Linked steps on a large canvas
Each step is a box: a trigger, then actions. Next to each box you see what goes in and what comes out. The catalog has more than 2,200 apps and steps.
AI tools · Automation
n8n pricing, use cases, and first steps
n8n connects your apps so they work together, like Make or Zapier. You place steps on a large canvas and link them. What sets it apart: your company can install it on its own server, for free, and so keep all its data in-house. There is also an online version, hosted in Germany.
n8n has a free plan. The recommended plan to start with: Starter, €24 per month (€20 per month if billed yearly). Prices checked on October 5, 2026 on the vendor’s official page.
n8nAutomation you can host yourself- Vendor
- n8n (Germany)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Recommended plan
- Starter, €24 per month (€20 per month if billed yearly)
- Page checked on
- October 5, 2026
What n8n does
Who it’s for: companies that have a technical person and want to stay in control of their data and their costs.
n8n Assistant: describe instead of build
You describe the automation in a chat. The assistant builds it, tests it, and helps you fix errors. It asks for your approval before publishing or deleting. This is a preview version: it can make mistakes.
Templates ready to adapt
The public library has more than 12,000 ready-made workflows, sorted by job and by app. You import one and connect your accounts.
Also
- AI agents alongside your workflows
- Your approval before a sensitive action
- Host it yourself
- Code only when you need it
- Chat Hub: talk to agents without seeing the machinery
n8n pricing
n8n publishes its prices in euros. On October 4, 2026, the pricing page shows only the yearly-billed prices up front (€20, €50, and €667 per month, which is 17% less); the monthly no-commitment prices come from our check on October 3. The online trial lasts 14 days, according to n8n’s help pages, and requires no credit card. An execution is one complete run of the workflow, whatever the number of steps. Companies with fewer than 20 employees can request a 50% discount on Business.
| Plan | Price | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Community (self-hosted) | €0 | A company that has someone to install and maintain it |
| Starter Recommended to start | €24 per month (€20 per month if billed yearly) | One person or a small project, hosted by n8n |
| Pro | €60 per month (€50 per month if billed yearly) | A small team whose work depends on its automations |
| Business | €800 per month (€667 per month if billed yearly) | A company with fewer than 100 employees, self-hosted only |
| Enterprise | Custom pricing | Large organizations, online or self-hosted |
What the free plan includes
Self-hosted, n8n is free with the Community edition, which includes almost every feature. Online, there is no lasting free plan: a 14-day trial with 1,000 executions, no credit card.
Nova’s advice
Run the 14-day online trial before any installation. If the tool suits you and nobody can host it for you, Starter is enough to begin. If confidentiality comes first and you have an IT team, ask them for the Community edition.
Free or paid: how usage is counted
You pay for a number of runs per month: a run counts as one, even with thirty steps.
A first try, in 20 minutes
Your data. Online, your data is hosted in Frankfurt, in the European Union. Self-hosted, the data it processes stays on your server.
What it does less well
- It is the most demanding of the three major automation tools. Without a technical person at your side, start with Zapier or Make instead.
- The documentation and step names are in English.
A submitted form creates a row and sends an emailn8n- Open n8n Cloud and choose “Start from Scratch.”
- If the “n8n Assistant” is shown, paste the prompt below into its chat and let it lay out the steps. Otherwise, continue by hand.
- Click “Add first step,” search for “Form,” and choose “n8n Form Trigger.” Add the fields Name, Email, and Need.
- Click the + to the right of the step, search for “Google Sheets,” and choose the action that adds a row. Connect your Google account.
- In the same way, add a “Gmail” step that sends a message.
- Click “Execute Workflow,” fill in the form, and check the row and the email. Then click “Publish.”
The prompt to copy
Create a workflow: when someone fills in a form with their name, email, and what they need, add a row to my Google Sheets file “Request tracker,” then send me an email that summarizes the request. Ask me before publishing.
Jobs that use n8n
In the starter kit for one job.
Alternatives to n8n
Frequently asked questions about n8n
How much does n8n cost?
Community (self-hosted): €0; Starter: €24 per month (€20 per month if billed yearly); Pro: €60 per month (€50 per month if billed yearly); Business: €800 per month (€667 per month if billed yearly); Enterprise: custom pricing. Prices checked on October 5, 2026 on the vendor’s official page.
Can you use n8n for free?
Yes. Self-hosted, n8n is free with the Community edition, which includes almost every feature. Online, there is no lasting free plan: a 14-day trial with 1,000 executions, no credit card.
What happens to my data with n8n?
Online, your data is hosted in Frankfurt, in the European Union. Self-hosted, the data it processes stays on your server.
What are the alternatives to n8n?
Zapier: The simplest way to start on your own, with no installation at all. Make: Visual and affordable, with no server to look after and data hosted in Europe. Lindy: If you want an assistant that acts in Slack, without building anything.
Official pages consulted
Page checked on October 5, 2026. Brands are named to identify the tools. No affiliation.