Technical automation teams
Build multi-step operational workflows with visual nodes while retaining access to code, APIs, and custom logic.
Independent tool overview
n8n at a glance
n8n is a technical workflow automation platform that combines a visual editor with code, API access, self-hosting, and tools for building AI agents and data workflows.
Visit the official n8n site ↗
- Developer
- n8n GmbH
- Category
- Workflow automation and AI orchestration
- Integrations
- 1,000+ apps and services
- Deployment
- n8n Cloud or self-hosted
- Billing unit
- Complete workflow executions
Overview
What n8n is
n8n helps technical teams connect apps and APIs, transform data, run scheduled or event-driven jobs, and build AI agents through a node-based workflow editor. It sits between simple no-code automation tools and fully custom software: many workflows can be assembled visually, while JavaScript, Python, HTTP requests, GraphQL, and custom nodes provide deeper control when needed.
The platform is available as n8n Cloud or as a self-hosted deployment. Self-hosting can provide more control over infrastructure and data, but it also makes the operator responsible for security, upgrades, backups, and reliability. n8n's Community Edition is source-available under its Sustainable Use License rather than a standard open-source license, so teams planning to resell, embed, or host n8n for customers should review the commercial-use terms carefully.
Use cases
Who n8n is best for
The strongest fit depends on the job you need the product to complete, not the size of its feature list.
Self-hosted workflows
Run automations on infrastructure your team controls when data location, networking, or customization matters.
AI agents and LLM workflows
Connect models, memory, tools, vector stores, and business systems into agentic or retrieval-based workflows.
Complex integrations
Coordinate branching logic, transformations, webhooks, schedules, queues, and error handling across multiple systems.
Capabilities
Core n8n features
Visual workflow builder
Create automations from connected nodes, start from templates, inspect data between steps, and test workflows before activation.
Integrations, APIs, and code
Use more than 1,000 app and service integrations, generic HTTP and GraphQL requests, imported cURL commands, JavaScript, Python, or custom nodes.
Flexible triggers
Start workflows from webhooks, app events, schedules, forms, queues, chat interactions, or manual runs.
AI workflow components
Build workflows with language models, agents, tools, memory, document retrieval, and other AI-oriented nodes and templates.
Cloud and self-hosted deployment
Use n8n's managed cloud or operate the Community, Business, or Enterprise edition on your own infrastructure.
Operations and governance
Paid tiers add capabilities such as shared projects, environments, Git-based version control, SSO, external secrets, log streaming, execution search, and longer insights retention.
Process
How the n8n workflow works
Step 1
Choose the trigger and outcome
Define what starts the automation and what the completed workflow should produce or update.
Step 2
Connect services and credentials
Add app nodes or API requests, then configure credentials and map incoming data to each step.
Step 3
Build and test the logic
Add transformations, branches, loops, code, AI components, retries, and error paths while inspecting sample executions.
Step 4
Activate and monitor
Publish the workflow, monitor execution history and failures, and manage versions, infrastructure, and backups appropriate to the deployment.
Cost
n8n pricing and free plan
n8n prices its hosted plans by complete workflow executions rather than by individual steps. Listed cloud prices are billed annually. Self-hosting the Community Edition has no n8n license fee, but infrastructure and operating costs remain the user's responsibility.
Community Edition
Free to self-host
The standard self-hosted edition for internal use under n8n's Sustainable Use License.
- Unlimited workflows
- Run on your own infrastructure
- Community support
- Advanced collaboration and governance features are reserved for paid editions
Starter
€20/month billed annually
Managed n8n Cloud for individuals and small automation workloads.
- 2,500 workflow executions per month
- One shared project
- Five concurrent executions
- Unlimited users
- 2,300 AI credits per month
Pro
€50/month billed annually
Managed cloud plan with more capacity, collaboration, and operational visibility.
- 10,000 workflow executions per month
- Three shared projects
- 20 concurrent executions
- Seven days of insights
- Admin roles, global variables, workflow history, and execution search
Business
€667/month billed annually
Self-hosted plan for organizations that need governance and development controls.
- 40,000 workflow executions per month
- Six shared projects
- SSO with SAML or LDAP
- Environments and Git-based version control
- 30 days of insights
Enterprise
Contact sales
Cloud or self-hosted deployment with custom scale, security, and support terms.
- Custom execution allowance
- Unlimited shared projects
- 200+ concurrent executions
- External secrets and log streaming
- Dedicated SLA and extended retention options
Pricing checked . Check current pricing at the source ↗
Assessment
n8n strengths and limitations
Where it stands out
- Combines a visual builder with code, API access, and custom nodes for workflows that outgrow basic no-code tools.
- Offers both managed cloud and self-hosted deployment for teams with different infrastructure and data-control requirements.
- Bills hosted plans by complete workflow run rather than charging for every step inside a workflow.
- Provides a broad integration catalog and a growing ecosystem for AI agents, retrieval, and model-powered automations.
What to consider
- Self-hosting shifts security, upgrades, backups, scaling, and reliability work to the operator.
- The Community Edition is source-available under the Sustainable Use License, not OSI-approved open source, and some customer-facing commercial uses require a separate agreement.
- Complex workflows can still require programming, careful data mapping, and substantial debugging experience.
- SSO, environments, Git version control, and other governance features require the much more expensive Business or Enterprise tiers.
- External model, API, database, and infrastructure charges are separate from n8n subscription pricing.
Compare
n8n alternatives
The right alternative depends on the specific output, workflow, controls and budget your project requires.
Business Operations
Zapier
Choose Zapier for a more approachable no-code experience and a large mainstream app integration ecosystem.
Explore Zapier →Business Operations
Gumloop
Choose Gumloop for an AI-first visual automation experience aimed at building model-powered workflows without as much infrastructure work.
Explore Gumloop →Business Operations
Synthreo (formerly BotX)
Consider Synthreo, formerly BotX, for a no-code platform focused on AI assistants and business automation.
Explore Synthreo (formerly BotX) →Questions
n8n FAQs
What is n8n used for?
n8n is used to connect apps and APIs, move and transform data, automate business processes, run scheduled or event-driven jobs, and build AI agents and retrieval workflows.
Can I use n8n for free?
Yes. The Community Edition can be self-hosted without an n8n license fee for permitted uses, although you still pay for infrastructure and operations. n8n also offers trials of its paid plans.
Is n8n open source?
n8n describes its model as fair-code and source-available. Its Sustainable Use License is not an OSI-approved open-source license, and it limits certain uses such as reselling or hosting n8n as a paid customer-facing service without an appropriate commercial agreement.
How does n8n count executions?
One execution is a complete run of a workflow, regardless of how many steps the workflow contains. Monthly execution allowances vary by plan.
Should I use n8n Cloud or self-host it?
n8n Cloud is the easier option when you want the vendor to manage the infrastructure. Self-hosting is better suited to teams that need more deployment control and have the expertise to manage security, upgrades, backups, and scaling.
Bottom line
Our n8n verdict
n8n is a strong choice for technical teams that want more control than conventional no-code automation products provide. Its visual editor, code support, self-hosting, and AI workflow components make it unusually flexible, but buyers should account for self-hosting work, licensing restrictions, and the large price jump for enterprise governance features.
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