Make
Visual automation platform connecting 3,000+ apps with no-code workflows and AI agents
FREEMIUM Verified JUN 11, 2026
n8n
Open-source workflow automation platform for building AI agents and multi-app integrations
n8n is a workflow automation platform that lets technical teams build AI agents and multi-step integrations using a visual canvas plus JavaScript/Python code. Cloud plans start at €20/month (2,500 executions); a free Community Edition is self-hostable under a FairCode licence. Best for developers and IT teams who want code-level control without building integrations from scratch.
Verified JUN 11, 2026 FREEMIUM Live
What is n8n?
n8n is a workflow automation platform built for technical teams who need more control than typical no-code tools allow. It combines a visual node-based canvas with native JavaScript and Python code nodes, meaning you can drag connectors between 500+ pre-built integrations and drop into raw code whenever the built-in nodes are not enough. Workflows execute as directed acyclic graphs of steps, and every execution is logged so you can replay or mock individual nodes during debugging — a practical difference from tools that treat workflows as black boxes.
The platform has a dedicated AI agent layer: you can configure multi-agent pipelines, attach retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) sources, select from multiple LLM providers, and add human-in-the-loop approval gates, all within the same canvas. n8n is distributed under a FairCode (Sustainable Use) licence — the full source code is on GitHub and free to self-host with no execution caps, but commercial redistribution requires a separate enterprise agreement.
Who is it for?
n8n is aimed at developers, DevOps engineers, and IT operations teams who want automation infrastructure without the cost or lock-in of fully managed SaaS tools. Non-technical business users will find the learning curve steep compared to Zapier or Make.
Typical users include:
- Backend developers building internal tools that connect databases, APIs, and SaaS products — they use code nodes to handle transformation logic that no-code nodes cannot express
- IT and security operations teams automating alert triage, ticket routing, and compliance checks across on-premises and cloud systems where data must stay within the company’s infrastructure
- AI/ML engineers prototyping agent pipelines: RAG workflows, LLM chains with conditional branching, or evaluation harnesses that test agent outputs against ground-truth datasets
- Freelance automation consultants who self-host n8n for clients on a VPS, keeping per-client costs low while selling packaged workflow solutions
How much does n8n cost?
Starting price: €20/mo · Free tier: yes · Model: freemium
Pricing verified JUN 11, 2026
Price history tracked from June 2026
| Plan | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Community | Free | Self-hosted only · Open-source (FairCode licence) · Unlimited workflows · No execution cap on self-hosted |
| Starter | €20/mo | 2,500 executions/mo · Unlimited steps per execution · 1 shared project · 5 concurrent executions · 50 AI Workflow Builder credits · 7-day execution retention |
| Pro | €50/mo | 10,000 executions/mo · 3 shared projects · 20 concurrent executions · Admin roles · Global variables · Workflow history · 150 AI credits · 30-day insights |
| Business | €667/mo | 40,000 executions/mo · 6 shared projects · SSO/SAML/LDAP · Git version control · Multiple environments · 30-day insights |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom execution volume · Unlimited shared projects · 200+ concurrent executions · 365-day insights · Dedicated SLA support · External secret store · Log streaming |
What are n8n's key features?
- Visual drag-and-drop canvas with 500+ pre-built integration nodes
- Native JavaScript and Python code nodes for arbitrary logic
- AI agent builder with multi-agent orchestration and RAG support
- Self-hosting via Docker with full source code on GitHub (FairCode licence)
- Step-by-step execution tracing and replay/mock data for debugging
- Git-based version control for workflow management (Business and above)
- SSO/SAML/LDAP authentication (Business and above)
- Native AI evaluation tooling for testing agent outputs
What people use n8n for
- 01 Automate lead enrichment by connecting CRM, email, and AI models in a single workflow
- 02 Build multi-step AI agents with human-in-the-loop approval gates
- 03 Sync data across SaaS tools (Slack, Notion, Google Sheets, HubSpot) without custom code
- 04 Self-host automation infrastructure to keep sensitive data on-premises
- 05 Create RAG pipelines that pull from internal knowledge bases and route to LLMs
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Self-hosted Community Edition is free with no execution limits, giving cost control at scale | Cloud plans priced in euros, which adds currency-conversion friction for non-EU buyers |
| Code nodes let developers break out of no-code constraints when needed | Business tier jumps sharply to €667/mo — there is no mid-range tier between €50 and €667 |
| Transparent agent execution trace makes debugging AI workflows practical | FairCode licence restricts embedding n8n in commercial products without a separate agreement |
| 500+ integrations cover most common SaaS tools out of the box | Self-hosting requires Docker familiarity; not suitable for non-technical users |
What are the best n8n alternatives?
Zapier
No-code automation platform that connects 7,000+ apps to build multi-step workflows without writing code
FREEMIUM Verified JUN 11, 2026
CrewAI
Open-source multi-agent framework for orchestrating collaborative AI agent teams
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Relevance AI
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AgentGPT
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Airtable
No-code app-building platform with relational databases, automations, and AI agents
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Head-to-head comparisons
How people make money with n8n
- Sell pre-built n8n workflow templates on the n8n community marketplace or Gumroad for common use cases like lead enrichment or Slack alerting pipelines
- Offer n8n setup and automation consulting on Upwork or Toptal — production workflow deployments with AI-agent specialisation
Frequently asked questions
Is n8n free?
n8n offers a free Community Edition that you self-host via Docker. There is no free cloud tier; cloud plans start at €20/month billed annually.
What is the difference between n8n and Zapier?
n8n allows custom JavaScript/Python code inside workflows and can be self-hosted for free, whereas Zapier is cloud-only and code-free. n8n is generally better for technical teams; Zapier is easier for non-developers.
Can n8n build AI agents?
Yes. n8n has a dedicated AI agent builder supporting multi-agent setups, RAG pipelines, multiple LLM providers, and human-in-the-loop controls, all visible as traceable steps on the canvas.
What licence does n8n use?
n8n uses a FairCode licence (Sustainable Use Licence). The source code is publicly available and free to self-host, but you cannot embed or resell n8n as part of a commercial product without a separate enterprise licence.
How many integrations does n8n have?
n8n ships with 500+ pre-built integration nodes. You can also connect to any REST API using the HTTP Request node.
Does n8n have a cloud version?
Yes. n8n Cloud is a fully managed version with plans starting at €20/month. It handles hosting, updates, and uptime; you only manage your workflows.
What happens if I exceed my execution limit on a cloud plan?
n8n will pause workflow executions once you hit your monthly cap. You can upgrade to a higher tier mid-cycle to restore capacity.
Public signals
- ★ 193.6k GitHub stars as of Jun 22, 2026