n8n

n8n is a fair-code workflow tool with a visual node editor and a self-host option. Every listed cloud plan includes unlimited users and workflows; billing is still per workflow execution, not per node. The old "$20 cloud / 400+ apps / 40k stars / 500k MAU" package mixed a stale seat with unverified census numbers.

Compare Zapier if you want a hosted-only automation suite.

Key Features

Nodes plus code: HTTP, app nodes, and JS/Python code nodes.
Self-host or cloud: Docker/self-host under the n8n license; cloud is the $24 / $60 grid.
Execution pricing: Complex graphs are not billed per hop on the public cloud story.
AI nodes exist: Treat them as part of the workflow product, not a separate agent runtime.

Use Cases

Teams that refuse Zapier lock-in and will run Docker.
Cloud buyers who will pay $24–$60 instead of stitching cron plus scripts.
People comparing execution pricing vs Zapier tasks.

Limitation: included execution counts should be re-read on the pricing page. "400+ integrations" moves. GitHub stars were not used as a headline.

Pricing

n8n.io/pricing on 2026-08-29:

Plan	Price	Notes from that page
Self-host	$0 license for eligible use	You pay infra. Read the fair-code terms.
Starter	$24 / mo ($20 yearly)	Cloud.
Pro	$60 / mo ($50 yearly)	Higher cloud limits.
Enterprise	Custom	Sales.

Getting Started

Open n8n.io and pick cloud or Docker.
Build one webhook-to-Slack workflow before you buy Pro.
Count executions, not nodes, when you compare Zapier.
Confirm AI node limits on your plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is cloud still $20?

Yearly is $20.

Is self-host unlimited and free for a SaaS reseller?

No. Read the fair-code / embed terms. This is not MIT-for-everyone.

Same as Zapier?

No. Zapier is hosted-only. n8n is fair-code plus cloud seats.

Alternatives

Zapier: Hosted automation, 9k-app catalog on our refreshed page.
LangGraph: If the job is an agent graph, not iPaaS.
CrewAI: Role agents, not workflow nodes.

Tips

Quote $24 / $60, not the old $20-only line.
Confirm execution quotas before you promise unlimited.

Conclusion

n8n is still the self-hostable automation builder, now with public cloud Starter $24 and Pro $60. Start at n8n.io/pricing, then compare Zapier if you do not want to operate a box.