n8n is powerful, but its Sustainable Use License, execution-based cloud pricing, and self-hosting upkeep push many teams to look elsewhere. Here are the real alternatives by buyer type, with current sourced pricing, plus when a done-for-you service makes more sense than another tool.
Updated October 6, 2026. Every price below links to the vendor's own pricing page (checked October 6, 2026). Third-party figures are marked "reported".
The best n8n alternative depends on who builds and who maintains the workflows. If you want open source you can self-host without n8n's Sustainable Use License limits, pick Activepieces (MIT-licensed core). If you want the easiest no-code tool with the most apps, pick Zapier. If you want visual power at a low price, pick Make. If you want an AI agent that does the work rather than a flowchart, look at Lindy or Gumloop. Enterprises with ERP-heavy integrations should shortlist Workato or Celigo. And if you do not want to build or maintain anything, a done-for-you service such as Dooza Workflow Automation is the alternative to the tool itself.
n8n is a capable tool. Its GitHub repository shows more than 200,000 stars (n8n on GitHub, checked October 6, 2026), and its AI Agent node, MCP support, and code steps make it a favorite among technical builders. People still leave for four recurring reasons.
n8n prices by monthly workflow executions. All plans include unlimited users, unlimited active workflows, and every integration. An execution is "a single run of your entire workflow," regardless of how many steps it has. Prices from n8n.io/pricing (checked October 6, 2026), billed annually; monthly billing costs about 17% more:
| n8n plan | Price | Executions / month | Hosting | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Community Edition | Free | No n8n limit (your server is the limit) | Self-hosted | Sustainable Use License; no SSO, environments, or Git control |
| Starter | €20/mo | 2,500 | n8n Cloud | 5 concurrent executions, 5-minute max run time |
| Pro | €50/mo | 10,000 | n8n Cloud | Up to 50 concurrent executions, admin roles, workflow history |
| Business | €667/mo | 40,000 | Self-hosted only | SSO, environments, Git version control; extra 300,000 executions cost €4,000 |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom | Self-hosted or cloud | 200+ concurrent executions, dedicated support with SLA |
The Cloud free trial includes 1,000 executions and a 180-second execution timeout. n8n moved to this model in August 2025, when it removed active-workflow limits from all plans:
Our pricing evolves to give you more freedom to build ⚡
— n8n.io (@n8n_io) August 7, 2025
Over the past few months, we’ve spoken with many of you about how you use n8n and realized we could make our pricing work better for the way you build. Our goal: to help you automate more, without limits getting in the… pic.twitter.com/6lW7Dqae0M
| Tool | Starting paid price (checked October 6, 2026) | License | Self-host? | AI agent features | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n8n (baseline) | €20/mo billed annually, 2,500 executions | Sustainable Use (fair-code) | Yes | AI Agent node, MCP client and server | Technical teams |
| Zapier | $19.99/mo billed annually, 750 tasks | Proprietary | No | Zapier Agents, Copilot, MCP | No-code users who need the most apps |
| Make | $9/mo for 5,000 credits | Proprietary | No | Make AI Agents (beta) | Visual builders on a budget |
| Activepieces | $20/mo flat, 10,000 credits | MIT core, separate enterprise license | Yes | AI pieces, MCP | Open-source self-hosters |
| Pipedream | $99/mo ($90 annually), 10,000 credits | Proprietary platform | No | Integration layer and MCP tools for AI agents | Developers adding integrations to AI apps |
| Gumloop | From $37/mo, 20k credits | Proprietary | No (VPC optional on Enterprise) | Agent-first platform | AI-first ops and marketing teams |
| Lindy | $29.99/mo for 3,000 credits | Proprietary | No | AI assistant and agents, 1,500+ integrations | Individuals and teams wanting an AI teammate |
| Windmill | Free open source; Enterprise from $120/mo | AGPLv3 core | Yes | AI-assisted scripting | Engineers turning scripts into workflows |
| Node-RED | Free | Apache 2.0 | Yes | Community nodes only | IoT and event-driven automations |
| Workato | Custom quote; reported $10,000–15,000/yr entry | Proprietary | No (on-prem agents available) | Agent Studio, Genies | Enterprise iPaaS |
| Celigo | Custom, priced by endpoints and flows | Proprietary | No | Agent Builder, MCP Server | NetSuite and ecommerce integrations |
| Dooza Workflow Automation | Refundable pilot (see /pricing) | Managed service | No, hosted for you | AI agents with human approvals | Small businesses that want it built and maintained |
Credits, tasks, and executions are not the same unit. A five-step workflow that runs once is one n8n execution but five Zapier tasks (Zapier counts "each successful action in a Zap" as a task, per its pricing FAQ). Compare on your real workflow volume, not the headline price.
Zapier is the default trigger-and-action tool, with 9,000+ app connections. Its Free plan includes 100 tasks a month and two-step Zaps. Professional starts at $19.99/mo billed annually ($29.99 monthly) for 750 tasks; Team starts at $69/mo billed annually for 2,000 tasks (Zapier pricing, checked October 6, 2026). Zapier Agents is priced separately.
