Automation · by n8n GmbH
n8n
n8n is a node-based workflow builder with code steps, branching, loops, sub-workflows and strong AI agent nodes. You can run the Community Edition on your own server for free under n8n's Sustainable Use License, or pay for n8n Cloud or self-hosted enterprise features. Cloud plans are priced by workflow executions per month (one run of a workflow counts once, however many steps it has), with unlimited users and workflows. n8n is 'fair-code', not OSI open source: the license restricts some commercial uses.
- Paid plans from
- —
- Free plan
- Yes
- Data portability
- easy
- Last reviewed
- Oct 13, 2026
Plans & pricing
The pricing page shows prices in EUR only and annual figures only (annual billing saves 17%). All plans include unlimited users, workflows and every integration. An execution is one full workflow run. Business overage: €4,000 per extra 300,000 executions. The self-hosted Community Edition is free under the Sustainable Use License, which is fair-code and not OSI open source: you may use it for internal business, personal or non-commercial purposes, but not offer n8n to customers as a hosted service or let end users build workflows in it. Files with '.ee.' in their names fall under the separate n8n Enterprise License.
| Plan | Price (USD) | Highlights | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Community Edition (self-hosted) | $0/mo Free to self-host under the Sustainable Use License. You pay for your own server and maintenance. |
| Verified· Oct 13, 2026Source |
| Starter (Cloud) | Not listed listed as 20 EUR · Listed in EUR: €20/month billed annually. No USD price is published, so amount is null. |
| Verified· Oct 13, 2026Source |
| Pro (Cloud) | Not listed listed as 50 EUR · Listed in EUR: €50/month billed annually. No USD price is published, so amount is null. |
| Verified· Oct 13, 2026Source |
| Business | Not listed listed as 667 EUR · Listed in EUR: €667/month billed annually. No USD price is published, so amount is null. Self-hosted; Cloud version waitlisted per the page. |
| Verified· Oct 13, 2026Source |
| Enterprise | Not listed Contact sales. Hosted or self-hosted. |
| Verified· Oct 13, 2026Source |
What n8n does
4 capabilities mapped. Click one to compare every tool that does it.
| Capability | Fit | Quality | Ease | Precision | Team | Plans | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Run multi-step, high-volume automations | Core feature | — | All plans | Self-hosting means you own uptime, backups, security patches and scaling · Steeper learning curve for non-technical users | |||
| Run AI agents that complete multi-step tasks | Core feature | — | All plans | Agent reliability depends on prompt design and the chosen model · Model costs are billed separately by the provider | |||
| Automate simple app-to-app workflows | Strong | — | All plans | Fewer prebuilt connectors than Zapier or Make; gaps are filled with HTTP requests · Cloud execution caps per plan | |||
| Collect information with forms and surveys | Workaround | — | — | All plans | Not a polished form builder |
Fit and scores (1–5) are editorial judgements. How we score
Why people pay for it
- Billing per execution rather than per step makes long workflows cheap.
- Self-hosting keeps data on your own infrastructure.
- Code nodes (JavaScript/Python) and HTTP requests for anything without a connector.
- First-class AI agent and LLM nodes.
- Paid tiers add SSO, Git version control, environments and support.
Reasons to keep paying
The honest case for n8n. If these matter to you, don't switch.
- Free, self-hosted automation with no per-step fees, which no hosted competitor matches at volume.
- Data control: workflows and their data can stay entirely inside your own network.
- Flexibility for technical teams: code anywhere in a visual workflow.
Risks to know about
- mediumip licensing
The Sustainable Use License is not OSI open source. Embedding n8n in a product where customers build workflows, or reselling it as a hosted service, needs a commercial licence.
- mediumsecurity
Self-hosted instances hold credentials for many apps; you are responsible for patching, access control and exposure to the internet.
- mediumreliability
Self-hosted uptime and scaling are your responsibility.
- data portability: easy
Workflows export as JSON and can be moved between n8n instances (Cloud or self-hosted). Moving to another automation platform still means rebuilding workflows.
Get more from n8n
Workflows where n8n replaces something else you pay for.
- Extract invoice data with AI into Google Sheets, with validation and human approvalFor low invoice volumes: use Gemini in Google Workspace or ChatGPT file upload with a strict extraction prompt (no-code), or an n8n flow from Gmail to an LLM to Sheets (automated). Either way, totals and duplicates are checked by rules, and a human approves every invoice before payment.moderatePath A: 1–2 hours. Path…+$5/mouses Google Workspace
- Move simple and medium Zaps to n8n (self-hosted or n8n Cloud)Inventory your Zaps, stand up n8n Community Edition on a small VPS with Docker Compose (or use n8n Cloud), migrate lowest-risk Zaps first, parallel-run each one, and only then cancel. You trade a per-task bill for owning uptime, patching and backups.advanced1 day for the server and…+$14.4/mouses n8n
Overlaps with
Tools that share capabilities with this one — the first place to look for duplicate spend.
Sources & freshness
- n8n pricing — accessed Oct 13, 2026
- n8n docs: Community license (Sustainable Use License) — accessed Oct 13, 2026