Bottom line: n8n is a workflow-automation and AI-agent builder whose self-hosted Community Edition is free with unlimited executions — no per-run meter at all. The trade is responsibility: you run it on your own server, so hosting, updates, backups, and security are yours. n8n Cloud, by contrast, has no permanent free plan, only a 14-day trial.
Pricing checked October 15, 2026, against n8n’s published plan information. This is a research-based review; we do not claim hands-on testing.
What does n8n do?
n8n connects apps, APIs, and databases into automated workflows built by linking nodes on a visual canvas. It ships with 400+ integrations, HTTP and webhook nodes, and the option to drop into JavaScript or Python when no-code steps run out. AI is built in: AI Agent nodes, LangChain-based steps, and MCP support let a workflow call models, use tools, and pause for human approval.
What is actually free with n8n?
The free route is the Community Edition: download it, host it yourself, and run unlimited executions with unlimited workflows and users, at no software cost. You pay only for the server it lives on — for light use that is typically a small VPS, not a subscription line item.
Be clear about what “free” does not include here. The Community Edition is released under n8n’s Sustainable Use License (a fair-code license): internal business use is the intended scope, while reselling n8n or embedding it in a product for others can require a different license. It also leaves out cloud and enterprise comforts such as SSO/SAML, Git-based version control, and managed support — help comes from the community forum. And because it is self-hosted, a dead server at 2 a.m. is your problem to fix.
What does n8n Cloud cost?
Cloud plans meter executions — one execution being one complete workflow run, however many steps it contains. Starter is €24/month on monthly billing (€20/month billed annually) for 2,500 executions, and Pro is €60/month (€50 annually) for 10,000. Both include unlimited users and unlimited active workflows, and a 14-day free trial with no credit card lets you test before paying. Business and Enterprise tiers add scale, SSO, and support at much higher prices.
Pros and cons of n8n’s free Community Edition
Pros
- Unlimited executions at $0 in software cost — unmatched among major automation platforms
- Your data stays on your own infrastructure, which matters for sensitive AI workflows
- Visual building with a real code escape hatch, plus AI Agent and MCP nodes included
- Execution-based thinking: one run counts once, no matter how many steps it takes
Cons
- You are the hosting company: server, updates, backups, and security are on you
- No SSO, Git version control, or dedicated support on the free edition
- Steeper learning curve than beginner automation tools — expressions and JSON show up quickly
- Cloud users get no permanent free tier, only a trial
Who is n8n best for?
Technical operators, developers, and small teams automating multi-step or AI-heavy processes who can keep a small server alive. Non-technical users wanting an automation running in twenty minutes will be happier on a hosted tool — though n8n Cloud still offers a 14-day free trial.
Frequently asked questions
Is n8n really free?
The self-hosted Community Edition is free with unlimited executions; you pay only for your own server. n8n Cloud is paid after a 14-day free trial.
What counts as one n8n execution?
One complete run of a workflow, from trigger to last node — whether the workflow has 3 steps or 30.
Can I use n8n for client work?
Building workflows for clients is generally within the license’s intent; hosting n8n itself as a service for others, or embedding it in a product, can require an Enterprise or Embed license. Read the Sustainable Use License before building a business on it.
Does n8n work for AI agents?
Yes. AI Agent nodes, model connections, memory, and MCP support are part of the platform, including in the Community Edition — you bring your own model API keys and pay that provider’s usage charges.
Verdict: The most generous “free” in automation, with an asterisk you should respect: free means self-hosted. For anyone willing to run a small server, nothing else at $0 comes close.