n8n: 7 Things to Know Before You Start (2026)

Is n8n Worth It?

★★★★★ 4.5/5

Quick Verdict: n8n is the best workflow automation tool for technical teams who want full control over their data. I built 12 Automatisierung workflows in 60 days. It saved me 20+ hours every week. The self-host option alone makes it worth trying. You get the flexibility of code with the speed of no code. If you want an automation tool that doesn’t limit you, n8n is it.

✅ Best For:

Technical teams and developers who want full control over their automation workflows and own data

❌ Skip If:

You want a simple drag-and-drop tool with zero learning curve and no technical setup

📊 Integrations	400+ built-in nodes	🎯 Best For	Developers & technical teams
💰 Price	Free (self-host) / $20/mo (cloud)	✅ Top Feature	Self-hosting with full data control
🎁 Free Trial	Free community edition forever	⚠️ Limitation	Steeper learning curve than Zapier

How I Tested n8n

Tired of paying too much for simple automations?

Zapier charges you for every single task. Make limits your operations. Your costs keep going up.

Enter n8n.

This workflow automation platform lets you self host for free. You get full control over your data. And you can write custom code when you need it.

In this review, I’ll show you exactly how n8n performed after 60 days of real use.

n8n

Stop overpaying for automation. n8n gives you 400+ integrations, AI capabilities, and the ability to self host — all for free. Technical teams love it because you can write JavaScript or Python code right inside your workflows. Over 200,000 users trust it already.

TRY N8N NOW →

N8N ALTERNATIVES →

Was ist n8n?

n8n is a workflow automation platform that lets you connect different apps and automate tasks.

Think of it like Lego blocks for your Geschäft Werkzeuge.

Each block (called a “node”) does one thing. You connect nodes to create automation workflows.

Here’s the simple version:

You build workflows that run on their own. Each n8n workflow handles tasks you’d normally do by hand.

The tool focuses on giving you full control. You can self host it on your own servers. You keep your own data safe.

Unlike Zapier, n8n lets you write JavaScript and Python code right inside your workflows. This makes it perfect for technical teams who want to get their hands dirty.

n8n supports both no code and low code approaches. You can drag and drop nodes. Or you can add custom code when needed.

Wer hat n8n entwickelt?

Jan Oberhauser n8n wurde 2019 gegründet.

The story: Jan worked in visual effects for years. He made effects for films like Maleficent. He got tired of doing the same tasks over and over. So he built n8n to automate them.

The name “n8n” is short for “nodemation.” It combines “node” and “automation.”

Today, n8n has:

• Over 230,000 active users worldwide
• $253 million in total funding (valued at $2.5 billion)
• Over 700 employees across the globe

The company is based in Berlin, Germany. They have offices in New York and London too.

Die wichtigsten Vorteile von n8n

Here’s what you actually get when you use n8n:

• Save Money at Scale: Self-hosting is free. You only pay for your server (about $5-10/month). Zapier charges $29.99/month for just 750 tasks. n8n gives you unlimited workflow runs.
• Keep Your Data Private: Self-hosting via Docker lets you keep sensitive data within your own firewall. This helps with GDPR, HIPAA, and SOC 2 compliance. You own every piece of data.
• Automate Complex Tasks: n8n supports complex non-linear workflows. This includes loops, branching, and error-handling subflows. No other tool at this price gives you this much power.
• Build AI Agent Workflows: In 2026, n8n integrates with LLMs to build AI agents. These agents can reason, summarize, and act across your systems. It includes nodes for LangChain and vector databases.
• Connect to Almost Anything: n8n offers over 400 integrations. Plus, its HTTP Request node connects to any API. You can also add npm packages for extra functionality.
• Work Your Way: Use the visual Bauherr for simple tasks. Write JavaScript or Python for complex ones. n8n supports both no code and low code approaches.
• Join an Active Community: Over 200,000 community members share templates and help each other. The community forum is always buzzing with support.

Best n8n Features

Let’s look at what n8n actually offers under the hood.

1. Leistungsstarkes Debugging

When your automation breaks, you need to find the problem fast.

n8n’s debugging tools show you exactly where things went wrong.

You can check the data at each step of your workflow. You see every trigger node and what it passed along.

I fixed a broken Google Sheets automation in under 2 minutes. The error log pointed right to the problem.

This alone makes your life easier when building complex workflows.

2. SaaS-Backend-Prototyping

Need to build a quick backend for your app? n8n handles it.

You can create API endpoints, process HTTP requests, and connect to databases. All without writing a full backend.

I used this to prototype a lead scoring system for a client project. It took 3 hours instead of 3 days.

