n8n
Fair-code workflow automation with native AI capabilities
The Lens
By Erik Loyd, SaaS CEO and former COO/CFO of an AWS Premier Partner.
Updated Aug 2026
N8n is the open source alternative to Zapier. It gives you a visual workflow builder where you drag nodes, connect them, and watch data flow through. Over 400 integrations built in.
Self-hosting is free under a 'sustainable use' license (not fully open source, you can't resell it as a service). The cloud version starts at $24/mo. The self-hosted version has no feature restrictions, no execution limits, and no user limits.
The catch: setting up n8n in Docker and keeping it running takes real skill. Updates can break workflows. The 'sustainable use' license means you can't build a competing automation platform on top of it. And while the visual builder is powerful, complex logic (loops, error handling, conditional branches) gets messy in a node graph. Sometimes a Python script is cleaner than 40 connected nodes.
Free vs Self-Hosted vs Paid
free self hosted paid cloudSelf-hosted (free): All features, unlimited workflows, unlimited executions. Requires Docker. The license (Sustainable Use) is not OSI-approved. You can use it freely for your own automation but can't offer n8n as a managed service.
Cloud pricing:
- Starter ($24/mo): 2,500 executions, 5 workflows
- Pro ($60/mo): 10K executions, unlimited workflows
- Enterprise: Custom
The self-hosting math: A $6/mo VPS runs n8n comfortably. Compare that to Zapier ($20/mo for 750 tasks) or Make ($9/mo for 10K operations). Self-hosted n8n with unlimited executions for $6/mo is dramatically cheaper than any cloud automation tool.
When cloud makes sense: If you don't want Docker ops, the $24/mo starter plan is cheaper than Zapier and includes AI capabilities. But 2,500 executions/mo is tight if you have busy webhooks.
Self-host free on a $6/mo VPS. Cloud starts at $24/mo for 2,500 executions.
What to do by team size
- Solo
- Self-host if you're comfortable with Docker. Otherwise, the $24/mo cloud plan beats Zapier's pricing.
- Small team
- Self-host and save hundreds vs Zapier. One person needs to own the Docker setup.
- Medium team
- Self-host with proper backups. At scale, you'll save thousands per year vs cloud automation tools.
- Large team
- Enterprise plan for support and SLAs, or self-host with your DevOps team managing it.
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