n8n
The workflow automation platform built for technical teams — code when you need it, visual building when you don't.
Our n8n Review
n8n is the workflow automation tool most developers reach for when Zapier or Make.com feel too restrictive. You get a visual canvas for building automation flows, plus the ability to drop into JavaScript or Python at any node when the visual tools aren't enough. All cloud plans include unlimited users, unlimited workflows, and every integration — pricing is based purely on monthly workflow executions. Starter costs $24/month, Pro costs $60/month, Business costs $960/month, and Enterprise is contact sales. There is also a free Community Edition you can self-host on GitHub. Start-ups with under 20 employees can apply for 50% off Business.
What Is n8n?
n8n is an open-source workflow automation platform built for technical teams. It gives you a visual node-based canvas for building automation workflows, combined with the ability to write custom JavaScript or Python at any step — so the interface never limits what you can build. Unlike Zapier or Make.com, which are primarily point-and-click tools for non-technical users, n8n is designed for developers and technical teams who want the speed of a visual builder with the flexibility of code. You can connect 400+ pre-built integrations, use the HTTP Request node for anything else, and write custom transformation logic in the same workflow. n8n can be self-hosted for free using the Community Edition available on GitHub — run it on Docker or Kubernetes, air-gapped on a private network, or on any cloud provider. Paid cloud plans start at $24/month and are priced by monthly workflow executions, not by user count. Every plan includes unlimited users, unlimited workflows, and every integration.
n8n Pricing — Verified from Official Documentation
All pricing below is taken directly from n8n's official pricing page and feature documentation. Community Edition — Free. Self-hosted only, available on GitHub. Full n8n on your own infrastructure with unlimited workflows, unlimited users, all 400+ integrations, custom nodes, CLI access, bash scripts, and npm packages. No cloud hosting or support SLA included. An enterprise license is required for Business and Enterprise features even on self-hosted. Starter — $24/month. Cloud-hosted. Unlimited workflows, unlimited users, all integrations. 50 AI Workflow Builder credits per month. 2,500 max saved executions, 7-day log retention, 5 concurrent executions, 1-day workflow history, 1 shared project. Pro — $60/month. Everything in Starter plus: 150 AI Workflow Builder credits, 25,000 saved executions, 30-day log retention, 20 concurrent executions, 5-day workflow history, 3 shared projects, project admins and editors roles, debug in editor, 2 cloud environments (dev/prod), and richer insights with hourly/daily/weekly granularity up to 365 days. Business — $960/month. Everything in Pro plus: 1,000 AI Workflow Builder credits, 50,000 saved executions, unlimited log retention, 200+ concurrent executions, 365+ day workflow history, unlimited shared projects, SSO via SAML and LDAP, 2FA enforcement, external secret store integration (AWS, Azure, GCP, HashiCorp, Infisical), Git version control and Workflow Diff, unlimited environments, queue mode with worker scaling, external S3 storage, audit logging, log streaming to external services (e.g. Datadog), and AI Assistant access. Start-up Plan: companies with under 20 employees can apply for 50% off Business. Enterprise — Contact sales. Custom limits, dedicated support, and SLA on top of everything in Business. Pricing last verified March 2026 from official n8n documentation.
Building Workflows — Visual Editor and Code Node
n8n's visual editor is the fastest way to build automation workflows. You connect nodes on a canvas — each node represents a trigger, action, or data transformation. Outputs appear directly next to node settings at every step, so you see results as you build rather than running the whole sequence to check your work. What sets n8n apart from purely visual tools is the Code node. At any point in a workflow, you can switch to JavaScript or Python to write custom logic — data transformations, API calls, conditional routing, or anything the visual nodes cannot express. On self-hosted instances you can import npm packages for even more capability. Expressions using n8n's templating language or plain JavaScript are supported in every node for dynamic parameters. Workflow triggers cover every common pattern: app event triggers, scheduled cron jobs, webhooks from any service, chat message triggers, event streams, and sub-workflow triggers that allow nested workflow setups. If an app does not have a dedicated trigger node, the generic webhook or HTTP Request node covers it.
