n8n Review: Pricing, Features & What the Data Shows
Open-source workflow automation that gives you Zapier-like functionality with full control over your data.
What n8n Does
n8n is the open-source workflow automation platform that gives technical teams Zapier-like functionality without per-task pricing or vendor lock-in. Founded in Berlin in 2019, n8n connects to 400+ applications through a visual node-based editor, supports custom JavaScript and Python code nodes for anything the pre-built integrations don't cover, and can be self-hosted on your own infrastructure for complete data control. The self-hosted Community Edition is genuinely free with no artificial limits on workflows or executions — a proposition that's attracted a passionate open-source community and growing enterprise adoption.
What separates n8n from Zapier and Make is the combination of visual simplicity and code-level flexibility. The node-based workflow builder is approachable enough for ops professionals who aren't developers, but the custom code nodes let engineers extend any workflow with arbitrary logic. You can build a workflow that starts with a webhook trigger, queries an API, runs a Python function to transform the data, applies conditional routing, and pushes results to multiple destinations — all in the same visual canvas. This hybrid approach means n8n can handle use cases that are too complex for Zapier but don't justify building custom software.
n8n offers two deployment models. The self-hosted Community Edition runs on any server (even a $5/month VPS) with Docker, and there are no usage limits — unlimited workflows, unlimited executions, forever. The cloud version starts at $24/month with 2,500 executions and removes the operational burden of managing infrastructure. For teams with engineering resources and data sensitivity requirements, self-hosting is the obvious choice. For teams that want the cost benefits of n8n without infrastructure management, the cloud version is competitive with Make and dramatically cheaper than Zapier at scale.
The practical buyer consideration is technical comfort. n8n is not a replacement for Zapier if your team is entirely non-technical — the visual builder is intuitive but assumes familiarity with concepts like webhooks, APIs, JSON, and conditional logic. For teams with at least one technically comfortable ops person or engineer, n8n offers more power per dollar than any other automation platform. The active open-source community means new integrations and features ship regularly, and community-built nodes cover niche use cases that commercial platforms ignore.
n8n Key Features
Visual Node-Based Workflow Builder
Drag-and-drop workflow editor where each node represents a trigger, action, or transformation. Nodes connect visually to show data flow, and each node's input and output are inspectable in real time. The builder supports branching (if/else), loops, error handling, and sub-workflows. Compared to Zapier's linear step-by-step interface, n8n's canvas provides better visibility for complex workflows with multiple branches. The execution history shows exactly what happened at each node in every run, making debugging straightforward.
Custom Code Nodes
Execute JavaScript or Python code within any workflow for custom transformations, API calls, or business logic that pre-built nodes can't handle. This is n8n's power feature — it bridges the gap between no-code automation and custom development. Common uses: parsing complex JSON responses, implementing custom scoring algorithms, calling internal APIs, and transforming data formats. For technical teams, code nodes mean n8n can handle virtually any automation use case without external tools.
400+ App Integrations
Pre-built connectors for major SaaS tools including Salesforce, HubSpot, Slack, Google Workspace, Notion, Airtable, Stripe, and hundreds more. The integration library is smaller than Zapier's 6,000+ but covers the most commonly needed tools. Community-contributed nodes extend coverage to niche applications. For tools without native integrations, the HTTP Request node handles any REST API, and the code nodes can interact with any service that has a programmable interface.
Self-Hosting Option
Deploy n8n on your own infrastructure — AWS, GCP, Azure, Docker, Kubernetes, or a basic VPS. Self-hosting gives you complete data control (no data leaves your infrastructure), zero usage limits, and the ability to customize the platform. The Docker deployment is straightforward for teams familiar with containers. The trade-off is operational responsibility: you manage uptime, backups, updates, and scaling. For organizations with data sovereignty requirements or extreme automation volumes, self-hosting is the most cost-effective option available.
