What is n8n?
n8n is a workflow automation tool with a visual editor. You drag 'nodes' onto a canvas, connect them, and each node does one job, such as fetching data from an app, transforming it, calling an AI model or sending a message. When you need something custom, you can add a Code node in JavaScript or Python. You can use n8n Cloud, hosted by the company, or install the free Community Edition on your own server with Docker or npm.
What sets n8n apart is how it charges and where it runs. Cloud plans count one execution per full workflow run, no matter how many steps it has, which can work out cheaper than per-action pricing for long workflows. It also has strong AI agent tooling, with human approval steps, guardrails and evaluations. It has fewer ready-made integrations than Zapier (500+), but its HTTP node lets you connect to almost any service with an API.
n8n key features
Visual workflow editor
Build automations by connecting nodes on a canvas and see the data flowing through each step, which makes debugging easier.
Code when you need it
The Code node runs JavaScript or Python. Self-hosted users can also enable extra npm or Python libraries, while n8n Cloud limits which libraries you can import.
500+ integrations plus any API
n8n lists 500+ built-in integrations, and the HTTP Request node can talk to almost any other web service.
AI agents with guardrails
Connect the AI model of your choice, add human approval steps, set guardrails and run evaluations so agents behave more predictably.
Replay and debug runs
You can replay past executions and watch agents work live, which helps find and fix errors quickly.
Self-hosting
Run n8n on your own server or on-premises with Docker, which keeps your data in your control and avoids cloud execution limits.
Template library
The n8n website lists over 14,000 workflow templates you can start from instead of building from scratch.
Business and enterprise controls
Higher plans add SSO, LDAP, Git version control, multiple environments, log streaming and external secret stores.
Who uses n8n, and how
Build a workflow that pulls trending news, has an AI model draft post ideas, and saves them to a sheet for your approval before publishing.
Connect internal tools and APIs, add custom JavaScript or Python logic, and keep everything self-hosted for data control.
Process invoices or incoming emails automatically, extract key details with AI and log them to accounting or CRM tools.
Build and maintain automation workflows for clients, which n8n's licence allows as a paid service.
Create an AI knowledge assistant that answers staff questions from company documents, with a human approval step for sensitive replies.
n8n plans and prices
| Plan | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | 20€/month | billed annually; 2.5K workflow executions/month |
| Pro | 50€/month | billed annually; 10K workflow executions/month |
| Business | 667€/month | billed annually; 40K executions/month; self-hosted only |
| Enterprise | See official page | Contact sales |
Prices in euros as shown on the official pricing page; no USD or monthly-billing prices were listed. India prices may differ. Checked on 2026-11-05.
Free vs paid: what you really get
Free plan
- No free cloud plan, but the self-hosted Community Edition is free with almost the complete feature set
- Self-hosting needs your own server and technical skill to install, update and maintain
- Community Edition lacks projects, workflow sharing, SSO, Git version control, environments and log streaming
- Registering the Community Edition with your email unlocks folders, debug-in-editor and custom execution data for free
- Cloud trial with Pro-level features and 1,000 executions, no credit card needed
Paid plans add
- Starter (cloud): 2,500 executions a month, 5 concurrent runs, unlimited users, AI Assistant credits
- Pro (cloud): 10,000 executions, more shared projects, admin roles, workflow history and global variables
- Business (self-hosted): 40,000 executions, SSO and LDAP, Git version control, multiple environments and queue mode
- Enterprise: custom executions, unlimited projects, log streaming, external secrets and dedicated support with an SLA
Which plan should you pick?
You are comfortable running a server and want n8n for free with no execution caps.
You want n8n hosted for you and run a modest number of workflows (up to 2,500 runs a month).
You run more workflows (up to 10,000 a month) and need admin roles, workflow history and more projects.
A company with under 100 employees self-hosts n8n and needs SSO, Git version control and multiple environments.
A larger organisation needs custom limits, log streaming, external secrets and a support SLA.
Ways to save on n8n
- The Community Edition is free to self-host if you have the skills and a server.
- Startups with fewer than 20 employees may get 50% off the Business plan.
- The cloud trial needs no credit card, and the Business plan has a 14-day trial (card required).
