Why 8.5/10: Top pick for automation: strong AI agent and MCP support, code steps when you need them, pricing per full workflow execution rather than per step, and a free self-hosted Community Edition. Points off for a fair-code licence that isn't OSI open source and a steeper learning curve than the simplest no-code tools.
By ToolSift editorial. Last checked . Prices change often; "check site" means verify with the vendor.
What it does
n8n is a workflow automation platform: you connect triggers (a webhook, a schedule, a new row in a sheet) to actions across hundreds of integrations in a visual editor. Its pricing page says all plans include unlimited users, unlimited workflows and every integration. For developers there are code steps in JavaScript or Python, custom HTTP and GraphQL requests, cURL import, webhooks and queues as triggers, and an API and CLI to control n8n itself.
AI is central. n8n lists an AI Agent node and AI steps, an MCP Server Trigger, an MCP Client, human approval for tool calls, hosted and embedded chat, and evaluation features on paid plans. Cloud plans include "AI models without API keys" and monthly Assistant credits, so you can try AI steps before bringing your own model keys.
Pricing is based on workflow executions: n8n charges when a workflow runs from start to finish, however many steps it has. That is the main difference from tools that count every step. The source is on GitHub (n8n-io/n8n, about 208,000 stars on 19 Oct 2026) under n8n's Sustainable Use License, which n8n calls fair-code: free to use and self-host for internal business purposes, with restrictions on offering n8n itself as a commercial service.
Against our runners-up: Zapier is the easiest tool for non-technical users and has the largest catalogue of app integrations, and Make offers a powerful visual scenario builder at moderate prices. n8n's edge is control: code where you need it, AI agents and MCP built in, per-execution pricing that doesn't penalise long workflows, and the option to run everything on your own servers, which matters for data-sensitive teams.
Our verdict
n8n is the best-value automation tool for technical users. You build workflows visually, drop into JavaScript or Python when you need to, and use built-in AI Agent, MCP client and MCP server nodes to put language models inside your automations. Cloud plans charge per complete workflow execution, not per step, which matters for long workflows. You can also self-host the Community Edition free. It is less hand-holding than Zapier, and its licence restricts some commercial uses, but for power per pound it is hard to beat.
✅ Pick it if You want powerful automations with AI agents, code when needed, per-execution pricing and the option to self-host.
⛔ Skip it if You want the simplest possible no-code setup, or you need an OSI-approved open-source licence.
Pricing: As of 19 Oct 2026, shown to a UK visitor (billed annually): Starter £20/month (2.5k executions, 5 concurrent executions, 1,600 Assistant credits); Pro £50/month (10k executions, up to 50 concurrent, workflow history, admin roles); Business £569/month (40k executions, SSO/LDAP, Git version control, multiple environments; self-hosted); Enterprise custom. Annual billing saves 17%. Companies under 20 employees may qualify for 50% off Business. Self-hosted Community Edition free. Check site.
n8n appears to be developed by n8n GmbH (Berlin, Germany), the company named in its licence and legal pages; the source code is public on GitHub.
What to watch
Licence: the Sustainable Use License is fair-code, not an OSI-approved open-source licence (GitHub lists it as NOASSERTION). Read it before embedding n8n in a product you sell.
Self-hosting means you run updates, backups and security yourself; n8n ships releases very frequently.
Execution limits: cloud plans cap monthly executions and concurrency, so high-frequency triggers (e.g. every minute) can use a plan's allowance quickly.
Some features are self-hosted or Enterprise only (for example custom nodes, bash scripts, log streaming and external secret stores), per the plan table.
Learning curve: it's friendlier to people comfortable with JSON and APIs than to complete beginners.