n8n GmbH · Workflow automation platform (cloud and self-hosted)

n8n

A fair-code workflow automation tool with a visual editor, code steps and AI agent nodes, available as cloud or self-hosted.

AI Workflow Builders AI Agents & Frameworks AI Deployment & Monitoring

Provider: n8n GmbH
Latest confirmed model: Not applicable / not verified
Pricing: Free plan + paid
Free plan: Yes
API: Yes
Status: Generally available
Last verified: Oct 19, 2026

Visit official website Pricing page API docs

What is n8n?

n8n lets you build automations by connecting nodes on a visual canvas, with the option to add JavaScript or Python code where needed. It includes AI agent and LLM nodes for building AI workflows. You can use n8n Cloud or self-host it; the self-hosted Community edition is source-available under the Sustainable Use License rather than an OSI open-source licence.

Teams need flexible automation and AI workflows without per-task pricing or sending data to a third-party cloud.

Why use n8n?

Practical benefits

Self-hosting keeps data on your own servers
Priced by workflow executions, not individual steps
Code steps for custom logic
AI agent building blocks

Who it suits

Developers and technical ops teams
Companies with data-residency needs
Builders of AI agent workflows

When another tool may fit better

Non-technical users wanting the simplest setup (consider Zapier)
Reselling n8n as a hosted service without a commercial licence

Learning curve: Some experience helps
Skills needed: Comfort with APIs and JSON; server admin skills for self-hosting

Example workflows

Webhook -> AI agent node summarises input -> post to Slack
Scheduled trigger -> query database -> email report

What can it do?

Visual workflow editorDrag-and-drop nodes with code steps when needed.
AI agent and LLM nodesBuild AI agents and chains inside workflows.
AI Assistant credits Depends on plan1,600 credits/month on Starter; up to 9,600 on Pro.
Self-hostingCommunity edition self-hosted from GitHub; Business plan is self-hosted only.
Public REST APIManage workflows and executions programmatically.

Good for

Internal process automation
AI agent prototypes
Data syncing between systems
Alerting and reporting

Where it runs

WebSelf-hosted (Docker/npm)

Pricing and plans

Free plan + paid The self-hosted Community edition is free under the Sustainable Use License. Cloud plans billed annually are Starter €20/month (2,500 executions) and Pro €50/month (10,000 executions); Business is €667/month (self-hosted, 40,000 executions) and Enterprise is custom.

Plan	Price	Billing	Free trial / tier	Usage limits	Main inclusions	Model access	API access	Restrictions
Community (self-hosted)	Free	per month	Free tier	Not stated on pricing page	Self-hosted n8n from GitHub	Bring your own LLM credentials	—	Sustainable Use License: internal business, non-commercial or personal use
Starter	€20/month billed annually; monthly price not listed	per month	Free trial, no credit card (1,000 executions, 5 concurrent)	2,500 executions/month; unlimited active workflows; 5 concurrent executions; 1,600 Assistant credits/month	n8n Cloud hosting	—	—	—
Pro	€50/month billed annually; monthly price not listed	per month	Free trial, no credit card	10,000 executions/month; unlimited active workflows; 20 concurrent executions (page also mentions up to 50); up to 9,600 Assistant credits/month	n8n Cloud hosting	—	—	—
Business	€667/month billed annually; 50% off for start-ups under 20 employees	per month	14 days, credit card required	40,000 executions/month	Self-hosted business features	—	—	Self-hosted only; not yet on n8n Cloud
Enterprise	Contact provider	per year	—	Custom executions; 200+ concurrent executions	Enterprise features and support	—	—	—

Prices in EUR · Prices shown in EUR on n8n.io · Taxes may apply · Verified Oct 19, 2026

Official pricing page (opens in a new tab)

API and developer access

Official API: Yes
Documentation: API docs (opens in a new tab)
Authentication: Not documented
Pricing model: Included with n8n
Free API quota: None documented — the free plan above (if any) is for the app, not the API
Rate limits: Not documented
Context / input limits: Not documented
SDKs: Not documented
Streaming: Not documented
Batch processing: Not documented
Structured output: Not documented
Tool / function calling: Not documented
Commercial use: Sustainable Use License for core; n8n Enterprise License for .ee files
Data retention & privacy: See the provider privacy terms

A free n8n account is not the same thing as free API access. Unless a free API quota is listed above, API calls are billed separately.

Verified Oct 19, 2026

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages

Self-hosting option
Execution-based pricing
Flexibility for technical users

Disadvantages

Steeper learning curve than Zapier
Licence restricts commercial redistribution
Cloud prices shown in EUR; monthly-billing prices not listed on the page

Privacy: Self-hosting keeps workflow data on your own infrastructure.

Real-world examples

A developer self-hosting automations

Install the Community edition following n8n's docs
Build a workflow from a webhook trigger
Add an HTTP request node to call an internal API

free plan works

A startup building an AI support triage agent

Start an n8n Cloud trial
Add an AI agent node with an LLM credential
Route results to a helpdesk

needs API key

An analyst automating a weekly report

Add a schedule trigger
Query a database and transform the data with a code node
Email the summary

free plan works

n8n alternatives

Zapier

A no-code platform for connecting apps with automated workflows (Zaps), AI agents, chatbots and tables.

has a free plan · offers an API

n8n vs Zapier

Microsoft 365 Copilot

Microsoft's AI assistant inside Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams, grounded in your organisation's work data.

has a free plan · offers an API

n8n vs Microsoft 365 Copilot

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Frequently asked questions

Is n8n free?

The self-hosted Community edition is free to use under the Sustainable Use License. n8n Cloud plans are paid after a free trial.

Is n8n open source?

It is source-available (fair-code). The core uses the Sustainable Use License and enterprise files use the n8n Enterprise License, so it is not OSI open source.

How much does n8n Cloud cost?

Starter is €20/month and Pro €50/month when billed annually, with 2,500 and 10,000 executions respectively.

What counts as an execution?

n8n prices by workflow executions, meaning one run of a workflow regardless of how many steps it has.

Is there a start-up discount?

Companies with under 20 employees may qualify for 50% off the Business plan.

Does n8n have an API?

Yes, a public REST API is documented at docs.n8n.io/api.