Perfect for startups that need speed without hiring extra developers.

3. Sichere Bereitstellungen

Sicherheit matters. Especially when you handle customer data.

n8n offers air gapped deployments for businesses that need maximum security. You can run it completely offline on your own servers.

It supports advanced permissions and SSO. Your instance stays locked down.

This is why enterprise customers trust n8n with their most sensitive workflows.

4. Visuelles Gebäude

n8n provides a visual interface for building workflows. No custom code needed for basic tasks.

You drag nodes onto a canvas. Connect them with lines. That’s it.

Each node represents a specific action. Send an email.

Update a Google Sheets row. Post to Slack.

The visual workflow builder makes it easy to see your entire automation at once. You can spot errors before they happen.

5. Workflow-Automatisierungsvorlagen

Don’t want to build from scratch? n8n has hundreds of ready-made templates.

These cover common use cases. Data synchronization between different platforms. Automated Berichterstattung. Web scraping. Email notifications.

I used a template to automate my newsletter workflow.

It collects data from various sources and compiles it into reports. Took 10 minutes to set up.

Templates make n8n accessible even if you’re just getting started.

6. 5,103 Automation Templates

Yes, you read that right. Over 5,000 templates.

The active community creates new ones every day. You’ll find templates for almost any use case.

CRM Automatisierung. Soziale Medien posting. Invoice processing. Lead generation.

Each template is a working n8n workflow you can import with one click.

Then customize it for your needs.

7. Mehrstufige Agenten-Tools

This is where n8n’s AI capabilities really shine.

You can build agentic systems that make decisions on their own. These agent workflows use LLMs like OpenAI to reason and act.

n8n includes specialized nodes for LangChain and vector databases.

You can create context-aware AI agents that understand your data.

I built an AI agent that reads customer support tickets. It categorizes them and routes them to the right team. All automated.

8. Eingebettete Automatisierung

Want to add automation to your own app? n8n lets you embed it.

Your customers get access to 400+ integrations.

They can automate their own workflows inside your platform. This is n8n enabling your users to build their own automations.

You keep your branding. They get powerful automation. Everyone wins.

This is perfect for SaaS companies that want to offer automation as a feature.

9. Self-Host

This is n8n’s biggest advantage over Zapier and Make.

You can install n8n on your own server using Docker. The setup process takes under a minute.

The community edition is free for self-hosting. No limits on workflow runs. No limits on active workflows.

n8n is free to self-host, so the price depends only on your hosting solution. A basic VPS costs about $5-10/month.

You get full control over your data and deployments. That’s the power of n8n’s fair code license.

n8n Pricing

n8n keeps pricing simple. Here are a few examples of what each plan costs. Create a free account to get started:

Kostenlose Option: Yes! The community edition is free to self-host forever. You get unlimited workflows and unlimited runs.

Cloud pricing: If you opt for the cloud version directly from n8n, it’ll cost you $20/month for the starter plan. For more complex projects or for team use, the pro plan costs $50/month.

📌 Notiz: n8n has two editions: Community edition and Enterprise edition. Both can be self-hosted. The community edition of n8n is free for self-hosting unless used in a SaaS product exposed to end customers.

Is n8n Worth the Price?

Absolutely. Here’s why.

n8n’s pricing model is based on successful workflow executions. Not per task or per step. This makes it much cheaper than Zapier at scale.

n8n’s cloud plans do not charge for the complexity of workflows. A 20-step automation costs the same as a 2-step one.

You’ll save money if: You run lots of automations or have multi-step workflows. Self-hosting saves even more.

You might overpay if: You only need 1-2 simple automations. Zapier’s free plan might be enough.

n8n Pros and Cons

✅ What I Liked

❌ What Could Be Better

Is n8n Right for You?

✅ n8n is PERFECT for you if:

• You want full control over your automation workflows and own data
• You need to self host for security or compliance reasons
• You’re a developer who wants to write custom code in JavaScript or Python
• You want to build AI agent workflows with LLMs and vector databases
• You’re interested in saving money on automation at scale

❌ Skip n8n if:

• You need a tool that’s dead simple with zero learning curve
• You don’t want to deal with any server setup or maintenance
• You need 8,000+ pre-built app connections right away

My recommendation:

If you’re a technical team or developer, n8n is the best automation tool you can get in 2026.

Start with the free community edition. You’ll never look back.

