# n8n

> Build and self-host workflow automations and AI agents with visual nodes and custom code

- Category: [Productivity](https://finderatlas.com/categories/productivity)
- Pricing: Freemium
- Website: https://n8n.io
- Platforms: Web, API
- API: available
- Made by: n8n GmbH, founded 2019, Berlin, Germany
- Last updated: 2026-10-19
- FinderAtlas page: https://finderatlas.com/tools/n8n

## Overview

n8n is a workflow automation platform for technical teams that combines a visual node-based canvas with the option to write JavaScript or Python in any step. It is used to connect apps and services, and to build AI agents, multi-agent setups and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) pipelines that can swap between cloud and offline models. The company lists more than 500 integrations, plus custom API connections for anything without a pre-built node.

## Key features

- Visual Workflow Canvas
- Code in Any Step
- AI Agents and RAG
- MCP Support
- Human-in-the-Loop Approvals
- 500+ Integrations
- Faster Iteration
- Templates
- Enterprise Controls
- Flexible Deployment

## Pricing

- **Community Edition** ($0): Self-hosted edition run on your own infrastructure
- **Starter** (€24/month): n8n Cloud for individuals and small projects
- **Pro** (€60/month): n8n Cloud for growing teams
- **Business** (€800/month): Self-hosted tier with governance features
- **Enterprise** (Custom): Large organizations needing SLAs and custom volumes

## Best for

- Teams that want self-hostable automation with code-level control and AI agent workflows

## Who uses it

- Developers
- DevOps Engineers
- Technical Operations Teams
- IT Teams
- Startups

## 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.

## 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.

## Not recommended for

- Non-technical users who want a fully hosted tool with no setup, teams that need an OSI-approved open-source license

## Integrations

- Salesforce
- Zoom
- ServiceNow
- Asana
- Slack
- GitHub
- ChatGPT
- Claude
- Docker

## FinderAtlas editorial scores (out of 10)

- Ease of Use: 7.5/10
- Feature Depth: 9.2/10
- Value for Money: 8.5/10
- Performance & Speed: 8/10
- Documentation & Support: 8.3/10

## Alternatives

- [Browser Use](https://finderatlas.com/tools/browser-use): Open-source library and cloud platform for AI agents that control real web browsers ([compare](https://finderatlas.com/compare/browser-use-vs-n8n))
- [Zapier](https://finderatlas.com/tools/zapier): Connect AI models and 9,000+ business apps into automated workflows and agents ([compare](https://finderatlas.com/compare/n8n-vs-zapier))
- [Manus](https://finderatlas.com/tools/manus): General AI agent that plans, researches, codes and delivers finished work autonomously ([compare](https://finderatlas.com/compare/manus-vs-n8n))
- [Lindy](https://finderatlas.com/tools/lindy): AI teammate that handles email, meetings and recurring work across your team's tools ([compare](https://finderatlas.com/compare/lindy-vs-n8n))
- [Genspark](https://finderatlas.com/tools/genspark): AI super agent workspace that turns one prompt into slides, docs, sheets and research ([compare](https://finderatlas.com/compare/genspark-vs-n8n))
- [Gumloop](https://finderatlas.com/tools/gumloop): Build AI agents that work across your company's apps, with IT in control ([compare](https://finderatlas.com/compare/gumloop-vs-n8n))
- [CrewAI](https://finderatlas.com/tools/crewai): Open-source multi-agent framework and enterprise platform for building and running AI agent workflows ([compare](https://finderatlas.com/compare/crewai-vs-n8n))
- [System One API](https://finderatlas.com/tools/system-one-api): Hosted API returning structured choices, scores and probabilities for AI agent decisions ([compare](https://finderatlas.com/compare/n8n-vs-system-one-api))

## Recent updates

- 2025-10-01: Reported $180 million Series C at a $2.5 billion valuation, led by Accel (per third-party reporting summarized on Wik...

## FAQ

**Is n8n open source?**

n8n uses a fair-code model. The source code is public on GitHub, but the GitHub repository lists its license as "Other" rather than an OSI-approved license, so usage terms differ from traditional open source.

**Can I self-host n8n for free?**

Yes. The Community Edition is free, runs without a license key and includes almost the complete n8n feature set. Features such as projects, SSO (SAML, LDAP), Git version control, log streaming and external secrets are not included.

**How does n8n count executions?**

Pricing is based on executions, not steps. A full workflow run counts as one execution regardless of how many nodes it contains.

**Is there a free trial of n8n Cloud?**

Yes. The Cloud trial needs no credit card and includes 1,000 executions, 5 concurrent executions and a 180-second timeout. The Business trial lasts 14 days and requires a credit card.

**Can n8n run AI agents?**

Yes. n8n supports multi-agent workflows, RAG systems, MCP, and switching between cloud and offline models, with approval steps and per-step inspection of agent actions.