Source-led tool profile

n8n

An execution-priced workflow and AI-agent platform with hosted Cloud plans and a standard self-hosted Community Edition.

Free plan listedNot hands-on tested
Our standard: this is an editorial profile based on official product information, not a laboratory test or paid ranking. Pricing and terms were last checked on 2026-11-06.

Who is n8n for?

Best for: Technical creators and small teams that want visual workflows, code steps, AI agents, MCP connections or control over hosting.

Probably not for: Beginners seeking the simplest one-click setup, or production teams upgrading major versions without backups and migration review.

Three practical uses

  • Connect forms, research and approvals into a monitored content workflow
  • Build an AI-assisted workflow with human approval before consequential tool calls
  • Use the 3.0 Migration Report on a test instance before upgrading production

What stands out

  • Community Edition provides a self-hosted starting point
  • Cloud plans include unlimited workflows, integrations and workflow steps
  • Agents, MCP, AI nodes and human tool-call approval are included in current hosted plans

Limits to check before you pay

  • Self-hosting shifts updates, backups, security and uptime to the operator
  • AI models, external APIs and infrastructure can add separate variable costs
  • n8n 3.0 is a one-way beta upgrade with breaking changes; rollback requires restoring a backup

Always verify export rights, commercial-use rules, privacy handling and regional availability for your exact plan. When the official source does not make a point clear, AI RankLab labels it as not verified rather than guessing.

What changed or was verified

  • n8n's current annual-billing Cloud prices list Starter at €20 per month for 2,500 executions and Pro at €50 for 10,000, with pricing based on completed workflow executions rather than individual steps. Official pricing ↗
  • Current hosted plans include agents, MCP, AI nodes and human approval for tool calls; the pricing page also links a standard self-hosted Community Edition. Official plan comparison ↗
  • n8n 3.0.0 Beta includes breaking changes and a Migration Report for affected workflows and settings; the official announcement says upgrading to 3.x is one-way and recommends a test instance plus full backup. Official n8n 3.0 announcement ↗

Evidence note: these are source-verified product facts, not hands-on performance findings. Product access and pricing can change after the review date.

Alternatives to n8n

MA
Editor's pickFree plan
Automation · Reviewed 2026-10-25

Make

A visual, credit-metered automation platform for connecting apps, APIs, data transformations and AI steps in branching scenarios.

ZA
Editor's pickFree plan
Automation · Reviewed 2026-10-25

Zapier AI

A task-metered automation platform that combines deterministic Zap steps, AI reasoning, tool calls, approvals and run history across a large app catalog.

AI
Free plan
Automation · Reviewed 2026-10-25

Airtable AI

AI fields, agents and app-building assistance embedded in Airtable's relational work-management and automation platform.

Web / desktop / mobileView research

Sources and update log

Primary facts come from the official product or pricing page. Added 2026-09-18; last editorial review 2026-11-06. Corrections can be sent through our correction process.