Best Process Automation

Ranked #3 of 14 for best process automation

n8n review

Fair-code workflow automation that bills one execution per full workflow run, whatever the number of steps1.

Updated By the Best Process Automation deskHow we scoreDisclosure

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Verdict

8.0/10

n8n is the best pick for technical teams that want code steps, AI agents and self-hosting in one tool, because it bills per workflow run1 and its self-hosted edition is free2.

Best for Technical teams that self-host

Skip it if you need SSO on a small budget, since it starts with the Business plan at €667 a month billed annually1, or you run desktop apps that have no API, since n8n connects through integrations, HTTP APIs and MCP3.

Visit n8n (opens the n8n website)

n8n at a glance
Founded2019 in Berlin, by Jan Oberhauser4
LicenseSustainable Use License and n8n Enterprise License (fair-code); source code public on GitHub5
Cloud hostingEU, on servers in Frankfurt, Germany1
Self-hostingDocker Compose, one-line setup, AWS, Azure, Google Cloud and other providers6
Billing unitWorkflow executions: one full run counts once, however many steps it has1
Security reportsSOC 2 report for enterprise customers; SOC 3 report public7
Funding$240 million raised; valued at $5.2 billion in May 20264
Latest stable releasen8n 2.46.6, 4 November 20268

How n8n scores

Score breakdown for n8n
Ease of use 20%6.5n8n Assistant helps create, edit, test and troubleshoot workflows from a chat9 and the template library holds 14,004 workflows10, but n8n's own docs say self-hosting requires technical expertise11. Score: a chat assistant and templates help, but self-hosting needs technical skills, which gives 6.5.
Power 25%9.0Branches, loops, sub-workflows and error workflows are built in12, and every Cloud plan includes JavaScript and Python code steps, webhooks, custom HTTP requests, an AI Agent node and MCP1. Cloud runs stop at 5 minutes on Starter and 40 minutes on Pro and Enterprise, and self-hosted run time is configurable1. Score: every rubric item ships on every plan, and the run caps apply to Cloud only, which gives 9.0.
Integrations 15%7.5The homepage counts 500+ native integrations plus any API via HTTP or MCP3, and the directory lists 2,000+, a count that includes community-built and partner-built nodes13. Coverage runs through integrations, HTTP APIs and MCP3, which leaves desktop apps without an API to RPA tools. Score: 500+ native integrations set a base of 7.0, and self-hosting inside your own network adds 0.5; there is no desktop automation.
Price and value 20%8.5The self-hosted Community edition is free2 with unlimited concurrent executions1, and Cloud starts at €24 a month for 2,500 executions with unlimited steps1. The jump from Pro at €60 to Business at €800 a month is steep1. Score: a free self-hosted edition, a €24 entry price and billing per full run give 8.5.
Security and governance 10%9.0The Trust Center lists SOC 2 Type 2, SOC 3 and GDPR14, Cloud data stays in Frankfurt1, and n8n runs self-hosted or air-gapped15. SSO comes with the self-hosted Business plan and with Enterprise, and on n8n Cloud only Enterprise includes it; n8n's docs name the pricing page as the source of truth12 and audit logging needs Enterprise1. Score: all five rubric items are available on some edition, which gives 9.0; no ISO 27001 is listed14.
Support and ecosystem 10%7.5The forum has over 170,000 members1 and the partner directory lists 48 expert partners16, but email support and an SLA come only with Enterprise1. Score: a large forum and a partner directory, with forum-only support below Enterprise and no published response times, give 7.5.

n8n pricing

n8n pricing, checked 8 November 2026
PlanPriceNotes
Community (self-hosted)Free2Runs on your own infrastructure without a license key. No SSO, credential sharing or Git version control.
Starter (Cloud)€24 per month, or €20 per month billed annually12,500 executions, 5 concurrent executions, forum support.
Pro (Cloud)€60 per month, or €50 per month billed annually110,000 executions. The 50,000-execution tier is listed at €144 per month. Adds admin roles and 5 days of workflow history (Starter keeps 1 day).
Business (self-hosted only)€800 per month, or €667 per month billed annually140,000 executions, SSO and LDAP, Git version control. Tiers run to €5,245 per month for 500,000 executions. Overage costs €4,000 or $4,800 per 300,000 executions. Companies under 20 employees that qualify for the Startup plan get 50% off Business.
Enterprise (Cloud or self-hosted)Contact sales1Custom execution volume, audit logging, log streaming, dedicated support with SLA.

