n8n Review 2024: The Open-Source Automation Platform That Cuts Costs by 90%
Overview
A comprehensive analysis of n8n, the fair-code automation platform that offers unlimited workflows for free when self-hosted. Discover why technical teams are migrating from Zapier and saving thousands monthly while gaining complete control over their automation infrastructure.
Key Features
Pros
- FREE for self-hosting (unlimited workflows/executions)
- 10-20x cheaper execution model than competitors
- Complete data control and privacy
- No vendor lock-in
- Extensible with custom nodes
- Active community (41k+ GitHub stars)
- Can use any npm package
- Excellent documentation
Cons
- Steep learning curve for non-developers
- Self-hosting requires technical knowledge
- Cloud support can be unresponsive
- Fewer pre-built integrations than Zapier
- No collaboration features in Community Edition
- Complex workflows can become hard to manage
- Limited enterprise features without paid plans
Pricing
Pricing Model: Freemium - Starting at FREE (self-hosted)
Community (Self-Hosted)
FREE
- Unlimited workflows
- Unlimited executions
- All 1000+ integrations
- Full code access
- npm package support
- Community support
Cloud Starter
$24/month
- Limited executions
- Managed hosting
- Basic support
- No npm packages
Cloud Pro
Custom
- Higher execution limits
- Advanced features
- Priority support
Enterprise
Custom
- SOC2 compliance
- SLA guarantees
- Dedicated support
- Custom deployment
Best Use Cases
- AI/ML workflow orchestration
- Data ETL and synchronization
- DevOps automation
- Marketing automation
- Document processing
- API integration and webhooks
- Scheduled data processing
- Business process automation
Screenshots
How n8n Compares
vs. Industry Average
Frequently Asked Questions
Is n8n worth it?
n8n scores 9/10 in our review. It's an excellent choice for ai/ml workflow orchestration.
What are the main features of n8n?
Key features include: 1000+ pre-built integrations (nodes), Self-hostable with Docker in 30 seconds, Full JavaScript/Python code support. See our full review above for a complete feature breakdown.
How much does n8n cost?
n8n uses a freemium pricing model, starting at FREE (self-hosted). Check their website for current pricing details.
What are the best alternatives to n8n?
Check our Automation category page for similar tools.
Final Verdict
Highly Recommended
n8n excels in most areas and is an excellent choice for ai/ml workflow orchestration. With strong ratings in flexibility and performance, it's definitely worth considering.
Start with their demo to see if it fits your needs