n8n
Open-source workflow automation platform with AI integration
About n8n
n8n is a powerful open-source, fair-code workflow automation platform that empowers users to connect over 400 applications and services through visual workflows without extensive programming knowledge. Distinguished by its self-hosting capabilities and transparent source code, n8n has become the go-to automation solution for developers and businesses seeking control over their automation infrastructure while avoiding the vendor lock-in common with proprietary platforms. The platform's visual editor simplifies complex automation creation by replacing code-heavy implementations with intuitive drag-and-drop workflow construction, making sophisticated integrations accessible to technical and semi-technical users alike.
What sets n8n apart in the workflow automation landscape is its dual offering: a free open-source Community Edition suitable for self-hosting on private infrastructure, and managed cloud-hosted plans for users preferring hosted solutions without operational overhead. The 2025 pricing overhaul removed active workflow limits across all plans, providing unlimited workflows, steps, and users regardless of tier. This shift to execution-based pricing means organizations pay only when workflows run from start to finish, making costs more predictable and scalable than traditional per-task or per-operation models used by competitors. The new Business Plan bridges the gap between startup needs and enterprise requirements, offering enterprise-grade features for mid-sized companies without full Enterprise setup overhead.
n8n's technical capabilities extend well beyond basic integration, featuring advanced JavaScript execution within function nodes for custom logic, expression editors for dynamic values and conditions, and comprehensive AI tool integration for building intelligent workflows like chatbots, document summarization, and information extraction systems. The platform supports both simple automations (like syncing data between apps) and complex multi-step processes involving conditional logic, data transformation, and error handling. Self-hosted deployments offer complete control with unlimited executions but require infrastructure management, while cloud plans starting at $20/month provide hassle-free hosting with execution limits balanced against usage needs.
The platform particularly appeals to organizations with technical teams who value code-level access and customization freedom, startups qualifying for 50% Business plan discounts, privacy-conscious enterprises requiring on-premises deployment, and developers building automation products for clients. With a thriving open-source community contributing integrations and templates, n8n represents a middle ground between no-code simplicity and full programming flexibility, enabling teams to automate increasingly sophisticated workflows as their technical capabilities grow.
✨ Key Features
- ✓ Open-source Community Edition for free self-hosting
- ✓ Visual workflow editor with drag-and-drop interface
- ✓ 400+ application integrations and custom APIs
- ✓ Unlimited workflows, steps, and users (2025 update)
- ✓ Advanced JavaScript execution in function nodes
- ✓ Expression editor for dynamic values and conditions
- ✓ AI tool integration for intelligent workflows
- ✓ Self-hosted and cloud-hosted deployment options
- ✓ Execution-based pricing model
- ✓ Advanced error handling and retry logic
- ✓ Webhook support for event-driven automation
- ✓ Database connectors for direct data access
- ✓ Version control and workflow templates
- ✓ Multi-environment support for testing and production
⚖️ Pros & Cons
👍 Pros
- ✓ Free open-source Community Edition
- ✓ Self-hosting provides complete data control
- ✓ Unlimited workflows, steps, users on all plans (2025)
- ✓ Execution-based pricing more predictable than task-based
- ✓ Over 400 integrations including custom APIs
- ✓ Advanced JavaScript for complex logic
- ✓ AI integration for intelligent automation
- ✓ 50% startup discount on Business plans
- ✓ No vendor lock-in with open source
- ✓ Active community and extensive documentation
- ✓ Visual editor accessible to non-programmers
- ✓ Version control for workflow management
👎 Cons
- ✗ Self-hosting costs typically exceed $200/month
- ✗ Cloud plans have execution limits (2,500 on Starter)
- ✗ Starter plan limited to 5 concurrent executions
- ✗ Learning curve steeper than simpler no-code tools
- ✗ Self-hosting requires technical expertise
- ✗ Limited RAM and CPU on lower cloud tiers
- ✗ Execution-based pricing can be unpredictable
- ✗ Some advanced features require Business/Enterprise
- ✗ Cloud plans more expensive than basic VPS hosting
- ✗ Documentation can be technical for non-developers
🎥 Video Reviews (5 videos)
💡 Use Cases
CRM and marketing automation
Data synchronization between platforms
AI-powered chatbots and assistants
Document processing and summarization
E-commerce order processing
Customer onboarding workflows
Data collection and analysis
Notification and alerting systems
DevOps and CI/CD automation
Content publication workflows
🎯 Who Should Use This Tool
Developers, IT teams, startups, mid-sized businesses, privacy-conscious organizations, automation agencies, and technical users seeking self-hosted or customizable workflow automation.
💰 Pricing Information
Free open-source version available for self-hosting. Cloud-hosted plans available with additional features and support for teams and enterprises.
📊 Performance Metrics
🔒 Security & Privacy
n8n offers complete data control through self-hosting options where all workflows and data remain on private infrastructure. Cloud plans include encryption at rest and in transit. Open-source code enables security audits. Business/Enterprise plans offer SSO, RBAC, and compliance features.
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⭐ User Reviews (5)
Login to Reviewn8n is a game-changer for workflow automation. The visual interface makes it incredibly easy to build complex integrations without writing code. I've been using it for 6 months now and it has saved me countless hours. The self-hosted option is a huge plus for privacy-conscious teams.
As someone with limited technical background, I found n8n quite challenging at first. However, the visual workflow builder is intuitive once you understand the concepts. It's powerful but definitely more suited for users with some technical knowledge.
For the price point (free for self-hosted), n8n delivers exceptional value. The execution history and error handling features are well thought out. Would love to see more pre-built templates, but the existing node library covers most use cases.
We switched from Zapier to n8n and couldn't be happier. The cost savings alone made it worth it, but the additional features and customization options are incredible. Some nodes can be buggy occasionally, but the team is responsive to issues.
Impressed with n8n's capabilities and the active development community. The webhook functionality is robust, and integration with various APIs is seamless. Had some initial setup challenges with Docker, but support helped resolve them quickly.
