Our Verdict
An open-source, self-hostable workflow automation platform built for developers who want full control over their data and infrastructure.
Rating Breakdown
Why Trust This Review
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Pros & Cons
Pros
- Completely free self-hosted option with unlimited workflows and zero execution limits
- Full data sovereignty — your data stays on your own infrastructure
- Custom JavaScript and Python code nodes allow limitless extensibility
- Powerful AI agent capabilities with native LLM chaining nodes
- Active open-source community with 100,000+ GitHub stars and community node marketplace
Cons
- Self-hosting requires DevOps expertise for setup, maintenance, and updates
- Fewer pre-built integrations (400+) compared to Zapier or Make
- Cloud pricing is relatively expensive for the execution limits provided
- Not designed for non-technical users — requires comfort with technical concepts
Full Review
Overview
n8n (pronounced "n-eight-n") is an open-source, low-code workflow automation platform that combines a visual drag-and-drop builder with deep programmability. Unlike cloud-only competitors, n8n can be self-hosted on your own infrastructure, giving you complete control over your data and eliminating per-execution costs. With over 100,000 GitHub stars and a thriving community, n8n has become the go-to choice for developers and technical teams who need flexible, customizable automation.
Key Strengths
- Self-hosting option: Run unlimited workflows on your own servers with zero execution fees
- Open-source: Full source code available, with an active community contributing nodes and improvements
- Code-first flexibility: Inject custom JavaScript or Python code at any point in your workflows
- AI agent capabilities: Native AI nodes for chaining LLMs with tools for complex reasoning tasks
- Fair-code license: Source-available model lets you inspect and modify the code
- 400+ integrations: Built-in connectors plus HTTP nodes for any REST API
Pricing Analysis
The Community Edition is completely free for self-hosting with unlimited workflows and executions. n8n Cloud starts at EUR 24/month for the Starter plan with 2,500 executions. The Pro plan at EUR 60/month provides 10,000 executions. The Business plan at EUR 800/month offers 40,000 executions with SSO, Git integration, and multi-environment support. Self-hosting requires your own infrastructure (typically EUR 5-50/month for a VPS).
Who Is It Best For?
n8n is ideal for developers, DevOps teams, and technical organizations that value data sovereignty and want full control over their automation infrastructure. It excels in scenarios requiring custom code, complex AI agent workflows, or compliance requirements that mandate self-hosting. Perfect for startups and mid-size companies with technical staff.
The Bottom Line
n8n is the best choice for technical teams who want the power of self-hosting combined with a visual workflow builder. The open-source model means you can run unlimited automations for the cost of a VPS, making it the most cost-effective option for high-volume use cases. The trade-off is a higher technical barrier — you need DevOps skills for self-hosting and development skills to leverage its full potential.
Alternatives to n8n
Frequently Asked Questions
The self-hosted Community Edition is completely free with unlimited workflows and executions. You only pay for the server infrastructure to host it, which typically costs $5-50/month for a VPS. The managed cloud version starts at EUR 24/month with execution limits. The community edition uses a fair-code license that allows free use but restricts redistribution.
n8n provides official Docker images that make deployment straightforward for anyone comfortable with command-line tools. A basic setup takes about 30 minutes on a VPS. However, production deployments require additional considerations like backups, SSL certificates, database configuration, and scaling — which require DevOps experience. Many hosting providers now offer one-click n8n deployments to simplify this.
For technically-capable teams, yes. n8n can handle everything Zapier does and more, with the added benefits of self-hosting and unlimited executions. However, n8n has fewer pre-built integrations and requires more technical skill to set up and maintain. If your team lacks DevOps resources, Zapier or Make may be more practical choices despite higher ongoing costs.
Written by
Marcus has spent over a decade in SaaS integration and business automation. He specializes in evaluating API architectures, workflow automation tools, and sales funnel platforms. His reviews focus on implementation details, technical depth, and real-world integration scenarios.
Co-written by
Emily brings 7 years of data-driven marketing expertise, specializing in market analysis, email optimization, and AI-powered marketing tools. She combines quantitative research with practical recommendations, focusing on ROI benchmarks and emerging trends across the SaaS landscape.
Final Verdict
n8n scores 8.5/10
With a score of 8.5 out of 10, n8n is a strong performer that delivers great value. It's particularly well-suited for those looking for developer teams wanting full control with self-hosted, open-source automation.