Overview

n8n is an open-source workflow automation platform that combines a visual node-based builder with the option to drop into JavaScript when needed. It can be self-hosted for free, giving full control over data and infrastructure, or run on n8n's hosted cloud. Its AI agent nodes let you build workflows where language models call tools and make decisions.

Pricing models change often. The summary above is indicative as of October 2026 — confirm current plans on the official pricing page.

Key features

Visual node-based workflow editor
Free self-hosting with fair-code license
AI agent and LLM chain nodes
Custom code nodes in JavaScript and Python
Hundreds of built-in integrations
Webhook triggers and scheduled executions

Main use cases

Self-hosted automation with full data control
AI agent workflows with tool-calling
Custom integrations mixing no-code and JavaScript
Internal tooling and DevOps glue
Privacy-sensitive automations kept on your own servers

Who is it best for?

Developers and technical teams who want automation power without vendor lock-in, and are comfortable self-hosting.

Strengths and limitations

Strengths

Self-hosted option means no per-task pricing and full data control
Code nodes let technical users go beyond no-code limits
Active open-source community and fast AI feature development

Limitations

Self-hosting requires server setup and maintenance
Fair-code license has restrictions some businesses should review

n8n

Overview

Key features

Main use cases

Who is it best for?

Strengths and limitations

Strengths

Limitations

Tags

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