- Because one execution covers a whole workflow run, combining several steps into one workflow uses fewer executions than splitting them up.
Pros and cons
What we like
- Charges per full workflow run, not per step
- Free self-hosted Community Edition
- Code steps in JavaScript or Python for anything custom
- Strong AI agent features with human approval and guardrails
- Over 14,000 community templates to start from
- n8n's AI terms say it will not train models on your content or outputs
Watch out for
- No free cloud plan
- Steeper learning curve than Zapier for non-technical users
- Self-hosting means you handle security, updates and uptime
- Fewer built-in integrations (500+) than Zapier
- Prices are shown in euros and only for yearly billing
- Cloud Code node cannot import most external libraries
How to start with n8n in 5 steps
- Start a free cloud trial at n8n.io, or install the Community Edition with Docker or npm.
- Create a new workflow and add a trigger node, such as a schedule, webhook or app event.
- Add nodes for each step and connect your app accounts as credentials.
- Run the workflow once with test data and check each node's output.
- Activate the workflow and review its executions list to spot any failures.
What users say: public ratings
| Where | Score | Based on | |
|---|---|---|---|
| G2 | 4.7 / 5 | 301 reviews | See reviews |
| Trustpilot | 3.0 / 5 | 50 reviews | See reviews |
Ratings as shown on each site on 5 Nov 2026; they change over time. App store scores rate the mobile app; Trustpilot often collects billing and support complaints.
n8n compared with alternatives
n8n vs Zapier
Zapier is easier for beginners and connects to far more apps out of the box, but charges per action. Pick n8n if you are technical and want cheaper large-scale runs or self-hosting.
n8n vs Make
Make is a hosted visual automation tool that sits between Zapier and n8n in complexity. n8n is the better choice if you need self-hosting or custom code.
Good to know
- Starter allows 5 concurrent executions
- Cloud plans cap monthly workflow executions
- Business plan is self-hosted only (hosted version via waitlist)
n8n FAQ
Is n8n free?
No free cloud plan; a standard self-hosted Community Edition is available on GitHub, and the cloud plans have a free trial
How much does n8n cost?
Paid plans start from 20€/month. Prices in euros as shown on the official pricing page; no USD or monthly-billing prices were listed. India prices may differ.
Who makes n8n?
n8n is made by n8n.
Who is n8n for?
Technical users and teams who want flexible automations and AI agents, including the option to self-host
Can I use n8n for commercial work or client projects?
n8n uses its own 'fair-code' Sustainable Use License, which allows use for your internal business purposes. n8n's announcement of the licence says you can charge for services such as building workflows for clients, but the licence restricts commercial use of n8n itself, so check the full terms before reselling n8n as a hosted product.
What counts as an execution in n8n?
One execution is one full run of a workflow, no matter how many steps it has or how much data it handles. For example, a workflow that runs once a day uses about 30 executions a month.
Does n8n use my data to train AI models?
n8n's AI terms say it will not use your content or AI outputs to train machine learning models, and that you own the outputs. It may use usage data and prompts in aggregated, de-identified form to improve its AI features.
Is n8n open source?
Its source code is public on GitHub and you can self-host it for free, but n8n describes its licence as 'fair-code' rather than traditional open source because it has commercial restrictions.
Can I write Python in n8n?
Yes. The Code node supports JavaScript and Python. On n8n Cloud you cannot import extra Python libraries, while self-hosted users can allow them in their setup.
Do I need to know coding to use n8n?
Not for basic workflows, since most steps are visual nodes. However, n8n is aimed at technical users, and some knowledge of data, APIs and simple code helps a lot, especially if you self-host.
Sources
- n8n.io/pricing
- n8n.io
- n8n.io/workflows
- n8n.io/legal/ai-terms
- docs.n8n.io/integrations/builtin/core-nodes/n8n-nodes-base.code
- docs.n8n.io/choose-how-to-use-n8n.md
- docs.n8n.io/deploy/host-n8n/community-edition-features.md
- blog.n8n.io/announcing-new-sustainable-use-license
Facts from the official pages listed above, in our own words; ratings from the public review pages linked in the ratings table. Techpings is independent and not affiliated with the companies listed. Some links are affiliate links (disclosure).