n8n — A fair-code workflow automation platform that combines visual building with custom JavaScript/Python, self-hosted or cloud.
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Best for: technical teams that want to mix visual workflow building with custom code, either self-hosted for full control or on cloud paying per execution instead of per step
Pricing: Free self-hosted Community edition; cloud starts at €20/month (Starter) up to €667/month (Business), billed annually.
- n8n bills cloud plans by full workflow execution, not by individual step.
- n8n Starter cloud plan is €20/month billed annually for 2,500 executions/month.
- n8n is self-hostable for free via Docker under the Sustainable Use License.
- n8n connects to 500+ applications and supports custom JavaScript/Python code in any node.
Limitations: Large pricing gap between the €50/month Pro tier and the €667/month Business tier.; The Sustainable Use License is source-available fair-code, not OSI-approved open source, and enterprise features require a separate commercial license.
Top alternatives: Zapier, Make, Pipedream — full list
What is n8n?
n8n (pronounced "n-eight-n") is a workflow automation tool: it lets users chain together triggers and actions across hundreds of apps using a visual node-based canvas, similar in concept to Zapier or Make, but built to be self-hostable and code-extensible. Where n8n differs from most no-code automation tools is that every node can be swapped for custom JavaScript or Python when a pre-built integration doesn't cover a use case, and workflows can be version-controlled with Git. It bills cloud usage per full workflow execution rather than per individual step, which can lower cost for complex multi-step automations compared to per-task pricing models. The source code is available on GitHub under a dual-license "fair-code" model: a Sustainable Use License covers free self-hosted use, while an n8n Enterprise License unlocks SSO, advanced permissions, and other team features either self-hosted or on the paid cloud tiers.
n8n is a workflow automation platform that lets technical teams build integrations by connecting visual nodes, then drop into custom JavaScript or Python code wherever the pre-built nodes fall short. It connects to 500+ applications, supports building multi-agent AI workflows with human-in-the-loop approval, and can be run fully self-hosted via Docker under its Sustainable Use License or used as a managed cloud service starting at €20/month (Starter, billed annually) for 2,500 workflow executions per month. Higher cloud tiers add SSO, Git version control, and higher execution volumes, up to a custom Enterprise plan; self-hosted deployments get the same automation engine free, with enterprise features gated behind a separate commercial license. n8n competes with Zapier and Make for teams that want more customization and either lower per-execution cost at volume or full control via self-hosting.
Standout feature: Billing by full workflow execution rather than by individual step or task, so complex multi-node automations don't multiply cost the way per-task pricing does on competitors.
Biggest weakness: Cloud pricing is listed in euros, not dollars, and jumps sharply from Pro (€50/month) to Business (€667/month), leaving a wide gap for teams that outgrow Pro's execution limits but don't need Business's SSO and compliance features.
Pros
- Bills per full workflow execution, not per step, which can be cheaper than per-task pricing for complex automations.
- Free, fully-featured self-hosted Community edition via Docker with the complete automation engine.
- Every node can be extended or replaced with custom JavaScript or Python code.
- 500+ pre-built app integrations plus native support for building multi-agent AI workflows with human-in-the-loop steps.
Cons
- Large price jump between Pro (€50/month) and Business (€667/month) cloud tiers, with nothing in between.
- Sustainable Use License is not OSI-approved open source; enterprise features require a separate commercial license even for self-hosted use.
- Self-hosting requires managing your own Docker infrastructure, updates, and scaling, unlike a fully managed cloud automation tool.
- Visual canvas can get cluttered on large workflows with many branches and custom code nodes.
n8n pricing
Free · verified from the vendor's pricing page
| Plan | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | Custom | €20/month billed annually; 2,500 workflow executions/month, 5 concurrent executions, 1 shared project, 2,300 AI credits/month, unlimited users and workflows, forum support. |
| Pro | Custom | €50/month billed annually; 10,000 workflow executions/month, 20 concurrent executions, 3 shared projects, up to 13,700 AI credits/month, admin roles, global variables, workflow history, 7 days of insights. |
| Business | Custom | €667/month billed annually; 40,000 workflow executions/month, self-hosted option, 6 shared projects, 30 days of insights, SSO/SAML/LDAP, Git version control. 50% startup discount available for companies under 20 employees. |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom pricing; custom execution volumes, unlimited shared projects, 200+ concurrent executions, 365 days of insights, dedicated support with SLA, invoice billing. |
| Self-hosted Community | Free | Free, self-hosted via Docker under the Sustainable Use License; same core automation engine as cloud, without cloud-tier collaboration and enterprise features. |
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