AI Workflows and LangChain Integration
n8n has native support for building AI agent workflows. Built-in AI nodes let your workflows interact with LLMs — summarizing documents, answering questions over your data, routing decisions based on AI output, and executing multi-step reasoning chains. The AI Agent node provides a ready-made scaffold for building conversational agents that fit directly into your existing workflows. The LangChain integration goes further. You can build modular AI applications on top of LangChain directly within n8n — choosing your model, controlling your data flow, and embedding AI into your own products rather than depending on an external AI platform. You control which LLM runs locally or in the cloud. AI Workflow Builder credits are included on all cloud plans: 50 per month on Starter, 150 on Pro, and 1,000 on Business and Enterprise. These credits cover the AI-assisted workflow building features within n8n's editor — not the API costs of the external LLM you connect to, which are billed separately by the model provider.
n8n vs Zapier vs Make.com — Key Differences
n8n, Zapier, and Make.com all automate workflows between apps, but they serve different types of users. n8n is built for technical teams. The ability to write JavaScript or Python at any step, self-host for free, use Git version control across environments, and handle complex data transformations makes it the most flexible of the three. All plans include unlimited users — you are never charged more as your team grows. Zapier is the most beginner-friendly. Its step-by-step interface and massive app library make it accessible to non-technical users, and its Zap templates cover the most common automations. The trade-off: it is expensive at scale, charges per task (every step in a Zap counts), and has limited support for custom code. Make.com sits between the two — more visual flexibility than Zapier with a scenario-based canvas, but less code flexibility than n8n. It prices by operations (each module execution), which can add up quickly on complex workflows. The right choice depends on your team: if you have developers building automation, n8n gives you significantly more power at a lower per-execution cost. If you need non-technical staff to build and manage automations independently, Zapier or Make.com are more accessible starting points.
Who Should Use n8n?
n8n is the right choice for technical teams and developers who need workflow automation with real flexibility. If you have hit the limits of what Zapier or Make.com can express, or if you need to write custom business logic as part of your automations, n8n is the natural next step. Development teams building internal tools will appreciate the ability to self-host for free, use Git version control across environments, and integrate n8n workflows directly into their existing infrastructure. The Business plan's queue mode supports up to 220 workflow executions per second on a single instance — making it genuinely suitable for high-volume production workloads. AI developers building agent workflows will find n8n's LangChain integration and built-in AI nodes give them a visual scaffold for complex AI pipelines without starting from scratch. Start-ups under 20 employees should check the Start-up Plan — 50% off Business means access to all the advanced features (SSO, Git, queue mode, audit logging) for $480/month rather than $960/month. n8n is probably not the right primary tool if your team is non-technical and needs to build automations without code, or if you need a simple, pre-built AI assistant for writing and research rather than a workflow automation engine. For those use cases, ChatGPT, Claude, or Perplexity are better fits. Pricing last verified March 2026 from official n8n documentation.
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Key Features
Everything you need to know about n8n
Visual Node-Based Editor
Build automation workflows on a visual canvas by connecting nodes. Each node represents an action, trigger, or transformation. Outputs appear next to settings at every step so you can see results instantly without running the entire workflow.
400+ Integrations (Nodes)
Connect to over 400 pre-built app integrations covering the most common tools and APIs — no need to read documentation or handle authentication yourself. For anything not covered, use the HTTP Request node to connect to any REST or GraphQL API by importing a cURL command.
Code Node (JS/Python)
Drop into JavaScript or Python at any point in a workflow to write custom transformations, business logic, or data manipulation. On self-hosted instances, you can import npm packages for additional libraries. Expressions with dynamic parameters are supported in every node.
