n8n: automate your workflows and AI agents, in the cloud or on your own server
The open source automation platform that connects your tools and runs AI agents, hosted by n8n or on your own server
What is n8n?
n8n is an open source workflow automation platform. You link your apps in a visual editor, and you switch to JavaScript or Python code when clicking is not enough. Two ways to use it: the cloud version hosted by n8n in Europe, or the self-hosted version on your own server, with a free Community Edition published on GitHub.
Who is n8n for?
Technical freelancers and independents who automate a lot: developers, no-code consultants, growth people, or simply those who run dozens of workflows a day and find the per-step billing of Zapier or Make too heavy. If you just want to connect two tools once a week without touching JSON, Zapier or Make stay simpler. n8n makes full sense when you want AI agents, code in your workflows, or to keep your data at home.
What you can do with n8n
- Connect your tools: all integrations (nodes) are included on every plan, with workflow templates ready to adapt.
- Run AI agents: agents, MCP and AI nodes from the Starter plan, with models you can use without an API key and Assistant credits to get help in the editor.
- Code when needed: JavaScript or Python steps in the middle of a visual workflow.
- Track and debug: execution history, automatic retries, error workflows and search across executions on the Pro plan.
- Keep control of your data: self-hosted, everything stays on your server; in the cloud, data is stored in Frankfurt.
n8n pricing in 2026
- Community Edition: free, self-hosted, to install from GitHub.
- Starter (cloud): $20 a month billed annually. 2,500 workflow executions a month with unlimited steps, 1 shared project, 5 concurrent executions, 1,600 Assistant credits, forum support.
- Pro (cloud): $50 a month billed annually. 10,000 executions, 3 shared projects, up to 50 concurrent executions, 7 days of insights, up to 9,600 Assistant credits, admin roles, workflow history.
- Business (self-hosted only): €667 a month billed annually. 40,000 executions, 6 projects, SSO and LDAP, Git, multiple environments. Startups under 20 employees can get 50% off ($333 a month).
- Enterprise: on quote, hosted by n8n or self-hosted, with dedicated support and SLA.
The cloud trial is free with no credit card (1,000 executions). An execution is a workflow running from start to finish, whatever the number of steps; overage fees are capped on Starter and Pro. Prices checked on n8n.io in November 2026.
Why we recommend n8n
At FreelanceKit, we picked n8n for its billing model: paying per execution rather than per step changes everything as soon as a workflow chains ten actions. It is also the most open tool in its category: open source, self-hostable, with code when you want it and AI agents at no extra cost.
The weak point to know: n8n asks for more technical skill than Zapier or Make. Self-hosting leaves you managing the server, updates and backups, and even in the cloud, advanced workflows assume you understand how JSON data is structured. Cloud prices are displayed with annual billing, and the Business plan only exists self-hosted.
n8n or another solution?
If you are hesitating between Zapier, Make or Airtable, see our page on alternatives to n8n.
Strengths and weaknesses
Strengths
- Billed per execution, not per step: a full workflow counts as one execution, whatever the number of actions
- Community Edition that you can self-host for free from GitHub, with full control over your data
- Agents, MCP and AI nodes included from the Starter plan, with AI models you can use without an API key
- Cloud data hosted in the European Union (Frankfurt) and free trial with no credit card
Weaknesses
- Self-hosting takes technical skills: server, updates, backups and security are on you
- Cloud prices are displayed with annual billing, and the Business plan only exists self-hosted
- Steeper learning curve than Zapier or Make: you need to be comfortable with JSON data for advanced workflows
Frequently asked questions about n8n
n8n is an open source workflow automation platform. You connect your apps in a visual editor, add code when you need it, and run automations and AI agents. It comes as a cloud version hosted by n8n and as a self-hosted version (free Community Edition or Business and Enterprise plans).
In the cloud, the Starter plan costs $20 a month billed annually for 2,500 executions, and the Pro plan $50 a month billed annually for 10,000 executions. The Business plan, self-hosted only, is displayed at €667 a month billed annually for 40,000 executions, with 50% off for startups under 20 employees ($333 a month). Enterprise is on quote. The self-hosted Community Edition is free. Prices checked on n8n.io in November 2026.
Yes, if you host it yourself: the Community Edition is available on GitHub. In the cloud, the free trial gives you 1,000 executions, 5 concurrent executions and one project, with no credit card. Beyond that, you need a Starter or Pro plan.
An execution is a workflow running from start to finish, whatever the number of steps it contains. Where other tools bill each operation or task, n8n counts a single execution per run. If a workflow does not run, you do not pay, and overage fees are capped on the Starter and Pro plans.
Zapier and Make are easier to pick up and only exist in the cloud. n8n is open source, self-hostable and billed per execution rather than per step, which makes it cheaper on long workflows and more flexible for AI agents and code. In exchange, it asks for a bit more technical skill.
Not for the essentials: the visual editor, templates and integrations cover most needs. But n8n lets you insert JavaScript or Python steps in a workflow, and understanding how JSON data is structured helps a lot as soon as your automations get complex.
Alternatives to n8n
What we would use instead, in the same category.
Compare all the alternatives to n8n
See our full comparison of the 3 alternatives to n8n in 2026: prices, features and strengths, in detail.
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