n8n is a workflow automation tool you can self-host or run in the cloud. You drag nodes onto a canvas, connect them, and ship a working AI agent or workflow. It is open-core under the Sustainable Use License, which means you can use the source code freely but cannot resell it as your own product.
n8n is a no-code workflow tool with one big twist: you can self-host it. That means you run it on your own server, your data never leaves your machine, and you do not pay per task. It is the favorite tool of developers who hate Zapier's pricing model.
The trade-off: you have to set it up. n8n Cloud removes that pain for a monthly fee, but you lose the cost edge.
In 2026, n8n added native AI agent nodes (LLM calls, vector store retrieval, tool routing). You can now build an agent that reads a Gmail message, checks a Notion database, and posts to Slack, all inside one n8n workflow.
SAP made a strategic investment in n8n in May 2026 at a $5.2 billion valuation, more than double the prior year. The deal pairs n8n's visual workflows with SAP's enterprise data (source: blog.n8n.io, May 12 2026).
| Plan | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Community (self-host) | Free forever | Devs comfortable with Docker or Linux |
| Starter (Cloud) | €20/month annual (€24/month monthly) | Solo operators who want managed |
| Pro (Cloud) | €50/month annual | Small teams |
| Enterprise | Custom | Multi-seat, SSO, audit logs |
Self-hosting on a $5/month VPS keeps you running indefinitely. That is why n8n is the favorite of bootstrapped operators.
Prices change. Verified May 2026. Check current rates at n8n.io/pricing.
| Axis | n8n | Make | Zapier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setup | Self-host or Cloud | Cloud only | Cloud only |
| Visual editor | Canvas-style | Canvas-style | Linear-stepped |
| Code nodes | Yes (JS + Python) | Limited | Limited |
| Free tier | Unlimited self-host | 1000 ops/month | 100 tasks/month |
| AI agent nodes | Yes (native) | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Devs, privacy-conscious | Visual-first, mid-skill | Non-technical, breadth of apps |
Want the full breakdown? Read our n8n vs Make comparison.
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I run a marketplace for Amazon AI tools. When I tested an AI agent that picks the right Amazon ad bid every morning, I built it in n8n self-hosted because I wanted to see every API call and pay zero for testing. Once it worked, I migrated it to a production hosting provider with the same n8n setup. No platform lock-in.
Self-host for free or start a Cloud trial. n8n has no public consumer affiliate program, so this is a plain link.
Selling on Amazon and wondering if n8n fits the BSA Agent Policy? See our Amazon AI Agent Policy guide.
Self-hosted n8n is free forever under the Sustainable Use License. You can run it on a $5/month VPS and never pay n8n a cent. The managed cloud version starts at €20/month (about $22 USD) billed annually, or €24/month billed monthly.
n8n has native AI agent nodes as of 2025. You can build a complete agent (LLM call, RAG, tool calling, memory) without any other tool. For deeper custom logic, you can drop in a JavaScript or Python node.
For most Amazon sellers, Make is faster to start because it is cloud-hosted with no setup. n8n wins when you want to keep costs near zero at high run volume or you need to keep data on your own infrastructure.
It is a license between open-source and proprietary. You can read, modify, and run the code freely. You cannot host n8n and resell it as a paid SaaS product. Most developers and operators are unaffected. Resellers are.