n8n

This n8n review covers what n8n is used for, its key features, n8n pricing on n8n Cloud and self-hosted, the fair-code license, where it shines and falls short, and how it compares with other tools. n8n (pronounced "n-eight-n", short for "nodemation") is a visual workflow builder: you connect nodes on a visual canvas, where each node is a trigger, an app action, a code step or an AI step. Workflows run on a schedule, on a webhook or on external events. n8n was started in Berlin in 2019 by Jan Oberhauser, and it has become one of the most used automation tools for developers and technical teams who want more control than simpler tools give them.

What is n8n used for?

Teams use n8n to automate work between apps and data sources: syncing a CRM with a database, routing leads, enriching records, sending alerts, generating reports and moving files. Because every workflow can mix built-in actions with JavaScript or Python code steps, n8n also handles complex logic and data-heavy jobs that a pure no-code tool struggles with, such as transforming nested data structures or calling internal APIs.

The fastest-growing use is AI workflows. n8n has nodes for large language models, vector stores and memory, so you can build AI agents that read an email, look up data, decide what to do and perform actions in other tools, with a human-in-the-loop approval where needed. Operations teams, agencies and in-house developers use it; non-technical users can run and edit simple workflows once they have access, but most teams need someone comfortable with data and APIs to build them.

Key features

• Visual workflow builder: drag nodes onto a workflow canvas, map data between steps and test each node with real data.
• Integrations: 400+ built-in nodes plus hundreds of community nodes, and an HTTP Request node for any API, which makes n8n a general integration platform rather than a closed app list.
• Code steps: JavaScript or Python inside a workflow for logic the built-in actions don't cover.
• AI agents and AI workflows: agent, chat, LLM, vector-store and tool nodes; the AI Assistant helps build and debug workflows in natural language.
• Triggers: webhooks, schedules, polling and app events for scheduled workflows and event-driven automation.
• Self-hosting: run the Community Edition on your own servers with Docker or npm, or use n8n Cloud.
• Team and enterprise features: projects, workflow and credential sharing, environments, Git version control, SSO, external secrets, log streaming and audit logs on the paid tiers.

n8n pricing

n8n bills by workflow executions. According to the n8n pricing page (September 2026, shown in euros from Europe):

• Community Edition: free to self-host, no execution limit from n8n; you pay for your own infrastructure.
• Starter (n8n Cloud): €20 a month billed annually (€24 monthly), 2,500 executions, 5 concurrent executions, unlimited users and workflows.
• Pro (n8n Cloud): €50 a month billed annually (€60 monthly), 10,000 executions, 20 concurrent executions.
• Business (self-hosted): €667 a month billed annually, 40,000 executions, with projects, SSO, environments and Git version control.
• Enterprise: custom pricing, hosted by n8n or self-hosted, 200+ concurrent executions and dedicated support.

Third-party guides list the US Cloud prices as $24 and $60 a month billed monthly. Startups under 20 employees get 50% off Business.

The execution model is simple: a single execution is "a single run of your entire workflow", however many steps it has, so workflow executions rather than users or steps drive the price. That makes n8n cheaper than tools that charge per step or operation once workflows get long. The cost surprise to check is the paid features, not the Starter plan price: the free self-hosted version has no projects, sharing, SSO, environments or Git, so a team that needs them lands on Business, and self-hosting still costs server time, updates, backups and monitoring.

Self-hosted version vs n8n Cloud

The self-hosted version gives you direct access to your data and no execution limits, which is why it suits data-heavy and privacy-sensitive work. You run it on your own infrastructure with Docker, and you own upgrades, scaling (queue mode with workers) and security. n8n Cloud removes that operations work but caps executions per plan. The Community Edition is the full workflow engine; registering it for free adds folders, debug-in-editor and custom execution data. Many teams start self-hosted on a small VPS and move to Cloud or Business when more people build workflows.

