n8n pricing works differently from every other automation tool in this space. Because n8n is open source, the self-hosted version is genuinely free — no execution limits, no workflow caps, no expiry. The cloud-hosted version is paid and operates on an execution-based model similar to Make.com. Understanding which side of that line you’re on is the most important pricing decision you’ll make.
This guide covers all n8n pricing tiers with accurate numbers, explains how executions are counted, and compares n8n’s real cost to Make.com and Zapier so you can make an informed decision.
n8n Pricing Plans: All Tiers at a Glance
n8n offers two fundamentally different products: self-hosted (free) and n8n Cloud (paid). Within Cloud, there are three tiers.
| Plan | Monthly Price | Workflow Executions | Active Workflows | Users |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Self-Hosted (Community) | $0 | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Cloud Starter | $24/mo ($20 annual) | 2,500/month | 5 active | 1 |
| Cloud Pro | $60/mo ($50 annual) | 10,000/month | Unlimited | 5 |
| Cloud Enterprise | Custom | Custom | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Prices verified April 2026. Always check n8n.io/pricing for the latest rates as n8n periodically adjusts Cloud pricing.
n8n Self-Hosted: The Free Tier That’s Actually Free
Self-hosted n8n is the community edition. You run it on your own server — a $5–$10/month VPS, a home server, or a cloud instance you already pay for — and the software itself costs nothing.
What you actually get for free:
- Unlimited workflow executions — no monthly caps, no overage charges
- Unlimited active workflows — build and run as many as you need
- All 400+ integrations — the same app library as the paid cloud version
- Unlimited users — no per-seat pricing
- Full visual workflow builder — n8n’s core node-based interface
The real cost of self-hosted n8n is infrastructure and maintenance. You need a server (DigitalOcean Droplet, Hetzner, or Railway all work), you need to handle updates, and you’re responsible for uptime. For technical users comfortable with a one-time setup, this is an exceptionally strong deal. For non-technical teams who want a hosted product with no server management, the Cloud plans make sense despite the higher cost.
n8n Cloud Starter ($24/month): Who It’s For
The Starter plan gives you 2,500 workflow executions per month, 5 active workflows, and 1 user seat for $24/month on a monthly subscription ($20/month billed annually).
What counts as an execution: each time a workflow completes a full run from trigger to finish is one execution. Unlike Make.com’s operation model (where each module step counts separately), n8n counts the whole workflow run as one execution. A 10-node workflow that runs 100 times uses 100 executions — not 1,000.
This is an important advantage: n8n’s execution model is more predictable than Make.com’s operation model for complex workflows. A heavily-branching n8n workflow with loops still costs one execution per run; the equivalent Make.com scenario could consume dozens of operations per run.
Starter is appropriate for:
- Solo founders running 5 or fewer core automations
- Teams evaluating n8n before self-hosting
- Low-frequency but critical workflows (weekly reports, daily syncs)
- Anyone who needs cloud hosting but wants to stay under $25/month
At 2,500 executions/month, Starter works out to about $0.0096 per execution — under 1 cent. The constraint is the 5 active workflow limit. If you need more than 5 workflows, you’re looking at Pro.
n8n Cloud Pro ($60/month): When Starter Isn’t Enough
The Pro plan unlocks 10,000 executions/month, unlimited active workflows, and up to 5 user seats for $60/month (or $50/month on an annual plan).
The jump from Starter to Pro is $36/month for the equivalent monthly billing ($30/month at annual). What you gain:
- Unlimited active workflows — the most significant unlock. Starter’s 5-workflow cap is the binding constraint for most growing teams.
- 4× more executions — 10,000 vs 2,500
- 4 additional user seats — collaborate without sharing credentials
- Priority support — faster response times for production issues
For most SMB teams with real automation volume, Pro is the practical starting point. Starter is often too constrained for production use beyond the simplest setups.
n8n Pricing vs Make.com vs Zapier: Real Comparison
Here is how n8n Cloud compares to the two dominant tools in the market:
| Tool | Entry Paid Tier | Monthly Cost | Volume Included | Self-Hosted Option |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| n8n Cloud Starter | Starter | $24/mo | 2,500 executions | Yes (free) |
| Make.com Core | Core | $10.59/mo | 10,000 operations | No |
| Zapier Starter | Starter | $19.99/mo | 750 tasks | No |
At face value, Make.com Core looks significantly cheaper than n8n Cloud Starter. But the comparison is more nuanced:
- n8n executions ≠ Make.com operations. A 10-module Make.com scenario uses 10 operations per run. A 10-node n8n workflow uses 1 execution per run. For complex workflows, n8n’s cloud pricing may actually be more cost-effective.