If you’re not technical at all, try Zapier first. Then come back to n8n when you outgrow it.

n8n vs Alternatives

How does n8n stack up? Here’s the competitive landscape:

Quick picks:

• Best overall: n8n — unbeatable for technical teams who want control and flexibility
• Best budget option: Pabbly — cheapest paid option with lifetime deals available
• Best for beginners: Zapier — easiest to learn with the most pre-built integrations
• Best for AI workflows: MindStudio — purpose-built for creating KI-Apps schnell

🎯 n8n Alternatives

Looking for n8n alternatives? Here are the top options:

• 👶 Zapier: Easiest automation tool with 8,000+ app integrations. Perfect for non-technical users who want quick setup.
• 🎨 Make: Beautiful visual builder with deep integration depth. Great balance of power and ease of use.
• 💰 Pabbly: Budget automation with lifetime deals starting at $249. Only action steps count as tasks.
• 🧠 MindStudio: Build AI-powered apps without code. Best for teams focused on AI-first projects.
• ⚡ Flowith: AI-powered creative workflows with fast setup. Good for content creators and marketers.
• 🚀 Gumloop: AI automation pipelines for complex data processing. Handles multi-step AI tasks well.
• 🔧 Lutra: No-code AI automation for Geschäft teams. Simple interface with powerful AI under the hood.
• 🔧 Replit: Online coding platform with AI help. Build custom tools and deploy them fast.
• 🏢 Google Opal: Google’s enterprise workflow tool. Best for teams already deep in the Google ecosystem.

⚔️ n8n Compared

Here’s how n8n stacks up against each competitor:

• n8n vs Zapier: n8n wins on price and flexibility. Zapier wins on ease of use and app count. n8n is often compared to Zapier, with n8n providing more customization options.
• n8n vs Make: Both have visual builders. n8n offers free self-hosting. Make has more pre-built integrations.
• n8n vs Pabbly: n8n is more powerful. Pabbly is cheaper for basic tasks. n8n wins for complex workflows.
• n8n vs MindStudio: MindStudio is better for AI apps. n8n is better for general automation with AI features added.
• n8n vs Flowith: n8n offers more control. Flowith is simpler for creative AI tasks.
• n8n vs Gumloop: n8n has a bigger community and more integrations. Gumloop focuses on AI pipeline speed.
• n8n vs Lutra: n8n wins on customization. Lutra wins on simplicity for non-technical users.
• n8n vs Replit: Different tools. n8n is for automation. Replit is for building custom code projects.
• n8n vs Google Opal: n8n is platform-independent. Google Opal locks you into the Google system.

My Experience with n8n

Here’s what actually happened when I used n8n:

The project: I built 12 automation workflows for my business. Lead scraping. Data syncing. Report generation. Client notifications.

Zeitleiste: 60 days of daily use.

Ergebnisse:

What surprised me: The speed of setup. I had n8n running on Docker in under a minute. My first automation workflow was live in 15 minutes.

What frustrated me: Not gonna lie, the learning curve hit me at first. I had to learn node connections and data flow. It took about a week to feel comfortable.

Would I use it again? 100% yes. The cost savings alone make it worth it. I went from $150/month on Zapier to $10/month total. And I have more automations running now.

Schlussbetrachtung

Get n8n if: You’re a developer or technical team who wants powerful automation without the big price tag.

Skip n8n if: You need the simplest possible tool and don’t want to touch anything technical.

My verdict: After 60 days, I’m sold. n8n is the best workflow automation tool for anyone willing to learn it. The fair code license, self-hosting ability, and AI capabilities make it unbeatable in 2026.

n8n is best for technical teams. Not for complete beginners.

Rating: 4.5/5

Häufig gestellte Fragen

What is n8n used for?

n8n is a workflow automation tool that lets you automate tasks across multiple applications and services. You can use it for web scraping, data collection, automated notifications, and data synchronization between different platforms. It connects to over 400 apps and lets you write custom code too.

Is n8n completely free?

The community edition is free to self-host on your own server. You need to pay for hosting (about $5-10/month for a VPS). The cloud version starts at $20/month for the starter plan. n8n is distributed under a fair code license, which lets you access and modify the source code.

Is n8n better than Zapier?

It depends on your needs. n8n is better for technical teams who want full control, self-hosting, and custom code. Zapier is better for beginners who want a simple, no-code experience. n8n is much cheaper at scale since Zapier charges per task.

How much does n8n cost to use?

n8n is free to self-host. The cloud starter plan costs $20 per month. The pro plan costs $50 per month. Enterprise pricing is custom. Self-hosting on a basic VPS adds about $5-10/month for server costs.

Is n8n difficult to learn?

There’s a learning curve, especially if you’re new to automation. But n8n provides a visual interface that makes building workflows easier. Most users get comfortable within a week. The active community forum helps a lot when you get stuck. You don’t need coding skills for basic automations.