# CrewAI vs n8n

> CrewAI: Open-source multi-agent framework and enterprise platform for building and running AI agent workflows
> n8n: Build and self-host workflow automations and AI agents with visual nodes and custom code

- CrewAI profile: https://finderatlas.com/tools/crewai
- n8n profile: https://finderatlas.com/tools/n8n
- Comparison page: https://finderatlas.com/compare/crewai-vs-n8n
- Last reviewed: October 2026

## Verdict

CrewAI is listed under Developer Tools and n8n under Productivity. n8n scores higher in FinderAtlas's editorial review (8.3 vs 7.9 out of 10), led by ease of use and feature depth. Both have a free plan or trial. Only CrewAI is available on CLI.

### Choose CrewAI if

- You want a tool built for building multi-agent workflows in Python and moving them to a managed, governed runtime.
- MIT-licensed core framework with a large open-source community (about 59,900 GitHub stars).
- Separates agent collaboration (Crews) from deterministic workflow control (Flows).

### Choose n8n if

- You want a tool built for Teams that want self-hostable automation with code-level control and AI agent workflows.
- Free self-hosted Community Edition with almost the full feature set and no license key.
- Execution-based pricing counts a whole workflow run as one execution, however many steps it has.

## Pricing

| | CrewAI | n8n |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Free plan or trial | Yes | Yes |
| Starting price | $0 | $0 |

## Features

| Feature | CrewAI | n8n |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Crews | Yes | Not listed |
| Flows | Yes | Not listed |
| Crew Studio | Yes | Not listed |
| Flexible Tools | Yes | Not listed |
| Managed Deployment | Yes | Not listed |
| Observability | Yes | Not listed |
| Guardrails and Scheduling | Yes | Not listed |
| Enterprise Governance | Yes | Not listed |
| REST API Access | Yes | Not listed |
| Visual Workflow Canvas | Not listed | Yes |
| Code in Any Step | Not listed | Yes |
| AI Agents and RAG | Not listed | Yes |
| MCP Support | Not listed | Yes |
| Human-in-the-Loop Approvals | Not listed | Yes |
| 500+ Integrations | Not listed | Yes |
| Faster Iteration | Not listed | Yes |
| Templates | Not listed | Yes |
| Enterprise Controls | Not listed | Yes |
| Flexible Deployment | Not listed | Yes |

## Platforms

| Platform | CrewAI | n8n |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | No | No |
| macOS | No | No |
| iOS | No | No |
| Android | No | No |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Browser Extension | No | No |
| CLI | Yes | No |

## CrewAI strengths

- MIT-licensed core framework with a large open-source community (about 59,900 GitHub stars).
- Separates agent collaboration (Crews) from deterministic workflow control (Flows).
- Free AMP tier includes a visual editor and 50 workflow executions per month.
- Enterprise options include SSO, RBAC, PII redaction and private VPC deployment.
- Built-in tracing, guardrails and scheduling on the platform.

## CrewAI limitations

- Paid pricing is not published; only a free tier and contact-sales Enterprise are shown.
- Free tier is limited to 50 workflow executions per month.
- Code-first Python framework, so it needs developer skills outside Crew Studio.

## n8n strengths

- Free self-hosted Community Edition with almost the full feature set and no license key.
- Execution-based pricing counts a whole workflow run as one execution, however many steps it has.
- JavaScript and Python can be used in any step, which suits technical users.
- More than 500 integrations and over 10,000 community templates.
- On-premises and air-gapped deployment plus SSO, LDAP and audit logging for enterprises.

## n8n limitations

- Fair-code license is not OSI-approved open source.
- Business tier starts at about €667 per month billed annually and is self-hosted only for now, with a Cloud waitlist.
- The Community Edition lacks projects, SSO, Git version control and log streaming.
- Cloud Starter is capped at 2.5K executions per month and 5 concurrent executions.

## FAQ

**Is CrewAI better than n8n?**

It depends on your workflow. CrewAI is built for building multi-agent workflows in Python and moving them to a managed, governed runtime. n8n is built for Teams that want self-hostable automation with code-level control and AI agent workflows.

**What are the key feature differences between CrewAI and n8n?**

CrewAI: Open-source multi-agent framework and enterprise platform for building and running AI agent workflows. n8n: Build and self-host workflow automations and AI agents with visual nodes and custom code.

**Does CrewAI or n8n have a free plan?**

Yes, both do. CrewAI is freemium and n8n is freemium, and each has a free plan or trial.

**Which is cheaper, CrewAI or n8n?**

Both can be used for free. Paid plans differ in limits and features, so compare the tiers in the pricing table above.