Napkin vs Pipedream
A detailed comparison to help you choose between Napkin and Pipedream.
Quick Verdict
3.5/5
Napkin
0 reviews
4.1/5
Pipedream
0 reviews
Pipedream is rated higher (4.1 vs 3.5). Napkin lets you write and run Node.js and Python serverless functions directly in the browser with zero setup, deploying them as authenticated HTTP endpoints. Developer-first workflow automation with code steps (Node.js, Python, Go, Bash) over 2,500+ integrated apps and 10k+ triggers/actions. Credit-based pricing: Free plan at 300 credits/month, Basic $29/mo, Advanced $49/mo (annual). Now owned by Workday.
Napkin Write and deploy Node.js and Python functions as HTTP endpoints from a browser editor | Pipedream Low-code integration platform for developers | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Rating | 3.5 (0 reviews) | 4.1 (0 reviews)✓ |
| Pricing model | freemium | freemium, credit-based usage (1 credit per 30s compute at 256 MB) |
| Starting price | Free tier available | Free tier available |
| Best for | Developers who need an HTTP endpoint today — webhooks, bots, scheduled automations, and prototypes — without opening a cloud console or running infrastructure. | Developer teams automating integrations, webhooks, and AI-agent tooling who want managed auth and 2,500+ connectors instead of maintaining their own glue services |
| Features | ||
| IPv6 | ||
| DDoS protection | ||
| Automated backups | ||
| Snapshots | ||
| Managed option | ||
| Bare metal | ||
| GPU available | ||
| S3-compatible | ||
| Hourly billing | ||
| Free tier | ||
| Tags | ||
| Tags | free tier | free tierapi access |
| Visit Napkin → | Visit Pipedream → | |
Napkin
Pros
- + Genuinely free plan: $0/month with 25,000 API calls, unlimited functions, custom domains, and team invites
- + One-click deploy from a browser editor — Node.js and Python, no cloud console or CLI required
- + Clear published limits: 500 MB/0.5 vCPU free (2 GB/2 vCPU Pro), 15s/30s timeouts, explicit rate caps
- + Endpoint SSL, auth, production logs, and scheduled triggers included on both tiers
- + Pro tier is capacity-only at $10 per user per month — no feature gating, no sales call
Cons
- - No published SLA, regions, or data residency; small-vendor reliability story
- - Free tier caps at 5 requests/second and a 15-second timeout — real design constraints
- - Browser-only workflow with no local development story and no obvious export path
- - Node.js and Python only — no Go, Rust, PHP, or Ruby runtimes
- - Stale limit figures circulate on marketing and third-party pages, so verify before budgeting
Pipedream
Pros
- + Permanent free plan (300 credits/month, 3 active workflows, no credit card) with the full app library
- + Real code steps with npm/PyPI, up to 10 GB RAM, 2 GB file system, no cold starts
- + 2,500+ integrated apps with managed OAuth; Connect adds 3,000+ connectors and 10k+ tools for embedding
- + Transparent credit metering (compute-time based) with documented limits and budget controls
- + SOC 2 Type 2, GDPR, GitHub sync with branch-based development, static egress IPs on Advanced
Cons
- - Acquired by Workday (closed February 2026) — long-term product and pricing direction uncertain
- - Credits burn fast on memory-heavy or fan-out workflows; production features gated behind the $49 plan
- - No published uptime SLA or execution-region disclosure below enterprise contracts
- - Proprietary workflow constructs — moving off Pipedream means rewriting the glue code
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