What Is n8n?
n8n is an open-source workflow automation platform with a visual, node-based editor and 400+ integrations. Its defining trait is how it bills: unlike Zapier (which charges per task) or Make (per operation), n8n charges per execution — one complete run of a workflow, no matter how many nodes it contains. A two-node webhook-to-Slack hop and a fifty-node AI pipeline each cost exactly one execution per run. That single design choice makes n8n dramatically cheaper as workflows grow in complexity, and it’s why technical teams building multi-step and AI-driven automations increasingly choose it over per-step tools.
Key Features
- Execution-based billing — one whole workflow run = one execution, regardless of node count or data volume. Orders of magnitude cheaper than per-task pricing for complex flows.
- 400+ native integrations — Slack, Airtable, Notion, GitHub, CRMs, plus custom API and JavaScript function nodes when you need to go beyond the catalog.
- Native AI agent nodes — build autonomous, reasoning workflows with LangChain-style nodes and native support for Claude, GPT, and Gemini, plus vector-store integrations for RAG pipelines. AI agent workflows run on the same execution model with no separate AI pricing tier.
- AI Workflow Builder — an assistant that generates workflows from a prompt, metered by monthly AI credits (50 on Starter, 150 on Pro, 1,000 on Enterprise). Note: this is separate from your own AI nodes, which bill through your LLM provider.
- Self-host or cloud — run the free Community Edition on your own server for full data control, or use n8n’s managed EU-hosted cloud for zero-maintenance operation.
Pricing
n8n’s biggest decision is cloud vs self-hosted. Annual billing saves roughly 17%. As of 2026:
- Community Edition (self-hosted) — Free. Unlimited executions, unlimited workflows, and the full integration catalog. You pay only for infrastructure — typically a $5–7/month VPS via Docker. The trade-off is setup and maintenance (Docker, SSL, updates) and no SSO or enterprise controls.
- Starter — €24/month (also listed at $20 in USD). 2,500 executions/month. Ideal for individuals and small teams — though note a single 5-minute polling workflow alone consumes ~8,640 executions/month, so watch trigger frequency.
- Pro — €60/month ($50 USD). 10,000 executions/month plus workflow history and more collaboration tools.
- Business — €800/month. 40,000 executions, SSO (SAML/LDAP), Git-based version control, multiple environments (dev/staging/prod), and 6 shared projects.
- Enterprise — custom pricing, adding audit logs, log streaming, advanced permissions, and dedicated support with SLAs.
Two things worth knowing: active workflow limits were removed across all cloud plans in April 2026, so pricing now scales purely by execution volume. And companies with fewer than 20 employees can apply for the Startup Program for roughly 50% off the Business plan.
How It Compares
Against Zapier, n8n’s per-execution model is the whole story: a 10-step automation running 1,000 times uses 1,000 n8n executions but 10,000 Zapier tasks — which is why n8n runs 3-4x (often 10-20x) cheaper as complexity grows. Make stays competitive for simple, low-volume workflows but trails on multi-step scenarios. The catch is that n8n is more technical: its node-based editor has a real learning curve, and self-hosting requires genuine DevOps capability. Zapier and Make remain friendlier for non-technical users who want drag-and-drop simplicity over granular control.
Is n8n Worth It?
For any team with technical capability, n8n is the best-value automation platform available. If you can run a $5-7/month VPS, the self-hosted Community Edition gives you unlimited automation at a fraction of cloud-tool costs. If you’d rather not manage infrastructure, Starter (€24) and Pro (€60) are reasonable managed tiers for lower-volume needs. The €800 Business jump is steep — most teams should seriously evaluate self-hosting before reaching for it, and sub-20-employee startups should check the 50%-off Startup Program first. The rule of thumb: the more complex and high-volume your workflows, the more decisively n8n wins on cost.
Last updated: July 2, 2026.