Strengths and weak spots

Strengths

  • Billing counts one execution per full workflow run, however many steps it has1.
  • The self-hosted Community edition is free2, and self-hosted data stays wherever you host it1.
  • JavaScript and Python code steps, webhooks, an AI Agent node, MCP and human approval for tool calls are on every Cloud plan1.
  • All plans include unlimited users and every integration1.
  • Cloud data is stored in the EU, on servers in Frankfurt1.

Weak spots

  • SSO and LDAP start with the Business plan at €800 a month, and Business runs self-hosted only1.
  • Audit logging and log streaming are Enterprise features1.
  • The Sustainable Use License limits use to internal business, non-commercial or personal use; letting your customers connect their accounts and build workflows in n8n needs a separate commercial agreement5.
  • Starter, Pro and Business get forum support; email support and an SLA are Enterprise-only1.
  • Starter caps each run at 5 minutes and allows 5 concurrent executions1.

Alternatives to n8n

Head to head

n8n: common questions

Is n8n free?

The self-hosted Community edition is free2. n8n Cloud has a 14-day trial with 1,000 executions17, and paid Cloud plans start at €24 a month1.

Is n8n open source?

n8n does not call itself open source. Its Sustainable Use License limits use to internal business purposes or non-commercial and personal use, and n8n calls this model fair-code5. The source code is public on GitHub18.

Where does n8n Cloud store data?

In the EU, on servers in Frankfurt, Germany1. n8n Cloud runs on Microsoft Azure7. A self-hosted instance stores data wherever you host it1.

Sources

  1. n8n GmbH. n8n Plans and Pricing - n8n.io. Checked 9 Nov 2026.
  2. n8n GmbH. Compare editions | Deploy | n8n Docs. Checked 9 Nov 2026.
  3. n8n GmbH. AI Workflow Automation Platform - n8n. Checked 9 Nov 2026.
  4. n8n GmbH. n8n Press | Automate without limits. Checked 8 Nov 2026.
  5. n8n GmbH. Community license | n8n Community license | n8n Docs. Checked 9 Nov 2026.
  6. n8n GmbH. Host n8n | Deploy | n8n Docs. Checked 9 Nov 2026.
  7. n8n GmbH. Security. Checked 9 Nov 2026.
  8. n8n GmbH on GitHub. Release [email protected] · n8n-io/n8n. Checked 8 Nov 2026.
  9. n8n GmbH. Use n8n Assistant | Build | n8n Docs. Checked 9 Nov 2026.
  10. n8n GmbH. Discover 14004 Automation Workflows from the n8n's Community. Checked 8 Nov 2026.
  11. n8n GmbH. Choose how to use n8n | n8n Docs. Checked 9 Nov 2026.
  12. n8n GmbH. Flow logic | Build | n8n Docs. Checked 8 Nov 2026.
  13. n8n GmbH. Best apps + software integrations | n8n. Checked 9 Nov 2026.
  14. n8n GmbH. n8n Trust Center. Checked 9 Nov 2026.
  15. n8n GmbH. Enterprise Workflow Automation Software & Tools | n8n. Checked 8 Nov 2026.
  16. n8n GmbH. n8n Service Partner Directory. Checked 8 Nov 2026.
  17. n8n GmbH. Try free then choose a plan | Deploy | n8n Docs. Checked 8 Nov 2026.
  18. n8n GmbH on GitHub. GitHub - n8n-io/n8n: Fair-code workflow automation platform with native AI capabilities. Checked 8 Nov 2026.