Our verdict · 8.5/10 Excellent
Ideal for technical teams and data-sensitive businesses. Less suited to non-technical users who want plug-and-play simplicity.
Key takeaways
- Best for: Technical teams.
- Strongest area: Value for money (9.2/10). Weakest: Support & reliability (7.2/10).
- Price: Self-hosted community edition free; cloud from around $20–25 / month — free plan available.
- Watch out for: More technical.
What is n8n?
n8n is a workflow automation platform with a visual editor, code nodes and strong AI-agent tooling. It can be self-hosted for data control or used as a cloud service.
n8n is made by n8n GmbH and is reviewed here as a automation platform. It is priced on a freemium basis, and our editorial score is 8.5 out of 10, calculated from six weighted criteria.
Who it’s for — and who should skip it
Choose n8n if
- Technical teams
- Self-hosting for data control
- AI agent workflows
Not for you if
- Non-technical users
- Teams without hosting skills (for self-hosted)
Key features
Run on your own servers.
JavaScript or Python steps.
Build agent workflows with tools.
Version control on higher tiers.
- Slack
- Postgres
- Google Sheets
- OpenAI
- GitHub
Pros & cons
What we like
- Self-hosting option
- Code nodes for flexibility
- Strong AI tooling
- Execution-based pricing on cloud
Watch out for
- More technical
- Smaller app library
- Self-hosting means maintenance
Pricing & true cost
| Plan | Indicative price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Community (self-hosted) | Free | You pay for your own server |
| Starter (cloud) | ≈ $24 / mo | Billed annually |
| Pro (cloud) | ≈ $60 / mo | — |
| Enterprise | Custom quote | — |
Pricing watch-out: Self-hosting requires your own infrastructure; licence terms apply.
Pricing watch-outs
- Quote-only tier. Enterprise has no public price. Ask for a written quote that includes onboarding and support fees.
Contract questions to ask before you sign
- Does the plan auto-renew, and how many days’ notice do you need to cancel?
- Is the advertised price for annual billing? What is the month-to-month price?
- Is the first-year price a promotion? What will renewal cost, and is it capped?
- Is there a minimum number of seats, or a charge for inactive users?
- Are onboarding, implementation or premium-support fees extra?
- How do we export all our data if we leave, and in what format?
General questions for any vendor — not findings about this product. Build a full checklist with our requirements builder.
Indicative USD pricing, last checked October 30, 2026. Vendors change prices and promotions often — always confirm on their website. Model your own numbers with our SaaS TCO calculator.
Score breakdown
| Criterion | Weight | Score | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Features & fit | 25% | 9.1 | 2.30 | |
| Ease of use | 15% | 7.2 | 1.10 | |
| Value for money | 15% | 9.2 | 1.40 | |
| Support & reliability | 10% | 7.2 | 0.70 | |
| Security & privacy | 20% | 8.4 | 1.70 | |
| Integrations & ecosystem | 15% | 8.8 | 1.30 | |
| Overall | 100% | Weighted for AI tools products | 8.5 | |
Security & compliance facts
| Item | Status | Question to ask n8n GmbH |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-factor authenticationStops most account takeovers from reused or phished passwords. | Not verified by us | Can admins enforce MFA for every user, on every plan? |
| Single sign-on (SAML/OIDC)Lets you remove a leaver’s access everywhere from one place. | Not verified by us | Is SSO included on the plan we are buying, or only on enterprise tiers? |
| SOC 2 Type II reportIndependent audit of the vendor’s security controls — often required by larger customers. | Not verified by us | Can we see your current SOC 2 Type II report (under NDA if needed)? |
| ISO/IEC 27001 certificationInternational standard for running an information-security programme. | Not verified by us | Which legal entity and services does your ISO 27001 certificate cover? |
| GDPR data processing agreementNeeded if you handle personal data of people in the EU/UK. | Not verified by us | Do you offer a signed DPA and list your sub-processors? |
| HIPAA business associate agreementRequired before US healthcare businesses store protected health information. | Not verified by us | Will you sign a BAA, and on which plans? |
We have not yet verified these items for n8n against a primary source, so we don’t claim them either way. Check n8n GmbH’s trust or security page and ask for documents in writing.
Before you buy any automation platform
Check n8n against the same list we use for every automation platform — and confirm each point on the plan you intend to buy, not the top tier.
- Connectors for your specific apps and events
- Clear pricing unit and volume estimate
- Error handling and alerts
- Multi-step logic and branching
- Self-hosting option if data residency matters
See every ranked option in Workflow Automation.
n8n alternatives
Pick an alternative by what matters to you
- Cheaper
Make≈ $9/mo vs $24/mo at 10 users (cheapest paid plans, indicative) - Easier to use
ZapierEase-of-use score 9.4 vs 7.2 - Better integrationsZapierIntegrations score 9.8 vs 8.8
Computed from our published scores and indicative pricing for tools in the same category as n8n. Scores are editorial; see the methodology.
Editor’s picks
Visual automation with powerful logic at a lower cost per operation.
The largest library of app integrations for no-code automation.
Head-to-head comparisons
Featured in: Best Workflow Automation Software for Small Business, Best Zapier Alternatives, Zapier vs Make vs n8n vs Power Automate
Review history
- Scored under methodology v2.0 (six weighted criteria, computed overall score).
n8n FAQ
Is n8n open source?
n8n is source-available under a fair-code licence, with a free community edition for self-hosting.
Does n8n have a free plan?
Yes. n8n offers a free plan. Paid plans start at Self-hosted community edition free; cloud from around $20–25 / month (indicative — check the vendor for current pricing).
Who is n8n best for?
n8n is best for: technical teams; self-hosting for data control; AI agent workflows.
How is the n8n score calculated?
The 8.5/10 overall score is a weighted average of six sub-scores — features & fit, ease of use, value, support & reliability, security & privacy, and integrations — using the published weights for AI products. Affiliate relationships have no input. See our methodology page for the full rubric.
What are the best alternatives to n8n?
Popular alternatives include Make, Zapier. See our comparisons for side-by-side verdicts.