AI Automation Tool

n8n

Workflow automation you can self-host, with code steps where you need them.

4.6 / 5
Try n8n → View Pricing

Last checked on against n8n.io/pricing

Category

AI Automation

Pricing

Free self-hosted + paid cloud

Free Trial

Yes

Best For

Self-hosted automation and AI agents

Quick Overview

Category

AI Automation

Best For

Self-hosted automation and AI agents

Pricing

Free self-hosted + paid cloud

Website

n8n.io

What is n8n?

n8n is a workflow automation platform that can run on infrastructure you control. The Community Edition is free to self-host, which sets it apart from the hosted-only competition: data never has to leave your own server, and there is no per-task meter running in the background.

The editor is visual, but every node can contain JavaScript or Python if the built-in options fall short. That combination — drag-and-drop for the common case, code for the awkward case — is why n8n has become the default among technically minded teams, and why it features heavily in AI agent workflows.

n8n is developed by a Berlin company and bills its cloud plans in euros. For organisations in the EU that matters twice over: pricing without currency conversion, and the option to keep data inside their own infrastructure entirely.

How n8n Works

How It Works

Workflows are built from nodes on a canvas: a trigger node starts the run, and subsequent nodes carry out actions, transform data, or branch the flow. Any node can be swapped for a Code node running JavaScript or Python when the standard options are insufficient. Cloud plans bill by full workflow execution rather than per step, so a workflow with thirty nodes costs the same as one with three. The Community Edition runs via Docker or npm on your own machine or server with no execution limit.

Who Should Use It

n8n suits teams with at least some technical capability that value control: agencies and IT departments with data protection requirements, developers who want automation without writing an entire service, and anyone building AI agent workflows where LLM calls sit alongside API requests. It is the obvious candidate wherever self-hosting is a requirement rather than a preference.

Benefits

Self-hosting removes both the data residency question and the per-task cost pressure. Execution-based billing on cloud plans makes complex workflows predictable — node count does not affect price. Code nodes mean the platform rarely becomes the limiting factor, and the AI and agent nodes are well developed. Pricing is in euros for EU customers.

Limitations

The learning curve is steeper than Zapier's; expect a couple of hours before the model clicks. Self-hosting means running and updating a server, which is genuine operational work rather than a checkbox. The integration catalogue is smaller than the hosted giants', though the HTTP node covers most gaps for anyone comfortable reading API documentation.

Key Features

Everything n8n offers to power your workflow.

Self-hosting via Docker or npm
JavaScript and Python code nodes
AI agent and LLM nodes
400+ integrations plus generic HTTP
Execution-based cloud billing
Visual editor with branching

Best Use Cases

AI agent workflows with LLM calls
Automation with data residency requirements
Internal API orchestration
Scheduled data pipelines
Self-hosted alternatives to hosted automation

n8n Pricing

n8n offers flexible pricing plans to fit your needs.

Community

€0

Self-hosted, unlimited executions

Starter

€20/mo

billed annually

2,500 executions on n8n Cloud

Pro

€50/mo

billed annually

10,000 executions and more concurrency

Business

€667/mo

billed annually

40,000 executions, SSO and log streaming

Visit n8n Pricing →

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Free and unlimited when self-hosted
  • Data stays on your own infrastructure
  • Code steps remove most limitations
  • Billed per execution, not per step

Cons

  • Steeper learning curve than Zapier
  • Self-hosting is real operational work
  • Smaller integration catalogue

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is n8n really free?
The Community Edition is free to self-host with no limit on executions. You provide the server and handle updates. The cloud plans are paid and start at €20 per month billed annually.
Is n8n open source?
n8n is source-available under a Sustainable Use License rather than a classic open-source licence. Internal business use and self-hosting are permitted; reselling n8n as a hosted service is not.
Can n8n keep data in the EU?
Yes. Self-hosting puts the data wherever you run it, which for EU organisations is usually the deciding argument. n8n is developed in Berlin and bills cloud plans in euros.
n8n or Zapier?
Zapier for breadth of integrations and the shortest path to a working workflow. n8n where self-hosting, data residency, code steps or predictable execution-based billing matter more than convenience.

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