n8n vs Activepieces (and why Shopstory is better)

Updated on January 2025

Picking the right automation tool can feel like choosing between a Swiss Army knife and a power drill—both useful, but suited for different jobs. n8n leans toward developers and tech-savvy users who don’t mind getting their hands dirty with code, while Activepieces is geared toward small teams and non-technical users who just want things to work.

But neither of them is built with ecommerce or performance marketing in mind. If you’re looking for seamless automation for managing product feeds, optimizing PPC campaigns, or streamlining ecommerce operations, they might leave you wanting more.

So, let’s break down how n8n and Activepieces compare in pricing, ease of use, scalability, and integrations. And then, we’ll show you why Shopstory offers a better solution for ecommerce businesses and performance marketers.

TL;DR

• n8n: Best for developers who want deep customization and control but requires coding.
• Activepieces: A user-friendly no-code tool, great for small teams, but limited in scale.
• Neither tool is built specifically for ecommerce or PPC automation, which can be a dealbreaker if you're managing product feeds or large-scale ad campaigns.
• Shopstory fills those gaps with specialized automation in performance marketing and ecommerce feed management, with deep integrations with tools like Shopify, Woocommerce, ChatGPT, Google Ads, Facebook Ads, and more—without needing a developer.

A comparison of n8n vs Activepieces (vs Shopstory)

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1. n8n vs Activepieces: How They Compare

1.1 Pricing

• n8n: Now offers a free trial, with paid plans starting at €20/month (billed annually). The base plan includes 5 active workflows and 2,500 workflow executions per month. This pricing suits technical teams that can handle their own setup and troubleshooting.
• Activepieces: Provides a freemium model with 1,000 tasks per month and custom pricing for paid plans. The freemium version includes unlimited workflows, which is suitable for small teams testing basic automation needs.

💡 Bottom line: n8n’s pricing caters to developers, while Activepieces provides more flexibility for non-technical teams looking for affordable automation tools.

1.2 Ease of Use

• n8n: Requires technical knowledge. Setting up workflows involves coding, so it’s not beginner-friendly.
• Activepieces: Offers a drag-and-drop interface that’s intuitive for non-technical users. Great for simple automations but lacks customization options.

💡 Bottom line: Activepieces is easier for beginners, but n8n gives developers more control.

1.3 Templates and Workflow Capabilities

• n8n: This tool requires users to build workflows from scratch, as it lacks a vast library of pre-made templates. However, it compensates for this by offering significant flexibility, allowing for highly customized and intricate automation processes.
• Activepieces: Activepieces provides a selection of pre-built workflows, making it easier to get started with common tasks. While its templates aren't as extensive as those on more established platforms, they work well for smaller-scale operations.

💡 Bottom line: Activepieces is ideal for quick-start automation with basic workflows, whereas n8n excels in building more complex, tailored processes.

1.4 Big-Scale Automation

• n8n: Designed to handle large-scale workflows, but scaling up requires considerable technical expertise. This can make it challenging for non-technical users to manage efficiently.
• Activepieces: Focuses on simplicity and works best for small-scale workflows. However, it struggles when it comes to scaling automation for businesses with more dynamic needs.

💡 Bottom line: n8n is better suited for handling high-volume tasks but requires technical resources, while Activepieces is more beginner-friendly but less scalable.

1.5 Integrations for Ecommerce and Marketing

• n8n: Offers a broad range of integrations through APIs, though setting them up requires coding knowledge. It lacks built-in ecommerce or paid advertising apps, which can be limiting for businesses focused on digital growth.
• Activepieces: Supports some marketing integrations but has limited compatibility with ecommerce platforms like Shopify or Google Merchant Center, making it less useful for businesses that require extensive automation in these areas.

Key Takeaway: Both platforms lack the native ecommerce and PPC capabilities needed for paid ads and product feed management.

2. Alternative to n8n vs Activepieces: Shopstory

While n8n and Activepieces are solid automation tools, they may not be the best fit for ecommerce businesses and performance marketers who need more specialized automation capabilities. This is where Shopstory can help.

2.1 Pricing & Scalability

Shopstory starts at €199/month but offers a free plan that allows one flow to be activated permanently with unlimited executions. Unlike n8n, which requires coding, or Activepieces, which lacks scalability, Shopstory provides an easier path to growth without unexpected costs.

2.2 Ecommerce and Product Feed Management

Shopstory specializes in ecommerce workflows, automating processes such as product feed management, inventory syncing, and SEO optimization. It handles tasks such as:

• Create supplemental feed with performance-based labels: Automatically tag products in Google Merchant Center based on their performance, helping you optimize ads and boost visibility.
• Create better product descriptions using ChatGPT and Google Search Console keywords: Use real search data to refine product titles and descriptions, making them more relevant and improving SEO rankings.
• Export orders daily to Google Sheets: Simplify order tracking by automatically sending daily order data to Google Sheets, keeping everything organized and up to date.‍
• Sync stock levels between Shopify and Google Merchant Center: Keep inventory accurate across platforms by syncing stock levels in real time, preventing overselling and customer frustration.

These features help businesses reduce manual work, ensure accurate product data, and improve overall efficiency.

2.3 PPC Campaign Optimization

Shopstory is also great at automating and optimizing pay-per-click (PPC) campaigns across platforms like Google Ads and Facebook Ads. Some examples of its automation include:

• Pause underperforming keywords: Automatically detect and pause low-performing keywords in Google Ads to optimize budget allocation.
• Adjust ad budgets based on ROAS thresholds: Dynamically allocate budgets to campaigns based on real-time performance data.
• Generate Facebook Ads Reports with Performance Insights: Create automated reports detailing ad performance across campaigns, providing actionable insights for optimization.
• Increase campaign budgets for high-performing ads: Automatically scale budgets for ads that exceed performance thresholds, making sure resources are allocated to top campaigns.

These automations help businesses maximize advertising ROI with minimal manual intervention.

2.4 User-Friendly, No-Code Automation

Unlike n8n, which requires technical skills, and Activepieces, which has limited capabilities, Shopstory offers an intuitive, no-code experience. Its drag-and-drop interface and pre-built workflows make it easy to set up advanced automation without coding knowledge.

3. Get Started For Free

Shopstory offers a risk-free freemium model, allowing users to activate one workflow for free forever, with unlimited actions and executions. No credit card is required to sign up, making it easy to explore its full potential.

Final Thoughts: n8n vs. Activepieces vs. Shopstory

n8n and Activepieces each have their pros and cons, but they can fall short when it comes to deep automation and actions in marketing and automation use cases. Shopstory is built specifically for businesses that need a simple yet powerful way to manage product feeds, sync inventory, and optimize ad campaigns — without a single line of code.

Ready to automate your ad optimizations or product feed management? Try Shopstory for FREE today!