Webhook & API Triggers
Create workflows triggered by incoming webhooks — enabling real-time integration with any system that can send HTTP requests. Webhook triggers can accept any payload format (JSON, XML, form data) and process it through the workflow immediately. Combined with the HTTP Request node for outbound calls, n8n can act as a lightweight integration server that replaces custom middleware for many use cases. This is particularly valuable for connecting internal tools, custom applications, and legacy systems.
Error Handling & Retry Logic
Built-in error handling with retry policies, fallback branches, and error notification nodes. Workflows can be configured to retry failed nodes with exponential backoff, route errors to alternative processing paths, or send alerts when failures occur. For production workflows that handle critical data (CRM updates, lead routing, customer notifications), proper error handling prevents data loss and ensures reliability. The error handling is more configurable than Zapier's but requires more explicit setup.
Who Uses n8n
High-Volume Automation for Cost-Sensitive Teams
The primary n8n use case. Teams running automations that would cost $200-500/month on Zapier due to per-task pricing self-host n8n and eliminate usage-based costs entirely. A typical scenario: a growth team runs 50 workflows processing 100K+ actions per month — on Zapier's Professional plan, this would cost $300-500/month in task overages. On self-hosted n8n running on a $20/month VPS, it costs $20/month total. The savings compound for teams with multiple high-volume workflows. The trade-off is a few hours of setup and occasional maintenance.
Custom Data Pipeline & Integration Hub
Technical RevOps and data teams use n8n as a lightweight integration hub for custom data flows that don't fit neatly into standard automation tools. Examples: pulling data from custom APIs, transforming it with Python code nodes, and pushing enriched results to Salesforce. Or scraping competitor pricing from public websites, running the data through a scoring algorithm, and updating a Google Sheet with competitive intelligence. The code nodes make n8n flexible enough to handle workflows that would require a developer to build from scratch in any other tool.
Data-Sensitive Automation in Regulated Industries
Organizations in healthcare, financial services, and government that can't send data through third-party cloud services use self-hosted n8n for automation workflows that must run entirely within their own infrastructure. Customer data never leaves the organization's network, which simplifies compliance with HIPAA, SOC 2, GDPR, and other regulatory frameworks. The self-hosted deployment connects to internal databases, on-premise applications, and private APIs without exposing data to external platforms.
n8n Pricing
Community (Self-hosted)
Unlimited workflows and executions, full feature access
Starter (Cloud)
5 active workflows, 2,500 executions
Pro (Cloud)
15 active workflows, 10,000 executions, debugging
Enterprise
Unlimited workflows, SSO, SLA, dedicated support
n8n's pricing model is its biggest competitive advantage. The self-hosted Community Edition is genuinely free — no limits on workflows, executions, users, or features. You need a server to run it (minimum $5-20/month for a VPS, more for high-availability setups), but there are no software licensing costs.
The cloud version offers managed hosting at competitive prices. Starter at $24/month includes 5 active workflows and 2,500 executions. Pro at $60/month provides 15 active workflows and 10,000 executions with debugging tools. Enterprise pricing is custom, typically starting around $500/month for unlimited workflows, SSO, and SLAs.
The cost comparison with Zapier is striking. A team running 20 workflows processing 50,000 total executions per month would pay: Zapier Professional at $200-400/month (depending on task overages), Make Pro at $60-100/month, or n8n self-hosted at $10-30/month in infrastructure costs. n8n Cloud Pro at $60/month is comparable to Make but with the option to migrate to self-hosted if costs need to decrease further.
The hidden cost of self-hosting is labor. Someone needs to deploy, monitor, update, and troubleshoot the n8n instance. For teams with DevOps resources, this is marginal additional work. For teams without engineering capacity, the cloud version or a simpler tool like Zapier may be more cost-effective despite higher subscription fees.
Job Market Demand for n8n
n8n appears in 6 job postings across 3 companies in our database of 23,338+ analyzed job postings. The average salary range for roles requiring n8n: $138K - $179K.