- n8n’s self-hosted path is uniquely strong. Make.com and Zapier have no self-hosted option. If your team can manage a server, n8n is free at any volume level.
- n8n Pro vs Make.com Teams is closer. At 10,000 executions for $60/month vs 10,000 operations for $34.12/month (Make.com Teams), Make.com is cheaper — but again the execution vs operation count difference matters for your specific workflow complexity.
For a complete side-by-side comparison of features and real-world switching costs, see our Make.com vs n8n (2026) and n8n vs Make.com vs Zapier three-way comparison.
Is n8n Worth It? When to Choose Each Path
Choose n8n self-hosted if: You or someone on your team is comfortable setting up a Linux server, you’re running high-volume automations that would blow through any cloud plan’s limits, or you’re building automation infrastructure for a SaaS product where n8n runs as a backend component. The free price tag and unlimited scale are unmatched.
Choose n8n Cloud Starter if: You want n8n’s visual builder and JavaScript custom functions without managing a server, your automation volume is modest (under 2,500 runs/month), and 5 workflows is enough for your use case.
Choose n8n Cloud Pro if: You need unlimited workflows, have a small team, or want a production-grade cloud setup without DevOps overhead. $50/month annually for 10,000 executions across unlimited workflows is a competitive price for teams with real automation needs.
Choose Make.com Core instead if: You want the most affordable cloud-hosted option with a polished UI and don’t need JavaScript custom code. Make.com Core at $10.59/month is cheaper for simple to moderate workflows, though n8n’s self-hosted tier beats it outright if infrastructure is manageable. See our Make.com vs Zapier Pricing 2026 guide for the full Make.com pricing breakdown.
Bottom Line: n8n Pricing 2026 (Quick Verdict)
n8n’s biggest pricing advantage is its self-hosted tier: free forever with no execution limits, no active workflow caps, and no per-seat pricing. For technical teams, this is the most cost-effective automation option in the market at any volume. For teams that want cloud hosting, n8n Cloud starts at $24/month (Starter, 2,500 executions, 5 workflows) and $60/month (Pro, 10,000 executions, unlimited workflows). The execution-based pricing model is more predictable than Make.com’s operation-per-module model for complex, multi-node workflows. n8n Cloud is priced higher than Make.com Core at the entry tier but offers JavaScript custom code, a more developer-friendly node system, and a genuinely free self-hosted path that no other major automation platform can match.
Frequently Asked Questions: n8n Pricing
Is n8n free?
Yes — the self-hosted community edition of n8n is free. It runs on your own infrastructure and has no execution limits, no workflow caps, and no user limits. The only costs are your server hosting fees, which can be as low as $5–$10/month on providers like DigitalOcean or Hetzner. n8n Cloud (the fully-managed hosted version) is paid, starting at $24/month for the Starter plan.
How does n8n count executions?
n8n counts one execution per complete workflow run, regardless of how many nodes (steps) the workflow contains. A 15-node workflow that runs once is one execution. This differs from Make.com, which counts each module as one operation per run, and Zapier, which counts each action step as one task. For complex, multi-step workflows, n8n’s execution model is more economical than Make.com’s operation model.
What is the difference between n8n Community and n8n Cloud?
n8n Community is the self-hosted open-source version — free, no limits, but requires you to manage your own server and handle updates. n8n Cloud is the fully-managed hosted version — paid subscription, automatic updates, support included, no server management required. Both versions use the same workflow builder and have access to the same 400+ integrations.
Is n8n cheaper than Make.com?
It depends on how you use it. n8n self-hosted is cheaper than any Make.com plan because it’s free. On Cloud plans, Make.com Core ($10.59/month for 10,000 operations) is cheaper than n8n Cloud Starter ($24/month for 2,500 executions) at first glance — but n8n executions and Make.com operations measure different things. For complex workflows with many nodes per run, n8n may actually cost less per real workflow run. See our Make.com vs n8n comparison for a workflow-by-workflow cost analysis.
Can I switch from Zapier to n8n?
Yes. n8n supports most of the same apps as Zapier through native integrations and HTTP nodes. The main adjustment is the visual node editor, which has a steeper learning curve than Zapier’s linear step builder. For teams with technical resources, the switch is manageable and the cost savings (especially on the self-hosted path) can be substantial. For non-technical teams, Make.com may be a more accessible Zapier alternative.
Does n8n offer a free trial for Cloud?
Yes, n8n Cloud typically offers a free trial period before requiring payment. Trial terms change, so check n8n.io/pricing for current trial availability. The self-hosted community edition can also serve as an extended trial environment since it has no time limits.