AI Workflow Builder & AI Nodes
Build AI agent workflows visually using built-in AI nodes and LangChain integration. Create multi-step agents that can summarize documents, answer questions over your data, and execute complex reasoning tasks. AI Workflow Builder credits are included on all cloud plans: 50 on Starter, 150 on Pro, 1,000 on Business/Enterprise.
Diverse Triggers
Start workflows from app events, scheduled cron jobs, webhooks, chat messages, event streams, or as a sub-workflow triggered by another workflow. Trigger from any service without a dedicated node using the generic webhook trigger.
Execution Debugging
Load previous execution data directly into the editor to debug errors in context. Pin previous data to test your fixed workflow without re-triggering slow or external events. Run single nodes separately for granular testing. AI-assisted error analysis connects to docs and known issues.
Environments & Git Version Control
Use Git-based source control to manage dev, staging, and production environments with a push-pull pattern. Workflow Diff shows changes between versions. Available on Business and Enterprise plans. Pro includes 2 cloud environments (dev/prod).
Projects & Role-Based Access
Organize workflows and credentials into Projects and assign team roles — project admins, editors, viewers, and instance admins. Starter supports 1 shared project, Pro supports 3, Business and Enterprise support unlimited. All plans include unlimited users.
Self-Hosting & Fair-Code License
The Community Edition is free to self-host on Docker or Kubernetes. Run it air-gapped on a private network, use it with your own infrastructure, and keep complete control over your data. The fair-code license means the source code is available on GitHub — an enterprise license is required for the paid features.
Security & Secrets Management
n8n is SOC 2 audited with regular external pen tests. Fetch secrets from AWS Secrets Manager, Azure Key Vault, Google Cloud Platform, HashiCorp Vault, and Infisical without storing them in n8n. SSO via SAML and LDAP, 2FA enforcement, and external secret store integration are available on Business and Enterprise plans.
Integrations
n8n works seamlessly with your favorite tools
n8n Pricing
Choose the plan that fits your needs
Community
- ✓Full n8n on your own infrastructure — Docker or Kubernetes
- ✓Unlimited workflows, unlimited users, all 400+ integrations
- ✓Code nodes (JS/Python), custom nodes, CLI and API access
- ✓Run bash scripts, import npm packages
- ✓No cloud hosting, no support SLA — community forum support only
- ✓Fair-code license — enterprise license required for paid features
Starter
- ✓Unlimited workflows, unlimited users, all integrations
- ✓50 AI Workflow Builder credits/month
- ✓2,500 max saved executions
- ✓7-day execution log retention
- ✓5 concurrent executions
- ✓1-day workflow history
- ✓1 shared project
- ✓Execution logging and error workflows
- ✓Encrypted secrets store
- ✓Overview insights banner
- ✓7–14 day insights date range filtering
Pro
- ✓Everything in Starter, plus:
- ✓150 AI Workflow Builder credits/month
- ✓25,000 max saved executions
- ✓30-day execution log retention
- ✓20 concurrent executions
- ✓5-day workflow history
- ✓3 shared projects
- ✓Project admins and project editors
- ✓Debug in editor
- ✓2 cloud environments (dev/prod)
- ✓Table with workflow metrics and sorting
- ✓Insights date range: 24h to 365 days, hourly/daily/weekly granularity
Business
- ✓Everything in Pro, plus:
- ✓1,000 AI Workflow Builder credits/month
- ✓50,000 max saved executions
- ✓Unlimited execution log retention
- ✓200+ concurrent executions
- ✓365+ day workflow history
- ✓Unlimited shared projects
- ✓Project viewers role
- ✓Instance admins role
- ✓SSO via SAML and LDAP
- ✓Enforce 2FA across the instance
- ✓External secret store integration (AWS, Azure, GCP, HashiCorp, Infisical)
- ✓Git version control and Workflow Diff
- ✓Unlimited environments (dev, staging, prod, etc.)