Department
- VP of Global Customer Support Transformation
- Sales Development & Growth Coordinator
- RevOps / GTM Hacker
- n8n (1)
- buspatrol (1)
- alpha nodus, (1)
Commonly Used With n8n
Based on job posting co-occurrence data, these tools are most frequently mentioned alongside n8n:
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Self-hosted option is completely free with no task limits
- 400+ integrations with custom code nodes for anything not covered
- Visual workflow builder is intuitive for technical users
- No per-task pricing means high-volume automations don't break the bank
- Active open-source community contributing new integrations regularly
Cons
- Self-hosting requires infrastructure management and monitoring
- Steeper learning curve than Zapier for non-technical users
- Cloud version has execution limits on lower tiers
- Fewer pre-built templates compared to Zapier's library
- Error handling and debugging can be tricky for complex workflows
Best for: Technical teams and ops professionals who need high-volume automation without per-task pricing, especially those comfortable self-hosting
Not ideal for: Non-technical teams that want simple, set-and-forget automations with minimal setup, or companies that can't manage self-hosted infrastructure
n8n Alternatives
| Tool | Starting Price | Job Mentions | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zapier | $0 | 17 | SMBs and ops teams needing quick integrations between SaaS tools without engineering help |
| Make | $0 | 4 | Ops professionals, agencies, and technical teams who build automations regularly and want more power and lower costs than Zapier |
| Workato | Custom | 5 | Mid-market to enterprise companies that need automation capabilities beyond Zapier but don't want the complexity of MuleSoft |
| Tray.io | ~$600/mo | 3 | RevOps and business systems teams at mid-market to enterprise companies (200+ employees) running complex, multi-step automations across their GTM tech stack. Particularly strong when you've hit the ceiling of what Zapier can do and need more logic, volume, and control. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is n8n really free?
The self-hosted Community Edition is genuinely free with no limits on workflows or executions. You can run it on any server, including a $5/month VPS. The cloud version has a free trial, then starts at $24/month. If you have someone who can manage a Docker container or VM, the self-hosted route saves significant money.
n8n vs Zapier: when should I choose n8n?
Choose n8n when you need high-volume automations (Zapier's per-task pricing adds up quickly), when you want to self-host for data control, or when your workflows need custom code. Choose Zapier when you want the simplest possible setup, don't have technical staff, or need the broadest library of pre-built templates and integrations.
Do I need to know how to code to use n8n?
Not necessarily, but it helps. The visual builder handles most common use cases without code. But n8n's real power comes from custom code nodes where you can write JavaScript or Python. If nobody on your team is comfortable with APIs and basic scripting, Zapier or Make will be easier to adopt.
Our Verdict on n8n
n8n is the best automation platform for technical teams that want maximum flexibility and minimum cost. The self-hosted option eliminates per-task pricing entirely, the code nodes handle use cases that no-code tools can't, and the visual builder keeps workflows manageable even at complexity levels that would be unwieldy in Zapier. If you have someone on your team who's comfortable with APIs and basic infrastructure management, n8n should be your default automation choice.
The trade-off is accessibility and polish. Non-technical users will struggle with n8n's interface and concepts in ways they won't with Zapier's simpler approach. The integration library is smaller (400+ vs Zapier's 6,000+), which means more custom API work for niche tools. Self-hosting requires operational investment that some teams can't or don't want to make. For teams that want simple, reliable automations without any technical overhead, Zapier remains the easier path — you're paying for simplicity, not just features.
n8n appears in 6 job postings across 3 companies in our database, with an average salary range of $138K-$179K — higher than Zapier's $101K-$131K, reflecting n8n's adoption by more technical, higher-seniority roles. It co-occurs most frequently with Zapier (3 mentions), confirming that teams evaluate both tools for similar use cases. The mostly remote distribution (5 of 6 postings) is consistent with n8n's open-source community culture and adoption by digitally native organizations.