Automation Review

n8n Review: Open-source workflow automation with self-hosting and a fair-code license.

n8n is the automation tool for people who find Zapier too limited and too expensive. Self-host it for free, write custom nodes in JavaScript, and build workflows as complex as you need. The fair-code license is a minor gotcha if you are strict about open source.

Best for

Developers and teams wanting full control over their automation infrastructure.

Pricing

Free self-hosted + Cloud from €20/mo

Rating

4.3/5

Pros

  • Free self-hosted option

  • Write custom nodes in JavaScript

  • More flexible than Zapier/Make

  • Active community

Cons

  • Self-hosting requires maintenance

  • Fair-code license (not pure OSS)

  • Cloud pricing less competitive than Make

Verdict

n8n is worth considering if your priority is: Developers and teams wanting full control over their automation infrastructure.

Disclosure: this page may contain affiliate links. We only recommend tools that fit a clear use case.