people comfortable in code it is more expressive than a canvas.
What it does not replace
The project is older and the interface shows it, and the connector library is nothing like Zapier's. This is the option for someone who wants to build the integration, not pick it from a list.
Stay on Zapier when the automations are few, the data in them is not sensitive, and nobody wants to be paged because a workflow runner ran out of disk.