n8n Review (2026): Pricing, Features, Pros & Cons
Our verdict
n8n is the top pick for developers who want free, self-hosted automation with full data control and custom code support.
- Rating
- 4.34.3 out of 5 stars
- Best for
- Developers wanting self-hosted automation
- Starting at
- Free
- Free tier
- Yes
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Quick facts
| Pricing | Open sourceFree Free to self-host under n8n's fair-code license; n8n Cloud pricing is usage-based |
|---|---|
| Free tier | Free self-hosting; n8n Cloud offers a limited trial |
| Platforms |
|
| Launched | 2019 |
| Company | n8n GmbH · Germany |
How n8n scores
Editor scores out of 5. Overall rating: 4.3.
| Output quality | 4.0 | |
|---|---|---|
| Features | 5.0 | |
| Ease of use | 3.0 | |
| Value for money | 5.0 |
About n8n
n8n is an open-source workflow automation tool that can be self-hosted for free or used via n8n's managed cloud service. It offers a visual workflow builder similar in spirit to Make and Zapier, but with the option to write custom JavaScript/Python code inside nodes and full control over data and infrastructure when self-hosted.
Self-hosting n8n is free under its fair-code license (with some feature restrictions), while n8n Cloud offers managed hosting with tiered pricing based on workflow executions. This makes it attractive to developers and privacy-conscious teams who want automation without depending on a third-party's data handling.
n8n is best suited to technical teams comfortable with some setup and occasional custom code, trading Zapier's polish and zero-setup convenience for cost control, data ownership, and deeper extensibility.
Key features
- Visual workflow builder
- Self-hosting option
- Custom JavaScript/Python code nodes
- AI workflow nodes
- Open-source extensibility
Pros & cons
Pros
- Free and open-source to self-host
- Full data ownership and infrastructure control
- Supports custom code inside workflows
- Active open-source community
Cons
- Self-hosting requires technical setup and maintenance
- Smaller polished app library than Zapier
- Fair-code license restricts some commercial reuse cases
Who should use n8n
- Developers wanting self-hosted automation
- Privacy-sensitive workflows
- Custom-code automation steps
Frequently asked questions
Is n8n free?+
Yes, n8n is free and open-source to self-host under its fair-code license; the managed n8n Cloud service has usage-based pricing.
Do I need to know how to code to use n8n?+
No, n8n's visual workflow builder works without code, but it also lets developers add custom JavaScript or Python when needed.
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