n8n
Open-source workflow automation you can self-host - with native AI agent support
Editorial take
n8n is the best automation platform for developers and technical teams who need full control over their workflows. The open-source core, self-hosting option, and code nodes make it the most extensible automation tool available. If you have hit the limits of what you can customize in Zapier, n8n is the natural upgrade.
What is n8n?
n8n is an open-source workflow automation tool that you can run on your own server or use via n8n Cloud. It works similarly to Make - you build workflows visually by connecting nodes - but adds a feature that neither Make nor Zapier have: native AI agent nodes that can reason, use tools, and loop until a task is complete.
The AI Agent node in n8n lets you define a goal, give the agent tools (HTTP calls, database queries, other workflows), and let it run. It will decide which tools to use and in what order, rather than following a fixed sequence of steps. For building AI workflows that need real autonomy - not just "call GPT and pass the output" - this is a genuinely different capability.
n8n has 400+ integrations, covers most major tools (Google, Slack, databases, CRMs, webhooks, HTTP), and its node library grows quickly as it is community-maintained. The self-hosted version is completely free. The cloud version starts at $20/month for 2,500 workflow executions.
The main trade-off is setup: self-hosting requires a server (a $5/month VPS works). For technical users comfortable with Docker or a basic VPS, self-hosted n8n is arguably the best value in automation - enterprise power at zero marginal cost. For non-technical users, n8n Cloud or Make is easier to get started.
Best for
Technical teams wanting self-hosted unlimited automation
Key strength
Self-hosted with autonomous AI agent nodes
Ease of use
Learning curve
What you would use it for
- →Building complex multi-step workflows with conditional logic and custom code nodes
- →Self-hosting automation infrastructure to keep data entirely within your own systems
- →Integrating AI models (OpenAI, Anthropic) into business workflows without vendor lock-in
- →Automating data pipelines between internal databases and external APIs
- →Creating customer-facing automation with webhook triggers and custom processing logic
Pros & Cons
👍 Pros
- ✓Self-hosted option is completely free with no usage limits
- ✓AI Agent nodes are genuinely autonomous - not just fixed step sequences
- ✓Code nodes let you handle any logic that lacks a dedicated integration
- ✓Strong and growing community
- ✓Open source - no vendor lock-in
👎 Cons
- ✗Self-hosting requires technical setup (Docker/VPS)
- ✗Cloud pricing is higher than Make for equivalent executions
- ✗Smaller integration library than Make (400 vs 1,800)
- ✗UI is less polished than Make or Zapier
Key Features
- ✓ Visual workflow builder with 400+ nodes
- ✓ Native AI Agent nodes - autonomous task execution
- ✓ Supports OpenAI, Claude, Gemini, Mistral as LLM backends
- ✓ Self-hostable - full control, zero ongoing cost
- ✓ Code node: run JavaScript or Python mid-workflow
- ✓ Sub-workflows: call other workflows as reusable functions
- ✓ Community templates library
Available on
Integrates with
n8n Pricing
✅ n8n has a free plan — no credit card required to start.
Self-hosted (Community)
- ✓Unlimited workflows
- ✓Unlimited executions
- ✓400+ integrations
- ✓AI Agent nodes
- ✓Requires own server (Docker/VPS)
Starter (Cloud)
- ✓2,500 workflow executions/month
- ✓5 active workflows
- ✓No server needed
- ✓Email support
Pro (Cloud)
- ✓10,000 workflow executions/month
- ✓15 active workflows
- ✓Version control
- ✓Priority support
n8n vs Competitors
From the blog
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Developer resources
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