Pick it if non-technical people will build and you need a niche app integration. Skip it if you run high-volume, many-step workflows, because per-task billing adds up fast.
Make (formerly Integromat) offers a visual canvas with routers, iterators, and error handlers. The Free plan gives up to 1,000 credits a month, two active scenarios, and a 15-minute minimum interval. Paid usage starts at $9/mo for 5,000 credits, with 1-minute scheduling and unlimited active scenarios (Make pricing, checked October 6, 2026). Make AI Agents is in beta.
Pick it if you like n8n's visual style but do not want to host anything. Skip it if you need to self-host or keep data on your own servers.
Activepieces is the closest like-for-like swap for self-hosters. Code outside its enterprise folders is under the MIT license (Activepieces license), which is more permissive than n8n's. Cloud plans: Free with 1,000 credits a month, Plus at $20/mo flat for 10,000 credits and up to 5 users, Team at $200/mo for 50,000 credits (Activepieces pricing, checked October 6, 2026).
Pick it if you want open source you can embed or resell more freely. Skip it if you rely on n8n's deeper library of community nodes and code-heavy patterns.
Pipedream now positions itself as "the integration layer for AI agents," with 3,000+ connectors and 10,000+ prebuilt tools. The Free plan covers development only; Startup costs $99/mo ($90/mo billed annually) with 10,000 credits, at one credit per 30 seconds of compute (Pipedream pricing, checked October 6, 2026).
Pick it if you are a developer adding user-facing integrations to your own product or agent. Skip it if you want a no-code tool for internal business workflows.
Gumloop has shifted from workflows (now labeled "legacy" on its pricing page) to AI agents that work across your tools. Pro starts at $37/mo with 20k credits and a 14-day trial; Enterprise is custom (Gumloop pricing, checked October 6, 2026).
Pick it if your team wants agents for research, lead qualification, or content tasks. Skip it if you need deterministic, auditable step-by-step flows.
Lindy is an AI assistant that handles inbox, meetings, and tasks across 1,500+ integrations. The Free tier gives $50 in credits for 7 days; Team starts at $29.99/mo for 3,000 credits per active user (Lindy pricing, checked October 6, 2026).
Pick it if your "workflows" are really personal assistant work. Skip it if you need backend data syncs between systems.
About Relay.app: many older n8n-alternative lists recommend it. Relay.app's site now states it shut down in September 2026 (relay.app, checked October 6, 2026), so remove it from your shortlist.
Windmill turns Python, TypeScript, Go, and SQL scripts into workflows and internal apps. Its core is AGPLv3 (Windmill license); the open-source edition is free and Enterprise starts at $120/mo (Windmill pricing, checked October 6, 2026). Node-RED is a free, Apache 2.0 flow-based tool (Node-RED on GitHub), strongest for IoT, hardware, and event streams.
Pick them if you have engineers and want full code control. Skip them if nobody on the team writes code.
Workato does not publish prices; procurement data from Vendr puts entry-level Standard deals around $10,000–15,000 a year, as reported by Automation Atlas. Celigo prices by endpoints and flows rather than tasks, across Standard, Professional, and Enterprise editions, with a 30-day free trial (Celigo pricing, checked October 6, 2026).
Pick them if you need governed integrations across NetSuite, Salesforce, SAP, or Workday. Skip them if you are a small business, because the cost and rollout are sized for IT departments.
Choose n8n if you are technical, run high volumes, or need to self-host. Choose Zapier if non-developers will build and you need the widest app coverage.
| n8n | Zapier | |
|---|---|---|
| Billing unit | Execution (whole workflow run) | Task (each successful action) |
| Entry paid plan | €20/mo annually, 2,500 executions | $19.99/mo annually, 750 tasks |
| Free option | Self-hosted Community Edition | Free plan, 100 tasks/mo, two-step Zaps |
| Self-hosting | Yes | No |
| Apps | Built-in nodes plus HTTP and code | 9,000+ app connections |
| Learning curve | Steeper (JSON, expressions, code) | Gentle |
For long, multi-step workflows, n8n is usually cheaper because ten steps still count as one execution. For short two-step automations run by a marketer, Zapier is faster to set up. More options for marketers are in our marketing automation tools guide.
Yes, if you self-host the Community Edition for your own internal or personal use. n8n does not cap executions or workflows on it. You still pay for the server and your time to run it, and the Sustainable Use License does not allow you to sell n8n as a hosted service to others. n8n Cloud is not free: it has a trial with 1,000 executions, then paid plans from €20/mo billed annually (n8n pricing, checked October 6, 2026).
When self-hosting, plan for a VPS or container host, Postgres, backups, monitoring, and a routine for updates. If nobody owns that list, "free" becomes expensive the first time a workflow fails silently.
For a quick side-by-side, the Simplified channel's comparison sums up the split most buyers land on:
Zapier is a good starting point for non-tech users who are exploring automation. Make is more robust for building advanced scenarios for yourself, and n8n is even more advanced for the people who are more developed in code.
