n8n

A fair-code workflow automation tool you can self-host, with code steps and AI agent nodes.

Free plan + paidSelf-hostableAutomation and integration platforms

Verified facts: 5 of 5
Alternatives ranked: 7
Approved reviews: 0
Visits sent from here: 0

About n8n

n8n is a node-based workflow automation platform popular with technical teams. Workflows are built on a canvas from nodes for apps, logic, HTTP requests and custom JavaScript or Python, and it has become a common choice for building AI agents, with nodes for LLMs, vector stores, memory and human-in-the-loop approvals. Its biggest difference from Zapier and Make is deployment: you can self-host the free Community edition with Docker on your own server, which keeps data in-house and avoids per-task charges, or pay for n8n's cloud. The source is available under n8n's Sustainable Use License, a fair-code licence that allows free internal use but restricts offering n8n as a commercial service, so it isn't open source in the OSI sense. Cloud and paid self-hosted plans are priced by workflow executions rather than individual steps, which makes long workflows cheaper. Business and Enterprise editions add SSO, Git-based version control and environments. The interface assumes some technical comfort.

Best for: Technical teams that want self-hosted automations and AI agents without per-task fees.

What works

Free self-hosted Community edition
Priced per execution, not per step
Code nodes and strong AI agent tooling

Why people leave

Fair-code licence restricts commercial resale
Less friendly for non-technical users
SSO and version control need paid editions

Top n8n alternatives

See all 7

1
Activepieces
MIT-licensed integrations and a simpler builder, also self-hostable.
66.5
2
Make
Hosted visual builder that non-technical teammates find easier.
62.6
3
Zapier
Far more prebuilt app integrations and no servers to manage.
59.6
4
Node-RED
Fully open-source (Apache 2.0) flow tool, strong for IoT and event handling.
57.2
5
Automatisch
Open-source Zapier alternative focused on simple self-hosted flows.
55.3

Why people left n8n

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n8n: common questions

Is n8n free?

n8n has a free plan and paid plans.

Is n8n open source?

No, n8n is not open source. Open-source alternatives include Activepieces, Node-RED and Automatisch.

What platforms does n8n run on?

n8n is available for Web and Self-hosted.

What are the best alternatives to n8n?

The highest-ranked n8n alternatives right now are Activepieces, Make and Zapier. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

See all 7 n8n alternatives

n8n facts

5 of 5 verified

Cloud starting price: €20/month (annual), 2.5K executions; Checked Oct 25, 2026n8n.io(opens source in a new tab); “20€ /mo, billed annually 2.5K workflow executions”
Pro price: €50/month (annual), 10K executions; Checked Oct 25, 2026n8n.io(opens source in a new tab); “50€ /mo, billed annually 10K workflow executions”
Self-hosting: Yes, free Community edition; Checked Oct 25, 2026docs.n8n.io(opens source in a new tab); “Without a license key, n8n runs as the free Community edition.”
Integrations: 2,000+; Checked Oct 25, 2026n8n.io(opens source in a new tab); “Best app + software integrations Browse 2,000+ integrations for apps, services, and APIs, and build them into your workflows.”
License: Sustainable Use License (fair-code); Checked Oct 25, 2026docs.n8n.io(opens source in a new tab); “n8n uses the Sustainable Use License and n8n Enterprise License .”