Open-source workflow automation that runs on PHP shared hosting.
A self-hosted alternative to n8n, Zapier and Make: connect 1,190 apps on a visual canvas, describe a workflow and let AI build it, or create AI voice agents that answer your calls.
No Docker, no Node.js, no per-task fees. One cron job runs everything.
Watch the video | Documentation | Quick start | Download | Hosting & services | Report a bug
▶ Watch the full 47-second video (with sound)
FlowForge is a self-hosted workflow automation platform for people who already have ordinary web hosting. Upload it to Hostinger, cPanel, DirectAdmin or any VPS, run the setup wizard, add one cron job, and you have your own automation server with no monthly per-task bill.
- Connect your apps. Gmail, Slack, Google Sheets, HubSpot, Shopify, WooCommerce, Stripe, OpenAI, Telegram, WhatsApp and 1,180 more.
- Build visually or with AI. Drag steps onto a canvas, or type "When a Typeform is submitted, add the person to HubSpot and tell #sales on Slack" and the AI Builder makes it.
- Answer the phone with AI. Voice agents answer and make calls, book appointments and pass every call (recording, transcript, summary) to your workflows.
- Own your data. Workflows, credentials and run history stay in your own MySQL database. Credentials are encrypted and never sent to the browser.
 Visual workflow builder Triggers, actions, If/Else branches and filters on a drag-and-drop canvas, with a step editor that maps data by dragging fields. |
 1,190 apps, 5,783 actions 615 triggers and 50 ready-made templates across 24 categories, plus an HTTP request step for any other API. |
 AI Builder Describe a workflow in plain words and it builds, links and explains it. Works with OpenAI, Claude, Gemini, DeepSeek or Qwen, using your own key. |
 Every kind of trigger Webhooks, schedules in plain words ("every weekday at 9:00"), app triggers that watch for new items, manual runs and error triggers. |
 Step-by-step debugger Every run keeps each step's input, output and HTTP request. Retry a run or execute a single step while you build. |
 Made for shared hosting PHP and MySQL only. A setup wizard checks your server and verifies the one cron job that runs every workflow. |
 Team and permissions Invite admins and members, and choose who can view, edit or delete workflows and use the AI Builder. |
 MCP server for AI agents Claude Code, Cursor and VS Code agents can search apps and build, test and run workflows with a personal token. |
 One-click updates Upload the update zip in Settings. FlowForge backs up, updates itself and rolls back if anything fails. |
 Works like an app on phones Bottom tab bar, bottom sheets, one-pane step editor, light and dark themes. Add it to your home screen. |
 Secure by default Encrypted credentials and API keys, secrets masked in run logs, email alerts when a workflow fails or cron stops. |
 Open source AGPL-3.0. Use it for yourself, your company or your clients, on as many servers as you like. |
…and 1,170 more across AI, CRM, e-commerce, payments, marketing, communication, project management, databases, forms, social media and developer tools.
Any app not on the list works through the HTTP request step or its "Make an API call" action.
 Workflow builder |
 AI Builder |
 Step editor with drag-to-map data |
 Executions and step debugger |
On a phone
You need hosting with PHP 8.2+, MySQL and cron (every Hostinger and cPanel plan has these). No SSH, Composer or Node.js on the server.
- Download
flowforge-install-x.y.z.zipfrom the latest release. - Create an empty MySQL database and a user in your hosting panel.
- Upload and extract the zip into your domain's folder (for example
public_html). If your File Manager times out, also uploadextract-flowforge.phpand open it in your browser. - Open
https://your-domain.com/install. The wizard checks your server, connects the database, creates your admin account and sets up email alerts. - Add the cron job the wizard shows you (or click Set it up for me). It turns green within a minute, and you're done.
