n8n
Build automations that connect APIs, webhooks and AI models in a visual editor you can self-host.
Is n8n free?
The self-hosted Community Edition is free under n8n's Sustainable Use License; install it with Docker or npm. Registering it gives a free license key for folders and debugging in the editor. n8n Cloud has no free plan, only a 14-day trial.
The catch
The license allows internal business, personal or non-commercial use only; you can't resell it or host it as a paid service. Self-hosting means you run the server, updates, backups and security, and SSO, Git version control and environments are paid.
Best for
- Internal automations between SaaS tools, databases and webhooks
- AI agent and LLM workflows that call your own APIs
- Scheduled jobs and data syncs on your own server
- Keeping workflow data on infrastructure you control
How to start
- Run n8n with Docker or Docker Compose (npm also works)
- Open the editor in your browser and create the owner account
- Register your Community Edition for the free license key
- Build a workflow from a trigger node (webhook or schedule) and activate it
Paid cloud plans start at Starter (€20/month, 2,500 executions) and Pro (€50/month, 10,000 executions), billed annually. When a cloud trial ends without an upgrade, the workspace is deleted, but you can download your workflows for 90 days.
Free plans change often. Confirm the current limits on n8n's own pricing page before you rely on them.
n8n: common questions
Is n8n free?
Yes, if you self-host it. The Community Edition is free under the Sustainable Use License. n8n Cloud is paid after a 14-day trial.
What are the n8n free limits?
Self-hosted Community Edition has no published execution cap, so your server is the limit. It lacks paid features like SSO, Git version control and environments.
Can I use n8n for commercial use?
You can use it for your own company's internal business. You can't sell it, host it as a paid service or redistribute it commercially without a separate license.
Checked against: n8n.io, github.com, docs.n8n.io