What it is
n8n is a workflow automation platform with a node-based visual editor, over 500 integrations, and JavaScript or Python code at any step. It includes an AI Agent node, MCP server and client support, and human approval for tool calls, so you can build agents and RAG systems that use cloud or local models. You can run it in n8n's cloud or deploy it yourself with Docker.
The self-hosted Community Edition is free, and cloud plans start at €20 a month billed annually for 2,500 workflow executions, with a free trial that needs no card. Pricing counts executions, not steps. It suits developers more than beginners. Its source is public under n8n's fair-code license, which is not an OSI open-source license and limits some commercial uses.
Best for
- Technical teams that want automations on their own servers
- Building AI agents and RAG workflows with custom code steps
- Keeping data on-premises or air-gapped