Tool page

n8n

Item: n8n
Rating: 4.7

Open source automation that doesn't lock you into Zapier.

Category: Stack
Pricing: €0 (self-hosted) · Freemium
How often: Every week
My rating: 4.7 out of 5

Try n8n (official site, new tab)

In short

n8n is the best alternative to Zapier/Make for a dev. Self-hosted = zero cost, full control, GDPR.

Ideal for: Developers and ops people who want to automate without depending on a closed SaaS
Use case: Connecting APIs, workflow automation, scraping, notifications, light ETL

What it costs

Entry price: €0 (self-hosted). Prices taken from the official site, excluding tax.

What it costs
Plan	Per month	Per year	For whom
Self-hosted (Community)	€0	–	Developers who can manage a VPS
Starter (Cloud)	€20	–	Small teams without their own infrastructure
Pro (Cloud) · Recommended	€50	–	Teams with regular automation needs

Alternatives I ruled out

Alternatives I ruled out
Alternative	Why I did not keep it
Zapier	Zapier for non-technical teams. n8n for any dev who wants control and GDPR. Better at: Over 5,000 integrations, very simple UI, premium support Worse at: Completely closed, high price ($19-$799/month), no custom code, limited logs
Make (ex-Integromat)	Make for a nicer UI in the cloud. n8n for full control and self-hosting. Better at: More visual UI, better templates, more generous free plan on the cloud Worse at: Not open source, self-hosting is complicated, less flexible on custom code

Strengths and limits

Pros

Self-hosted: unlimited executions at €0 on your own VPS
Custom code: insert JS or Python directly in a node
400+ native integrations (Stripe, GitHub, Google Sheets, Notion, Slack…)
GDPR-friendly: all the data stays on your server
Active community, regular updates

Cons

Server management is on you if self-hosted (maintenance, updates)
The UI slows down on workflows with more than 50 nodes
Fewer ready-to-use templates than Make or Zapier

Compatibility

macOS : compatible
Windows : compatible
Linux : compatible
Browser : compatible
API : compatible
n8n : compatible

Frequently asked questions

Is n8n really free?

Self-hosted, yes: unlimited workflows, unlimited executions. You only pay for your VPS (€5-10/month). n8n Cloud is paid.

Do you need to be a developer to use n8n?

Basic use (drag & drop) is accessible. But to get the most out of the Code nodes (JS/Python) and webhooks, some technical background helps.

Is n8n GDPR compliant?

Self-hosted: yes, your data never leaves your server. On the cloud: their servers are in the EU, and their GDPR policy is published.

Final verdict

The best automation tool for a dev in 2026. Self-hosted = total freedom, GDPR, €0 license.

I recommend it to: Developers and ops people who want serious automation without paying Zapier $99/month.
Not suited for: Non-technical teams who want plug-and-play without server management.
Value for money: Excellent · 4.7 out of 5

Other tools on the workbench

Stack · €0
Docker
Stack · €0
Appwrite
Stack · €0
Firebase

What it costs

Entry price: €0 (self-hosted). Prices taken from the official site, excluding tax.

What it costs
Plan	Per month	Per year	For whom
Self-hosted (Community)	€0	–	Developers who can manage a VPS
Starter (Cloud)	€20	–	Small teams without their own infrastructure
Pro (Cloud) · Recommended	€50	–	Teams with regular automation needs

Alternatives I ruled out

Alternatives I ruled out
Alternative	Why I did not keep it
Zapier	Zapier for non-technical teams. n8n for any dev who wants control and GDPR. Better at: Over 5,000 integrations, very simple UI, premium support Worse at: Completely closed, high price ($19-$799/month), no custom code, limited logs
Make (ex-Integromat)	Make for a nicer UI in the cloud. n8n for full control and self-hosting. Better at: More visual UI, better templates, more generous free plan on the cloud Worse at: Not open source, self-hosting is complicated, less flexible on custom code

Strengths and limits

Pros

Self-hosted: unlimited executions at €0 on your own VPS
Custom code: insert JS or Python directly in a node
400+ native integrations (Stripe, GitHub, Google Sheets, Notion, Slack…)
GDPR-friendly: all the data stays on your server
Active community, regular updates

Cons

Server management is on you if self-hosted (maintenance, updates)
The UI slows down on workflows with more than 50 nodes
Fewer ready-to-use templates than Make or Zapier

Frequently asked questions

Is n8n really free?

Self-hosted, yes: unlimited workflows, unlimited executions. You only pay for your VPS (€5-10/month). n8n Cloud is paid.

Do you need to be a developer to use n8n?

Basic use (drag & drop) is accessible. But to get the most out of the Code nodes (JS/Python) and webhooks, some technical background helps.

Is n8n GDPR compliant?

Self-hosted: yes, your data never leaves your server. On the cloud: their servers are in the EU, and their GDPR policy is published.

Final verdict

The best automation tool for a dev in 2026. Self-hosted = total freedom, GDPR, €0 license.

I recommend it to: Developers and ops people who want serious automation without paying Zapier $99/month.
Not suited for: Non-technical teams who want plug-and-play without server management.
Value for money: Excellent · 4.7 out of 5

n8n

In short

What it costs

Alternatives I ruled out

Strengths and limits

Pros

Cons

Compatibility

Frequently asked questions

Final verdict

Other tools on the workbench

Docker

Appwrite

Firebase

n8n

In short

What it costs

Alternatives I ruled out

Strengths and limits

Pros

Cons

Compatibility

Frequently asked questions

Final verdict

Other tools on the workbench

Docker

Appwrite

Firebase