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No-Code · head to head

Corteza vs Pipedream

Corteza logo

Corteza

No-Code

Apache-licensed open source low-code platform, formerly Crust, positioned against Salesforce

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Pipedream logo

Pipedream

Automation Integration

Build reliable workflows in minutes, not months

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Corteza planet Crust is a small company of roughly a dozen or so people, so the entire commercial support capability behind Corteza is thin and a large deployment can outgrow the vendors ability to respond.; Pipedream the Internet Archive's capture of Pipedream's pricing page on 26 December 2023 listed Free at $0/month (750 credits/mo, 3 active workflows, 3 connected accounts), Basic at $19/month billed annually (2,000 credits, 20 workflows), Advanced at $49/month billed annually (5,000 credits, unlimited workflows), and Business at $99/month billed annually (dedicated VPC, SSO); Enterprise is by contact only.
  • They diverge on capability: Corteza covers Corteza Low Code, Pipedream covers Workflow builder.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Corteza and Pipedream actually diverge.

Attributes where Corteza and Pipedream differ
AttributeCortezaPipedream
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feeusage-based
PlatformsWeb, Linux, Self-hosted, DockerWeb, Api
CategoryNo-CodeAutomation Integration
FoundedUnknown2018

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Corteza

  • Corteza Low Code
  • Automation and workflow
  • Bundled CRM
  • Case management
  • Federation
  • Role-based access control
  • Corteza Messaging and integrations
  • Self-hosted deployment

Only in Pipedream

  • Workflow builder
  • Node.js scripting
  • Webhooks
  • Schedulers
  • Data transformation
  • Error handling
  • Analytics
  • Git integration

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Corteza

  • A European public body that needs a case management system on servers inside its own jurisdiction with an auditable licence and no per-seat vendor feenot Pipedream
  • An NGO replacing a Salesforce donation that has run out, needing to keep the data model but remove the recurring costnot Pipedream
  • An integrator building a regulated vertical application it intends to resell, requiring a permissive licence it can ship commerciallynot Pipedream
  • A mid-size European company that wants one platform for internal applications and a sales pipeline without paying per seat as headcount growsnot Pipedream

Pipedream

  • Workflow Automationnot Corteza
  • Data Integrationnot Corteza
  • Process Automationnot Corteza
  • App Integrationnot Corteza
  • API Connectivitynot Corteza

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Corteza

  • Planet Crust is a small company of roughly a dozen or so people, so the entire commercial support capability behind Corteza is thin and a large deployment can outgrow the vendors ability to respond.
  • No pricing is published for Planet Crusts support, hosting or implementation services, so the true running cost of a supported deployment cannot be estimated without a sales conversation.
  • The connector ecosystem is small compared with commercial low-code platforms, so integrations with common SaaS tools usually mean writing against the REST API rather than installing something.
  • Hiring is hard: almost nobody has Corteza on a CV, so you are training internal developers on a niche platform and you cannot easily replace them.
  • The bundled CRM is a starting point rather than a mature product, and teams that expect Salesforce-equivalent sales functionality out of the box will spend months building the gap themselves.

Pipedream

  • The Internet Archive's capture of Pipedream's pricing page on 26 December 2023 listed Free at $0/month (750 credits/mo, 3 active workflows, 3 connected accounts), Basic at $19/month billed annually (2,000 credits, 20 workflows), Advanced at $49/month billed annually (5,000 credits, unlimited workflows), and Business at $99/month billed annually (dedicated VPC, SSO); Enterprise is by contact only.

Pricing, plan by plan

Corteza

Free
  • Corteza communityFree
    • Apache 2.0 licensed with no feature gating
    • Low-code builder, workflow engine, CRM and case management included
    • Self-hosted on your own infrastructure
  • Planet Crust support and services$undefined/year
    • Commercial support, hosting and implementation from Planet Crust
    • Custom application development
    • Training

Pipedream

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 100000 executions/month
    • 1000 sources
    • Community support
  • Pro$50/month
    • 500000 executions/month
    • Unlimited sources
    • Email support
  • Business$250/month
    • Unlimited executions
    • Priority support
    • Advanced features

Which should you pick?

Choose Corteza if

  • You need corteza low code.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Linux, Self-hosted, Docker.
  • You also want automation and workflow.
Corteza review

Choose Pipedream if

  • You need workflow builder.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want node.js scripting.
Pipedream review

Questions people ask

Is Corteza or Pipedream better?
Neither clearly leads. Corteza starts at Free and Pipedream at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Corteza or Pipedream?
Corteza starts at Free and Pipedream at Free.
Does Corteza or Pipedream run on more platforms?
Corteza runs on Web, Linux, Self-hosted, Docker. Pipedream runs on Web, Api.
Can I use Corteza for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Corteza best used for?
Corteza is most often used for a european public body that needs a case management system on servers inside its own jurisdiction with an auditable licence and no per-seat vendor fee, an ngo replacing a salesforce donation that has run out, needing to keep the data model but remove the recurring cost, an integrator building a regulated vertical application it intends to resell, requiring a permissive licence it can ship commercially, a mid-size european company that wants one platform for internal applications and a sales pipeline without paying per seat as headcount grows. Of those, a european public body that needs a case management system on servers inside its own jurisdiction with an auditable licence and no per-seat vendor fee and an ngo replacing a salesforce donation that has run out, needing to keep the data model but remove the recurring cost are not what Pipedream is typically brought in for.
What can Corteza do that Pipedream cannot?
Corteza covers Corteza Low Code, Automation and workflow, Bundled CRM, Case management. Pipedream covers Workflow builder, Node.js scripting, Webhooks, Schedulers.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Corteza: Is Corteza the same thing as Crust?

Yes. The project was branded Crust and renamed Corteza in 2019 when Crust Technology donated it to the Commons Conservancy.

Pipedream: What does Pipedream's free plan include?

The free plan provides access to Workflows and Connect for development purposes with limited active workflows and connected accounts. Development and testing workflows consume no credits.

Source
Corteza: Who owns the code?

The Commons Conservancy, a Dutch foundation. Planet Crust in Cork is the primary developer and sells commercial services around it.

Pipedream: How does Pipedream's credit-based billing work?

Pipedream charges one credit per 30 seconds of compute time at the default 256MB memory level. Increasing memory to 512MB doubles the credit cost. Paid plans include a base monthly credit allotment plus a platform fee.

Source
Corteza: Is there a paid enterprise edition?

No. Corteza is Apache 2.0 with no feature gating. Planet Crust sells support, hosting and development instead of a restricted edition.

Pipedream: What actions and operations consume credits?

Action executions, tool calls via MCP, deployed trigger emissions, and Connect proxy requests consume credits. Free operations include listing apps, account management, and the first 30 seconds of public registry source executions.

Source
Corteza: Can it genuinely replace Salesforce?

For case management and a straightforward sales pipeline on a self-hosted footprint, yes. For a large sales organisation relying on AppExchange products and a mature ecosystem, no.

Pipedream: How is Pipedream's Connect feature billed?

Connect billing includes API usage charges for operations and compute, plus per-end-user charges based on unique external users connecting accounts, not the number of accounts.

Source
Pipedream: What happens if I downgrade my plan?

Plan downgrades take effect at the end of the current billing cycle, and the new plan's limits are enforced at that time. Cancellation also takes effect at the end of the current period.

Source
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