Quick Verdict
n8n is an open-source workflow automation platform with a fair-code license. Self-host for full control or use their cloud, building automations with 400+ integrations and the ability to add custom code when visual nodes are not enough.
Best for: Technical teams, Self-hosting requirements, Custom automation needs, Open-source advocates
n8n
n8n is an open-source workflow automation platform with a fair-code license. Self-host for full control or use their cloud, building automations with 400+ integrations and the ability to add custom code when visual nodes are not enough.
Best for: Technical teams • Self-hosting requirements • Custom automation needs • Open-source advocates
Key Features
- 400+ integrations
- Self-hosted option
- Visual workflow builder
- Custom code nodes
- AI capabilities
- Webhook triggers
- Error workflows
- Community nodes
Pros
- Open-source flexibility
- Self-hosting option
- Custom code support
- Active community
- Fair pricing
Cons
- Fewer integrations than competitors
- Self-hosting requires DevOps
- UI less polished
- Learning curve
Pricing
| Plan | Details |
|---|---|
| Free | Community (Self-Hosted) - FREE, unlimited executions. Pay only for VPS (~$5-50/mo) |
| Starter | €20/month - 2,500 executions, 5 concurrent workflows |
| Pro | €50/month - 10,000 executions, 20 concurrent, workflow history |
| Enterprise | Custom - SSO/SAML, dedicated support, SLA |
Charges per workflow execution, not per step. A 10-step workflow = 1 execution.
Tips & Best Practices
At 100,000 actions/month, n8n self-hosted costs ~$20 vs Zapier at ~$1,000+ (50x savings)
Use n8n's "Execute Command" node for complex data transformations that would require multiple Zapier steps
Set up n8n on a $5/month VPS for complete ownership and no per-execution costs
n8n's code nodes let you write JavaScript/Python directly - perfect for API transformations
Use sticky notes in n8n workflows to document complex logic for future debugging
Self-hosting on a $10/month VPS provides unlimited executions
A 10-step workflow counts as 1 execution (vs 10 tasks on Zapier)
At 100,000 actions/month, n8n costs ~$20 vs Zapiers ~$1,000+
Features
- 400+ integrations
- Self-hosted option
- Visual workflow builder
- Custom code nodes
- AI capabilities
- Webhook triggers
- Error workflows
- Community nodes
Best for: Technical teams • Self-hosting requirements • Custom automation needs • Open-source advocates
Pros
- Open-source flexibility
- Self-hosting option
- Custom code support
- Active community
- Fair pricing
Cons
- Fewer integrations than competitors
- Self-hosting requires DevOps
- UI less polished
- Learning curve
Alternatives to n8n
Final Recommendation
n8n is a freemium AI tool best suited for Technical teams and Self-hosting requirements.