- ✓Queue mode — multiple instances with worker scaling
- ✓Worker view
- ✓External storage in S3
- ✓Multi-main support
- ✓Audit logging
- ✓Stream logs to external services (e.g. Datadog)
- ✓AI Assistant (upon request)
- ✓Dashboard with evolution over time
Enterprise
- ✓Everything in Business, plus:
- ✓Custom execution and concurrency limits
- ✓Dedicated support and SLA
- ✓Custom contract and billing
- ✓Best for: large organizations with compliance requirements, high execution volumes, or custom infrastructure needs
Pros & Cons
- ✓All cloud plans include unlimited users, unlimited workflows, and every integration — you are never locked out of a feature by user count
- ✓Free Community Edition available on GitHub — self-host n8n on Docker or Kubernetes at no cost under the fair-code license
- ✓Code when you need it — write custom JavaScript or Python in any node, import npm packages on self-hosted, and use expressions for dynamic parameters
- ✓400+ pre-built integrations (nodes) covering the most common apps and APIs — plus an HTTP Request node for anything else
- ✓Native AI workflow support — built-in AI nodes, LangChain integration, and a visual AI Agent builder for creating multi-step AI agents without external tooling
- ✓Start-up Plan gives companies under 20 employees 50% off Business — making enterprise-level automation accessible at $480/month
- ✓SOC 2 audited with external pen tests — secrets can be fetched from AWS Secrets Manager, Azure Key Vault, GCP, HashiCorp Vault, and Infisical without storing them in n8n
- ✕Steeper learning curve than Zapier or Make.com — n8n is designed for technical users and requires comfort with data structures, expressions, and APIs
- ✕Starter plan has tight execution limits (5 concurrent executions, 2,500 saved executions, 7-day log retention) — teams with high workflow volumes will quickly need Pro or above
- ✕Business plan at $960/month is a large jump from Pro at $60/month — there is no mid-tier option between them
- ✕Git version control and environments (dev/staging/prod) are Enterprise-only — teams needing proper deployment pipelines must go to Business or above
- ✕SSO (SAML/LDAP) and external secret store integration are Enterprise-only features
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about n8n
Is n8n the best fit for you?
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n8n vs Competitors
| Feature | n8n | Make.com | Zapier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | Free (self-hosted) | Free tier | Free tier |
| Cloud Paid Plan | $24/mo (Starter) | $9/mo (Core) | $19.99/mo (Professional) |
| Pricing Model | Per execution | Per operation | Per task |
| Self-Hosting | Yes — free | No | No |
| Custom Code | Yes (JS/Python) | Limited | Limited |
| AI Agent Support | Yes (LangChain built-in) | Partial | Partial |
| Unlimited Users | Yes — all plans | No | No |
| Git Version Control | Yes (Business+) | No | No |
Explore Top Alternatives
See how n8n compares to other leading AI tools
Lovable
Better choice if you want to build full web applications with AI rather than automate workflows between existing tools.
OpenClaw
Better choice if you want a pre-built autonomous AI agent with messaging and scheduling built in, rather than building custom automation workflows from scratch.
ChatGPT
Better choice if your primary need is conversational AI assistance rather than automated multi-step workflow execution across apps and APIs.
Perplexity AI
Better choice if your primary use case is research and fact-finding rather than automating business processes.
Claude AI
Better choice if your primary need is a capable AI assistant for writing, coding, and document analysis rather than workflow automation.
How to Get Started with n8n
Follow these simple steps to start using n8n
Sign up at n8n.io for a cloud plan, or self-host the free Community Edition from GitHub
Open the visual editor and create a new workflow — add your first trigger node (webhook, schedule, app event, or chat)
Connect nodes for each step in your automation — choose from 400+ pre-built integrations or use HTTP Request for anything else
Add a Code node to write custom JavaScript or Python wherever the visual tools aren't enough
Activate the workflow and monitor executions in the log — use error workflows to handle failures and send alerts
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What Real Users Think
User Reviews (1)
alans
Feb 28, 2026
it is great tool but expensive