Step-by-step guides with screenshots: Hostinger hPanel | cPanel | VPS with Nginx | Cron job
Server requirements
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| PHP | 8.2 or newer, with pdo_mysql, curl, mbstring, openssl, fileinfo, gd, zip |
| Database | MySQL 5.7+ or MariaDB 10.3+ |
| Web server | Apache or LiteSpeed with mod_rewrite, or Nginx |
| Cron | One job every minute |
| Disk | About 150 MB plus run history |
| FlowForge | n8n | Zapier | Make | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Self-hosted on your own server | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Runs on cPanel / hPanel shared hosting | ✅ | ❌ needs a Node.js server | ❌ cloud only | ❌ cloud only |
| OSI-approved open-source license | ✅ AGPL-3.0 | ❌ fair-code | ❌ | ❌ |
| No per-task or per-operation fees | ✅ | ✅ when self-hosted | ❌ | ❌ |
Based on each product's public information as of October 2026.
Build AI agents that answer and make phone calls: a receptionist that books appointments, a caller that qualifies new leads, a reminder line.
- Start in seconds: 8 templates (clinic, salon, restaurant, lead qualification, reminders, support, real estate, feedback), or describe the agent and AI writes it.
- Try it free: talk to any agent in your browser, using your own AI model. No phone number needed.
- Real calls through Vapi or ElevenLabs. Both have free tiers to start, and FlowForge sets up the agent, booking tool and number for you.
- Everything in one place: call history with recordings, transcripts, summaries and captured details, plus a Bookings page.
- Workflows: "When a voice call ends", "When a caller books" and "Call a phone number". Send bookings to Google Calendar, summaries to Slack, or call every new lead automatically.
AI Builder. Open AI Builder in the sidebar and describe what you want. It searches the app catalog, reads each action's settings, saves the workflow, links the data between steps and tells you what's left to fill in. Bring your own key from OpenAI, Anthropic Claude, Google Gemini, DeepSeek or Qwen.
MCP for AI agents. Create a token in Settings → API & MCP, then connect your agent. For example, Claude Code:
claude mcp add --transport http flowforge https://your-domain.com/api/mcp \
--header "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_TOKEN"The full guide is at developersarim.github.io/FlowForge:
- Installation on Hostinger hPanel, cPanel and VPS, and the setup wizard
- Your first workflow, triggers and passing data between steps
- Credentials and app connections, AI Builder and team permissions
- Updating, backups and troubleshooting
Developers: architecture, the integration manifest format, local setup and releases are in DEVELOPMENT.md.
FlowForge is free. If you'd rather not set it up or run it yourself, we can help:
| Service | |
|---|---|
| 🛠️ | Installation on your Hostinger hPanel, cPanel or VPS, including the database, SSL and cron job |
| ☁️ | Managed hosting: we run FlowForge for you, with backups and updates |
| 🧭 | Setup help: connecting your apps and building your first workflows |
| 🔧 | Custom integrations for apps or APIs that aren't in the catalog yet |
Email support@sarimtools.com with what you need and we'll send you a quote.
Is FlowForge really free?
Yes. It's open source under the AGPL-3.0 license, with no limits on users, workflows, runs or sites. You only pay if you want our installation or hosting services.
Do I need a cron job for every workflow?
No. One cron job, running every minute, runs every schedule, webhook and app trigger.
Can I use it for my business or my clients?
Yes. If you change FlowForge's code and offer the changed version to other people over a network, the AGPL requires you to offer them your source code too.
How is it different from n8n?
n8n needs a Node.js server, usually a VPS or Docker. FlowForge is PHP, so it runs on the shared hosting most websites already use, and it's licensed under an OSI-approved open-source license.
How fast do webhooks run?
Within about a minute, on the next cron tick. Test runs in the editor run straight away.
Bug reports, ideas and pull requests are welcome. Please read CONTRIBUTING.md and the Code of Conduct.
- Found a bug? Open an issue with your FlowForge and PHP versions and the steps to reproduce it.
- Want to add an app? Integrations are JSON/YAML manifests, not PHP classes. See DEVELOPMENT.md.
git clone https://github.com/DeveloperSarim/FlowForge.git && cd FlowForge
composer install && npm install && npm run build
cd public && php -S 127.0.0.1:8000 ../vendor/laravel/framework/src/Illuminate/Foundation/resources/server.php
# open http://127.0.0.1:8000/installPlease report security issues privately to support@sarimtools.com rather than in a public issue.
FlowForge is free software under the GNU Affero General Public License v3.0. App names and logos are trademarks of their owners, used only to identify each integration.
Built with Laravel, React, React Flow and Tailwind CSS.