The video also explains the billing difference covered above: n8n charges per workflow execution, while Make and Zapier charge per operation or action. It was published in January 2025, so use the pricing table in this guide for current numbers.
The takeaway for buyers: the tool matters less than who designs, tests, and maintains the automation. That is the real choice behind every n8n alternative.
For a broader view of what to automate first, see how to automate business processes and our roundup of AI agentic tools for automation.
Dooza is an AI-native company that builds AI products and services for small businesses, from the Dooza Workforce app to the Dooza Agents platform. Every product starts with a refundable pilot: 100% refund within 14 days.
Dooza Workflow Automation is a Dooza Agents service: Dooza engineers build and maintain AI-powered workflows across 1,000+ app integrations. You get a visual workflow builder, built-in AI agents that classify, draft, decide, and act, human-in-the-loop approvals for sensitive steps, full run tracing, and custom code when visual steps are not enough. Dooza engineers can migrate your existing workflows for you during the pilot. For work that goes beyond a workflow, Dooza Agents builds custom AI agents. Security is simple: encrypted connections and your approval on anything sensitive.
The honest trade-off: if you enjoy building automations and have the time, a tool is cheaper. Activepieces, Make, or self-hosted n8n will cost less than any done-for-you service. Dooza fits when nobody on your team should be the automation engineer, and you would rather pay for working, maintained workflows than for another login. Pricing depends on the product; see /pricing. Every Dooza product starts with a refundable pilot — 100% refund within 14 days.
Comparing agent platforms too? Read our OpenClaw alternatives guide.
It depends on your team. Activepieces is the best open-source, self-hostable alternative; Zapier is the easiest no-code option; Make offers the most visual power per dollar; Workato and Celigo suit enterprises; and Dooza Workflow Automation suits small businesses that want engineers to build and maintain the workflows for them.
The self-hosted n8n Community Edition is free for internal business, personal, or non-commercial use under the Sustainable Use License, with no n8n execution limits. n8n Cloud has a free trial with 1,000 executions, then paid plans from €20/mo billed annually (checked October 6, 2026).
As of October 6, 2026, n8n Cloud Starter is €20/mo billed annually for 2,500 executions, Pro is €50/mo for 10,000 executions, the self-hosted Business plan is €667/mo for 40,000 executions, and Enterprise is custom. Monthly billing costs about 17% more.
n8n is better for technical teams, high-volume multi-step workflows, and self-hosting, because it bills per workflow execution rather than per action. Zapier is better for non-developers and for its 9,000+ app connections.
Not by the OSI definition. n8n is "fair-code" under the Sustainable Use License: the source is public and free to self-host for internal use, but you cannot offer it commercially to others without an agreement. Activepieces (MIT core), Windmill (AGPLv3), and Node-RED (Apache 2.0) are open-source alternatives.
Yes. Dooza Workflow Automation is a done-for-you service where Dooza engineers build and maintain AI-powered workflows across 1,000+ app integrations. Every Dooza product starts with a refundable pilot, 100% refund within 14 days.
A Dooza engineer scopes your workflows on a free 30-minute call, then builds them as a refundable pilot — 100% refund within 14 days. Book a free pilot call or see how Dooza Workflow Automation works.
It depends on your team. Activepieces is the best open-source, self-hostable alternative; Zapier is the easiest no-code option; Make offers the most visual power per dollar; Workato and Celigo suit enterprises; and Dooza Workflow Automation suits small businesses that want engineers to build and maintain the workflows for them.
The self-hosted n8n Community Edition is free for internal business, personal, or non-commercial use under the Sustainable Use License, with no n8n execution limits. n8n Cloud has a free trial with 1,000 executions, then paid plans from €20/mo billed annually (checked October 6, 2026).
As of October 6, 2026, n8n Cloud Starter is €20/mo billed annually for 2,500 executions, Pro is €50/mo for 10,000 executions, the self-hosted Business plan is €667/mo for 40,000 executions, and Enterprise is custom. Monthly billing costs about 17% more.
n8n is better for technical teams, high-volume multi-step workflows, and self-hosting, because it bills per workflow execution rather than per action. Zapier is better for non-developers and for its 9,000+ app connections.
Not by the OSI definition. n8n is "fair-code" under the Sustainable Use License: the source is public and free to self-host for internal use, but you cannot offer it commercially to others without an agreement. Activepieces (MIT core), Windmill (AGPLv3), and Node-RED (Apache 2.0) are open-source alternatives.
Yes. Dooza Workflow Automation is a done-for-you service where Dooza engineers build and maintain AI-powered workflows across 1,000+ app integrations. Every Dooza product starts with a refundable pilot, 100% refund within 14 days.
Automate your business with AI employees that work 24/7. Start with a refundable pilot: 100% refund within 14 days.
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Start with a refundable pilot — 100% refund within 14 days. A Dooza engineer scopes it with you on a free 30-minute call. Pricing depends on the product; see pricing.
Refundable pilot · 100% refund within 14 days · No contracts