Pricing · Independent breakdown
Free (self-hosted), $24/month cloud
n8n pricing.
Content updated: January 2026· January 2026 Editorial Baseline
Plans, real costs, and a straight answer on whether n8n is worth paying for.
The short answer
n8n is free if you self-host and cloud plans start at $24/month. It's worth it for developer-leaning founders who want unlimited automations at near-zero marginal cost.
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What is n8n pricing?
n8n is technical owners who want full control over their automations, priced from Free (self-hosted), $24/month cloud.
n8n plans
Community (self-hosted)
$0
Developer-leaning founders
- ·Unlimited workflows
- ·Open-source
- ·You manage hosting
Best pick if: You can run a small server.
Cloud Starter
$24 /month
Hands-off operators
- ·Hosted by n8n
- ·2,500 workflow executions
- ·Active workflows
Is it worth it?
Cheapest serious automation tool at scale, full stop. Pay the Zapier or Make tax only if you don't want to manage your own host.
When to upgrade
Move to n8n the moment your Zapier or Make bill makes you wince.
Pay for n8n if…
- ✓You're comfortable running a small server (or paying for cloud)
- ✓You'd burn hundreds in Zapier ops/month otherwise
- ✓You want code-level control inside nodes
Don't pay if…
- ×You want zero infrastructure — pick Zapier
- ×You only run a handful of automations — free tiers cover it
Cheaper or better alternatives to n8n
Far cheaper than Zapier at scale; free if you self-host.
n8n vs the competition
n8n vs Make
Make is the hosted default. n8n is the self-hosted upgrade once you can run a server and the volume justifies it.
n8n vs Zapier
Zapier is the on-ramp. n8n is the self-hosted upgrade when volume, cost, or data control matter.
n8n vs Gumloop
Gumloop is the hosted AI workflow tool. n8n is the self-hosted everything tool. Different posture, different buyer.
n8n vs Lindy
Lindy if you want agents. n8n if you want pipes you own end-to-end.
n8n vs Relay.app
Relay for AI + approval workflows. n8n for self-hosted automation at scale.
How consensus ranks n8n
Synthesized across G2, Capterra, Product Hunt, Futurepedia, Tool Finder, AI Tools Directory, Reddit, and FutureFounder. How this is calculated →
Compare pricing head-to-head
Every published head-to-head involving n8n. Each comparison includes a pricing verdict.
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