n8n

n8n is the automation platform that developers and technical teams reach for. It's fair-code — the source is available and you can self-host the whole thing free — while still offering a polished hosted cloud for people who don't want to run infrastructure. If you've ever hit Zapier's limits or Make's abstraction ceiling, n8n is where you go next.

The key difference is flexibility. n8n workflows are visual like Make's, but every node can be swapped for code when you need it — JavaScript, Python, webhooks, custom API calls, database queries. It handles AI workflows natively with dedicated nodes for LLMs, agents and MCP servers. And because billing is per workflow run rather than per step or operation, complex automations cost the same as simple ones.

For teams that can self-host, the Community Edition is genuinely free — the full product, minus enterprise features like SSO and environments — which makes n8n the rare automation tool that doesn't tax you for scale.

How n8n works

1. Build workflows visually on the canvas, or write code nodes where logic gets complex.
2. Connect hundreds of integrations plus any HTTP endpoint or database.
3. Trigger on schedules, webhooks or events; n8n runs the workflow end to end.
4. Self-host for free, or use n8n Cloud and pay per workflow execution.

Key capabilities

Visual workflow builder — drag-and-drop like Make, but with code nodes throughout.

Code when you need it — JavaScript and Python nodes for logic the GUI can't express.

AI-native — dedicated nodes for OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, agents and MCP.

Self-hosting — run the full product on your own infrastructure for free.

Webhook and schedule triggers — instant or recurring automation.

Data persistence — executions, queues and error workflows for production reliability.

n8n Cloud — managed hosting billed per workflow execution.

Enterprise features — SSO/LDAP, environments, Git version control, queue mode on Business+.

What an n8n workflow actually looks like

A typical production n8n workflow goes beyond what a no-code tool attempts: receive a webhook from your app → validate and transform the payload in a Code node → branch on business rules → call three different APIs including one with no native node → aggregate results → write to Postgres → trigger an AI agent to draft a response → post the outcome to Slack. Every step is visible on the canvas, and the parts that need real logic are just code — no workarounds.

That's the pattern that converts people: n8n doesn't pretend the visual builder can express everything. It gives you the canvas for the 90% that's straightforward and honest escape hatches for the 10% that isn't — which is exactly how experienced developers want automation to work.

Who it's really for

n8n fits technical users — developers, data engineers, technical founders — who want automation they can own, debug and extend. It's also the answer when no-code tools hit their ceiling: complex branching, custom transformations, AI agent orchestration or self-hosted data control.

It fits less well for non-technical teams who just need "when X, do Y" — the code nodes and self-hosting options are power you don't need, and Zapier or Make will get you live faster.

n8n plans and pricing explained

Community Edition — €0, self-hosted. The full product for your own infrastructure — you handle updates, backups and security. The best free automation deal anywhere.

Starter (Cloud) — €20/month billed annually (€24 monthly) for 2,500 workflow executions. 5 concurrent runs, 5-minute max run time, 1 shared project, forum support. The entry point for hosted n8n.

Pro (Cloud) — €50/month annually (€60 monthly) for 10,000 executions. 20 concurrent runs, 40-minute max runs, 3 projects, admin roles, workflow history, insights. For production automations.

Business — ~€667/month annually (~€800 monthly), self-hosted only for now, 40,000 executions. SSO/LDAP, environments, Git version control, queue mode. For growing teams.

Enterprise — custom. 200+ concurrent executions, external secret stores, dedicated SLA support.

Execution math — n8n bills per workflow run, not per step, so a 20-node automation costs the same as a 2-node one. That makes it dramatically cheaper than per-task tools for complex workflows. A 14-day free trial of Pro is available on cloud without a card.

What you should know before buying

n8n rewards technical comfort — if you can't write a line of code or comfort with self-hosting, the visual builder alone won't justify choosing it over Zapier or Make. Self-hosting means you own ops: updates, backups, security patches and uptime.

Cloud pricing is in euros and execution-based — lighter than per-task pricing for complex workflows, but a high-frequency schedule trigger can still burn executions fast. And n8n's community is more developer-oriented, so support is forum-first unless you're on a paid plan.

For pure business-user automation, Zapier or Make are easier. For anything that needs code, scale or data control — n8n is the most powerful and often the cheapest option once you can run it.