n8n Review: What You Get at Every Price Tier
n8n is the open-source alternative in this category — free to self-host indefinitely, or paid Cloud plans if you'd rather not run the infrastructure yourself. Here's what that split actually looks like.
TL;DR: n8n's biggest differentiator is that its core is genuinely open-source and free to self-host forever. Its Cloud plans exist for anyone who'd rather not manage servers, priced in euros and pitched at technical teams comfortable with a steeper learning curve than Zapier or Make.
Quick verdict
- Want to self-host automation infrastructure for free, with full data control
- Are comfortable with a more technical, node-based builder (closer to Make than Zapier)
- Value open-source flexibility — custom nodes, JavaScript/Python code steps — over polish
- Want zero setup and no infrastructure decisions at all
- Need pricing in USD, or clear month-to-month billing on the entry Cloud plan
- Prefer the largest possible pre-built app catalog over technical flexibility
What is n8n?
n8n ("nodemation") is a workflow-automation tool built around a node-based visual canvas, similar in spirit to Make, with one key difference: its core is open-source and can be self-hosted for free under n8n's "fair-code" license. For anyone who'd rather not run their own servers, n8n also sells hosted Cloud plans, and every workflow can drop into custom JavaScript or Python code nodes when a pre-built integration doesn't exist.
Plans and pricing
| Plan | Price | Executions/month | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Community Edition | Free (self-hosted) | Unlimited (your own infrastructure) | Technical teams comfortable self-hosting |
| Starter (Cloud) | From €20/month, billed annually | 2,500 | Solo users or small teams starting on Cloud |
| Pro (Cloud) | From €50/month, billed annually | 10,000 | Growing teams, more concurrent executions |
| Business | From €667/month, billed annually | 40,000 | SSO/SAML, self-hosting option, Git version control |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom | Dedicated support, extended data retention |
Cloud figures above are n8n's official billed-annually rates ("Save 17%" versus monthly), verified directly on n8n's pricing page in September 2026, shown in EUR as published — n8n does not display a separate USD price on this page. A month-to-month (non-annual) rate for the Starter plan isn't broken out on the public pricing page; confirm the current monthly rate directly with n8n if annual billing isn't what you want. The Community Edition is free and open-source regardless of Cloud pricing changes.
Key features
- Genuinely open-source core (fair-code license) — self-host for free, indefinitely, no forced upgrade
- Node-based visual canvas with native JavaScript and Python code nodes for anything without a pre-built integration
- n8n Cloud removes the self-hosting requirement, with Starter/Pro/Business tiers scaling execution volume and concurrency
- Built-in AI credits bundled into Cloud plans (2,300/month on Starter, up to 13,700 on Pro) for AI-agent-style workflows
- Git-based version control and multiple environments on the Business plan
- 50% "Startup Plan" discount on Business for companies under 20 employees
Pros and cons
Pros
- Only tool in this category with a genuinely free, unlimited self-hosted option
- Code nodes (JavaScript/Python) give it more raw flexibility than Zapier or Make for edge cases
- Official affiliate program via PartnerStack, paying 30% for 12 months on Cloud referrals
Cons
- Steeper learning curve than Zapier, and arguably than Make too, especially for self-hosting
- Cloud pricing is in EUR with no clearly published month-to-month rate on the entry tier
- Self-hosting means you own the maintenance, updates, and uptime yourself
Frequently asked questions
Is n8n really free?
The Community Edition (self-hosted) is free and open-source, with no execution cap beyond what your own server can handle. n8n Cloud (hosted by n8n) is paid, starting with a free trial — 1,000 executions, no credit card required.
Do I need to know how to code?
No — most workflows can be built with pre-built nodes and no code, similar to Make. Code nodes (JavaScript/Python) are optional, used when you need logic a pre-built node doesn't cover.
Does n8n have an affiliate program?
Yes — an official one run through PartnerStack, paying 30% commission for 12 months on referrals to n8n Cloud's paid plans (Starter and Pro), with paid-advertising use of affiliate links prohibited.
Our take
n8n is the right pick specifically for technical users who want either free self-hosting or an open-source foundation they're not locked out of later — everyone else will likely find Zapier or Make faster to get productive in. See how it stacks up directly against Make, the closest match in visual-builder style, in our head-to-head comparison.
Sources: pricing and plan details verified directly on n8n.io/pricing, September 2026.