n8n is the automation platform technical teams graduate to: a visual workflow builder with 400+ integrations, full code access when you need it, self-hosting when you demand it, and native AI-agent nodes that turned it into the backbone of the agentic automation wave.

n8n (pronounced "n-eight-n") connects apps and APIs through a node-based canvas: triggers start workflows, nodes transform and route data, and JavaScript or Python drops in anywhere the visual layer runs out. Unlike closed rivals, its fair-code license lets you self-host the entire platform, keeping sensitive data on your infrastructure with no per-task metering.

Its AI capabilities are first-class, not bolted on: LangChain-based nodes compose LLM calls, memory, vector stores, and tools into agents inside normal workflows, so an AI step can sit between your CRM trigger and your Slack alert. That mix of deterministic automation and agentic reasoning is exactly what production AI systems need, and why n8n's community templates exploded.

Who is it for?

Developers and ops engineers automating seriously, teams with data that cannot leave their infrastructure, and builders shipping AI agents that must interact with real business systems reliably.

How much does n8n cost?

Self-hosted community edition is free. n8n Cloud starts around €20 per month for solid execution volumes, with Pro and Enterprise tiers adding scale, SSO, and support, priced per workflow execution rather than per task, which gets cheap fast at volume.

Our verdict

For technical users, n8n is the best automation value in existence, and currently the most practical home for production AI agents. Non-technical teams may prefer Zapier's hand-holding; everyone else should start here.