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n8n

by n8n GmbH · updated 2026-07-05

Source-available automation with real code escape hatches and self-hosting.

4.5 · 2,740 ratingsOpen sourceSelf-host free / $24 cloudAPI available

At a glance

Best for
Ops engineers, Agencies, Regulated industries, Startups
Platforms
Web, Docker, Self-hosted
Languages
English, German, Spanish
Starting price
Self-host free / $24 cloud
Visit n8n

Key takeaways

  • Self-hosting removes data concerns
  • Cheaper at volume than task-priced rivals
  • Steeper learning curve
  • Starts at Self-host free / $24 cloud.

Overview

n8n is a node-based workflow builder with 400+ integrations, native LLM and agent nodes, and the option to run entirely on your own infrastructure — the usual pick when data cannot leave the building.

Features

  • Visual node editor with JavaScript nodes
  • AI agent and vector store nodes
  • Execution-based pricing, not per task
  • Self-hosting via Docker
  • Version-controlled workflows

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Self-hosting removes data concerns
  • Cheaper at volume than task-priced rivals
  • Escape hatch to real code

Cons

  • Steeper learning curve
  • Self-hosting needs ops ownership
  • Fewer polished consumer templates

Pricing plans

Community

$0

self-hosted

  • All core nodes
  • Unlimited workflows
  • Your infrastructure

Starter cloud

$24

per month

  • 2.5k executions
  • Hosted and managed
  • 5 active workflows

Pro cloud

$60

per month

  • 10k executions
  • Admin roles
  • Global variables

Industry use cases

Industry use cases for n8n
IndustryScenario
ManufacturingRoute supplier emails through an LLM classifier into an ERP queue.
HealthcareSummarise intake forms on private infrastructure with no external calls.
SaaSEnrich every signup and post a qualified-lead digest to Slack.

Security, privacy and compliance

  • GDPR
  • Self-hosted data residency
  • SOC 2 (cloud)

Integrations: OpenAI, Slack, Postgres, Notion, HubSpot, Google Workspace. A public API is available.

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n8n FAQ

Is n8n really free?

The self-hosted community edition is free under a fair-code licence. Cloud hosting and enterprise features are paid.

How is pricing different from Zapier?

n8n bills per workflow execution rather than per task, so multi-step workflows cost the same as single-step ones.