Community Edition vs paid plans

The feature list splits along one line: the Community Edition is the complete workflow engine for one builder or a small team, and the paid plans add what multiple users need to work on the same instance. According to n8n's edition comparison, the Community Edition lacks shared projects, workflow and credential sharing, environments, Git version control, SSO (SAML and LDAP), external secrets, external storage for binary data, log streaming and multi-main mode. Every user on a Community instance works in their own space, so a team of builders quickly wants shared projects and access control.

Paid plans start with the Starter plan on n8n Cloud, which includes unlimited users; Pro adds more workflow executions and concurrency, Business brings the advanced features to a self-hosted instance, and Enterprise adds dedicated support, custom limits and the complete enterprise feature list. Business and Enterprise licenses are applied to your own instance with a license key, and n8n counts production executions on self-hosted plans too. On the free tier there is no execution cap: the Community Edition gives unlimited executions on your own infrastructure. There is no free plan on n8n Cloud, only a free trial.

AI agents and the AI Assistant

The AI Agent node connects a language model to tools, memory and your own data, so an agent can call APIs, query a database or run another workflow as a tool. You choose the model (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google Gemini, Mistral or a local model) and bring your own API key, so model usage is billed by the provider, not by n8n. The AI Assistant inside the editor is separate: it helps you write expressions, fix errors and build workflows from natural language, and on n8n Cloud it uses the monthly AI credits of your plan. Because AI agents run inside ordinary workflows, you keep the same logging, retries and human approval steps as any other automation.

The fair-code license explained

n8n is not open source in the OSI sense. The core uses the Sustainable Use License, a fair code license: you may use and modify the software "only for your own internal business purposes or for non-commercial or personal use", and redistribute it only free of charge for non-commercial purposes. Automating your own company's work, building an integration for your own product, and consulting (building workflows for clients) are all allowed. Hosting n8n and charging others for access to it needs a commercial agreement. Enterprise features live in .ee files that require an n8n Enterprise License.

Where n8n shines — and where it falls short

Strengths:

• Free, unlimited self-hosting for internal automation workflows.
• Per-execution pricing that stays low for long, complex workflows.
• Code steps and an HTTP node when built-in actions are not enough.
• Strong AI agent and LLM tooling.
• A large community, templates and many n8n agencies and developers.
• Security and data control: self-hosted, workflow data never leaves your infrastructure.

Trade-offs:

• A steeper learning curve than simpler tools such as Zapier.
• Team features (sharing, SSO, Git) are paid features on the enterprise tiers, not part of the free instance.
• Self-hosting means you own uptime, upgrades and security.
• The fair-code license limits reselling n8n as a hosted service.

How n8n compares

• Zapier: the most apps and the shortest setup, priced per task, hosted only.
• Make: a visual builder priced per operation, easier for non-developers.
• Microsoft Power Automate: the choice for Microsoft 365 and desktop automation.
• Pipedream: code-first automation for developers, hosted.
• IFTTT: simple consumer and smart-home automations.
• Tray.io: enterprise integration platform with governance built in.
• Node-RED: open-source flow editor, popular for IoT.
• Dify: an LLM app and agent builder rather than general automation.

Is n8n worth it?

n8n is worth it for technical teams that want powerful automation workflows at a low cost, control over their data, and the option to add code or AI agents. Self-hosted, it is free for internal use; on n8n Cloud the per-execution pricing beats per-step tools once workflows grow. It is less of a fit for non-developers who want the shortest path, for teams that need SSO and sharing but not the Business price, or for companies that want to resell automation as a hosted service. If you want help building or running n8n workflows, the n8n agencies and developers on LowCodeDevs can take it on.

Sources

• n8n pricing: plans, executions and the startup discount.
• Compare editions, n8n Docs: what the Community Edition lacks and what registration adds.
• n8n license and Sustainable Use License, n8n Docs: allowed and restricted uses.
• n8n integrations: built-in and community nodes.
• n8n review, Softailed: a hands-on review for non-developers.
• Top n8n alternatives, Composio and n8n alternatives, ZenML: alternatives (both written by competitors; ZenML's claim that version control doesn't exist is outdated, since Git version control is part of Business and Enterprise).