n8n
Open Sourceby n8n GmbH
★ 4.8 (412 reviews)
n8n is a free, open-source workflow automation tool that lets you build AI agents by visually wiring apps, data, and language models together.
Try n8n free
Self-hosting is unlimited and free. The hosted n8n Cloud plan is paid after a trial.
We may earn a commission from this link, at no extra cost to you. Disclosure.
Last reviewed
Best for
Builders who want a self-hosted, model-agnostic foundation for AI agents without per-seat SaaS fees.
What is n8n?
n8n is a source-available workflow automation platform you can self-host for free. Its visual editor connects 400+ apps, and dedicated AI Agent and LangChain nodes let you build autonomous agents that call tools, query your data, and make decisions. Because you can run it on your own server with your own model API keys, it is the most flexible foundation for custom agents in sales, support, and operations.
Key features
- ▹Visual workflow builder
- ▹Native AI Agent & LangChain nodes
- ▹400+ app integrations
- ▹Self-hostable via Docker
- ▹Code nodes (JS/Python)
- ▹Bring your own LLM keys
Pros
- +Genuinely free when self-hosted
- +Model-agnostic — use any LLM
- +Huge integration library
- +Active open-source community
Cons
- −Self-hosting requires basic server skills
- −Steeper learning curve than pure no-code tools
n8n pricing
Free tier: Self-hosting is unlimited and free. The hosted n8n Cloud plan is paid after a trial.
Community (self-hosted)
Free
- ▹Unlimited workflows
- ▹All core nodes
- ▹Self-managed
Cloud Starter
$24/mo
- ▹Hosted for you
- ▹2.5k executions
- ▹Email support
How to get started with n8n
- 1 Run `docker run -it --rm -p 5678:5678 n8nio/n8n`
- 2 Open the editor at localhost:5678
- 3 Add your LLM API credentials
- 4 Drop in an AI Agent node and connect your tools
Try n8n free
Self-hosting is unlimited and free. The hosted n8n Cloud plan is paid after a trial.
We may earn a commission from this link, at no extra cost to you. Disclosure.
n8n FAQ
Is n8n really free?
Yes. The self-hosted Community Edition is free and unlimited under a fair-code license. You only pay if you choose the managed n8n Cloud.
Can n8n build real AI agents?
Yes. n8n ships a dedicated AI Agent node plus LangChain nodes, so agents can call tools, use memory, and run multi-step reasoning inside a workflow.
n8n alternatives
Other workflow & automation agents worth comparing.
Relevance AI
Best for: Business teams that want to deploy no-code AI agents for GTM tasks without managing infrastructure.
Flowise
Best for: Teams who want to prototype RAG chatbots and agents visually without writing orchestration code.
Dify
Best for: Teams that want an all-in-one platform to ship agents and RAG apps to production.