n8n

Workflow automation and AI-agent platform combining visual orchestration, code and self-hosting

Research-based score

4.8

Tested

Features and capabilities5.0

Official n8n sources verify visual workflows, code steps, AI agents, AI Assistant and Builder, more than 2,000 integrations, API access, webhooks, Community self-hosting, cloud hosting and enterprise controls.

Usability and implementation4.5

G2 reviewers praise n8n's flexibility, low-code plus code combination, visual builder and AI integration, while more technical workflows still require meaningful automation and debugging knowledge.

Pricing and value transparency4.7

Community Edition is permanently free to self-host, Cloud Starter and Pro publish clear execution-based pricing, Business publishes self-hosted pricing and n8n bills per complete workflow execution instead of every step.

Integrations, security and trust4.9

n8n publishes an audited SOC 2 program and SOC 3 report, EU cloud data residency, self-hosting control and Enterprise security features including SSO, external secret stores, log streaming and SLA support.

Scored by Vishal Singh

Quick facts

Vendor: n8n GmbH
Pricing model: freemium
Plan pricing: Free self-hosted Community Edition; Cloud Starter is EUR 20/month billed annually
Free plan: Yes — check limits
Free trial: Yes — check eligibility
Last verified: 9/24/2026

About n8n

n8n is a workflow automation and AI-agent platform that combines a visual node-based builder with JavaScript and Python code, APIs, webhooks and more than 2,000 integrations. Users can run n8n Cloud or self-host the Community Edition, while paid plans add higher execution capacity, AI credits, collaboration, security, version control and enterprise governance. Pricing is based on complete workflow executions rather than individual steps.

Best for

Technical operations, product and engineering teams that want flexible cross-app automation with AI, APIs and code while retaining the option to self-host.

n8n pros and cons

Pros

G2 reviewers strongly praise n8n for combining a visual workflow builder with custom JavaScript and Python when no-code nodes are not enough.
n8n charges cloud plans by complete workflow execution rather than every individual workflow step, which can make complex automations more economical.
Community Edition provides permanent free self-hosted access to core n8n capabilities with no time limit.
The platform supports more than 2,000 integrations plus HTTP, GraphQL, webhooks and custom nodes, making it highly extensible.
Organizations can choose EU-hosted cloud or self-hosting and add strong Enterprise controls such as SSO, external secrets, log streaming and dedicated SLA support.

Cons

−G2 feedback indicates that advanced workflows can have a learning curve, especially around data mapping, custom code and production debugging.
−Community self-hosting is free software but still requires infrastructure, maintenance, backups, monitoring and security expertise.
−n8n Cloud has no permanent free plan; users must subscribe after the 14-day trial or move to self-hosted Community Edition.
−Business is currently self-hosted rather than a standard n8n Cloud plan, which makes deployment choices and pricing harder to compare at a glance.
−Cloud Starter and Pro have fixed monthly execution limits, and hitting the limit can stop new executions unless the account upgrades or receives additional capacity.

Features

Enterprise security

Business and Enterprise with feature differences · Highest support, scaling and governance require Enterprise.

AI Assistant and AI Builder

Cloud trial, Starter and Pro with plan-specific AI credits · AI credits are separate from workflow executions and do not roll over.

Git Version Control and Environments

Business and Enterprise · Business is self-hosted under current plan structure.

Visual Workflow Builder

Community and all paid plans · Complex workflows still require debugging and data-model knowledge.

Self-Hosted Community Edition

Community Edition · Customer manages hosting, upgrades, backups and security.

AI Agents

Current n8n platform · External model costs and safety controls remain the builder's responsibility.

API and Webhooks

Community and paid plans · Authentication and target API rate limits apply.

JavaScript and Python Code

Current platform · Self-hosting provides the broadest developer control.

2000+ Integrations

Current platform · Individual third-party services retain their own permissions and fees.

n8n API

Paid Cloud and self-hosted Community; not Cloud trial · Cloud trial does not include public API access.

Platforms

CLIWebAPISelf-hosted

Integrations

HTTP Request Gmail Salesforce Google Sheets HubSpot Google Drive Slack OpenAI

Pricing

Community Edition

Free

EUR 0.00/month with annual billing

Permanent free self-hosted edition with core workflow automation capabilities. Limit: Customer pays infrastructure and operates deployment Limit: Enterprise governance features excluded Billing unit: self-hosted software

Cloud Starter

EUR 20.00per month, billed annually

Hosted entry plan with unlimited users and workflows. Limit: Hosted by n8n Limit: 7-day execution-history limit under current plan details Billing unit: per workspace/month equivalent Minimum commitment: Annual at displayed price

Cloud Pro

EUR 50.00per month, billed annually

Hosted production plan for solo builders and small teams. Limit: Hosted by n8n Limit: Price shown is annual-equivalent Billing unit: per workspace/month equivalent Minimum commitment: Annual at displayed price

Business

EUR 667.00per month, billed annually

Self-hosted business plan for organizations needing collaboration, SSO and scale. Limit: Self-hosted only under current plan structure Billing unit: per organization/month equivalent Minimum commitment: Annual at displayed price

Enterprise

See pricing details

Cloud or self-hosted enterprise plan with custom execution volume and governance. Limit: Custom quote required Billing unit: custom Contact sales for a quote.

Official pricing / availability source · Checked 23 September 2026. Confirm current taxes, regional terms and allowances. A listed plan is not necessarily the cheapest option.

Editorial verification: 9/24/2026. Check the vendor's site for current pricing.

Alternatives to n8n

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Gumloop

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n8n — frequently asked questions

What is n8n used for?

n8n is used to automate multi-step workflows across SaaS applications, APIs, databases and AI models. Teams build flows visually, add JavaScript or Python when needed, trigger automations through schedules or webhooks and create AI agents or RAG systems. It can run as n8n Cloud or on customer-managed infrastructure through the free self-hosted Community Edition.

How much does n8n cost?

n8n Community Edition is free to self-host. Current hosted annual-equivalent pricing is EUR 20 per month for Cloud Starter with 2,500 executions and EUR 50 for Pro with 10,000. Self-hosted Business is EUR 667 monthly equivalent for 40,000 executions. Enterprise is custom. Infrastructure and external AI or SaaS usage can create additional costs.

Does n8n have a free plan and free trial?

n8n has a permanent free Community Edition for self-hosting, but n8n Cloud does not have a permanent free plan. Cloud users can start a 14-day free trial with no credit card required. The trial includes Pro-level features with 1,000 executions and AI credits. The separate Business trial also lasts 14 days but requires a payment card.

How does n8n count usage?

n8n bills paid plans by complete workflow executions rather than by each step inside the workflow. One run counts as one execution even when it has many modules or data transformations. That can make complex automations more predictable than task-based tools, although Cloud plans still have monthly execution ceilings and Business or Enterprise can incur overage charges.

Is n8n secure for enterprise use?

n8n aligns its security program to SOC 2, makes a SOC 3 report public and provides the SOC 2 report to Enterprise customers. n8n Cloud stores data in the EU, while self-hosted customers choose their own location. Business and Enterprise add SSO, secret management, version control and stronger governance, with Enterprise offering log streaming and dedicated SLA support.

What do G2 reviewers say about n8n?

G2 rates n8n 4.7 out of 5 from 314 reviews. Recent users praise the flexible visual workflow builder, ability to combine low-code with JavaScript and the ease of integrating AI models into business processes. Common tradeoffs include a learning curve for more complex workflows and the technical responsibility that comes with powerful customization or self-hosting.