n8n

n8n is a visual workflow automation tool, the self-hostable answer to Zapier and Make. Drag nodes onto a canvas to connect apps, APIs and AI models, drop into JavaScript or Python when the visual editor runs out, and run agents and MCP tools inside workflows. It ships hundreds of integrations. It's source-available, not open source.

Self-hosting is free with no execution limits, but the free Community edition leaves out sharing workflows and credentials, projects, SSO, environments, Git version control and external secrets: only the owner and the creator can see a workflow. n8n 3.0, due October 2026, drops npm installs and requires Docker. Security advisories arrive constantly (75 between August and early October 2026), so patching is part of the job.

Cloud Starter is $24 a month ($20 billed annually) for 2,500 executions; Pro is $60 a month for 10,000. Business is self-hosted only at $960 a month ($800 annually) for 40,000 executions, adding SSO, Git and environments; Enterprise is custom. Solo builders: self-host free. Small teams that need to share workflows hit the paywall fast, so price Business against Zapier honestly.

The catch: the Sustainable Use License allows only internal business, non-commercial or personal use. Embedding n8n in a product you sell, or hosting it for customers, needs a commercial deal. Paid self-hosted licenses also ping n8n's license server daily.