n8n has a free self-hosted version and paid plans. The details below come from n8n's own pricing page and documentation, checked on November 5, 2026. Prices were shown in euros and billed annually. Plans change often, so confirm on n8n's pricing page before you buy.
The short answer
- Is n8n free? The self-hosted Community Edition has no price, but you pay for your own server
- Cheapest Cloud plan: Starter, shown as €20 per month when billed annually, with 2.5K executions per month
- Next step up: Pro, shown as €50 per month billed annually, with 10K executions
- What you pay for: the number of workflow executions, not the number of steps or workflows
- Free trial: n8n Cloud offers a trial with no credit card needed, according to its pricing page
What Is an n8n Execution?
n8n says an execution is a single run of your entire workflow. A workflow with 20 nodes that runs once counts as one execution, and complexity does not change the count. This makes n8n different from tools that charge for each step. If your workflow runs every hour, that is about 720 executions in a 30-day month.
n8n Plans at a Glance
Community Edition
Free to self-host from GitHub. You run it on your own server.
Starter
Cloud, 2.5K executions per month, 5 concurrent executions, 1 shared project.
Pro
Cloud, 10K executions per month, more concurrent executions, 3 shared projects.
Business
40K executions per month, SSO, Git version control and more. The page shows it as self-hosted only.
On the pricing page, all plans include unlimited users and workflows and all integrations. Starter was shown at €20 per month, Pro at €50 per month, and Business at €667 per month, all billed annually. The page showed a Monthly option too, but only annual prices were visible when I checked. Enterprise is custom, so you contact sales.
Is n8n Free? What the Community Edition Includes
According to n8n's documentation, the Community Edition has "almost the complete feature set" of n8n. You install it yourself, so you pay for the server, not for n8n. If you register your email, you can get a free license key that adds extra features such as folders and debugging in the editor.
Features that are paid only, according to n8n's docs, include:
- Projects and sharing of workflows and credentials
- SSO (SAML and LDAP)
- Git version control and environments
- External secrets and log streaming
- Custom variables and multi-main mode
n8n Free Trial
n8n's pricing page says the Cloud trial includes Pro-level features with 1,000 executions, and needs no credit card. A separate 14-day Business trial asks for a credit card. Some Pro features are not included in the trial, such as admin roles and the public API.
n8n Cloud vs Self-Hosted: Which Costs Less?
- Choose Cloud if you want to start fast, do not want to manage a server, and run a modest number of workflows
- Choose self-hosted if you are comfortable with servers, want more control, and run many workflows
- Remember the hidden cost of self-hosting: your server, backups, updates and your own time
Self-hosting is cheaper on paper, but you become the person who fixes it when it breaks. For a first project, many beginners start on a trial or the Starter plan and move later.
Can You Use n8n for Business Work? The License
n8n uses the Sustainable Use License. In plain terms, you can use it for your own internal business purposes or personal and non-commercial use. You cannot sell access to it or offer it to customers as a paid hosted service. Building automations for your own business is fine. If you plan to resell n8n itself, read the license and ask n8n first. This is not legal advice.
How to Choose the Right Plan
- Learning and testing: start with the free trial or a self-hosted Community Edition
- Solo creator or freelancer: Starter is usually enough while you have a few workflows
- Growing, with more workflows or teammates: Pro adds more executions and projects
- A company needing SSO and version control: look at Business or Enterprise
Quick way to estimate: multiply how often each workflow runs per month, add them all up, and compare the total with the plan's execution limit.
How Many Executions Do You Need?
- A workflow that runs once a day: about 30 executions a month
- A workflow that runs every hour: about 720 a month
- A workflow that runs every time a form is filled: one per submission
Starter's 2.5K executions covers a few daily or hourly workflows. High-volume workflows add up quickly.
Keep Learning About n8n
New to n8n? Build your first automation with our n8n for beginners tutorial. Comparing AI tools too? Read free AI plans compared and Claude vs ChatGPT.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is n8n free?
The self-hosted Community Edition has no license fee, but you pay for your own server. n8n Cloud is paid, with a free trial.
How much does n8n cost?
On n8n's pricing page, Starter was shown at €20 per month and Pro at €50 per month when billed annually. Business was shown at €667 per month. Check the page for current prices.
What is an execution in n8n?
An execution is one run of an entire workflow. n8n says the number of steps or the complexity does not change the count.
Does n8n have a free trial?
Yes. n8n's pricing page says the Cloud trial needs no credit card and includes 1,000 executions. A separate Business trial lasts 14 days and needs a card.
What is not included in the free n8n Community Edition?
According to n8n's docs, paid-only features include projects, SSO, Git version control, environments, external secrets and log streaming.
Can I use n8n for my business for free?
The Sustainable Use License allows use for your own internal business purposes. It does not allow selling access to n8n or offering it as a paid service. This is not legal advice.
Is n8n Cloud or self-hosted cheaper?
Self-hosting avoids n8n plan fees but you pay for a server and your own time. Cloud costs more but needs no maintenance.
