n8n Review (2026): Self-Hosting, Cloud Pricing, and Workflow Limits

n8n is a workflow automation platform with a visual editor, integrations, and support for custom code. It can run on n8n Cloud or be self-hosted. That distinction affects its cost, execution limits, and who is responsible for operating it.

A visual workflow with room for code

n8n workflows connect triggers and actions across services. When built-in nodes are not enough, code steps support JavaScript and Python for transforming data or adding custom logic. AI workflows can also connect model and tool integrations, though there is no reliable single count of supported AI providers or total integrations to quote here. n8n Cloud also includes an AI Assistant that n8n still labels a preview, with a monthly credit allowance that grows with the plan.

That flexibility comes with a learning curve. User reviews on G2 and Capterra repeatedly describe complex workflows as harder to learn, especially when they involve JSON, expressions, or code. This was still the most common complaint in reviews dated through mid-2026. More technical users may value that control; someone building a few simple app-to-app automations may prefer a more guided service.

Cloud pricing and self-hosting

Pricing in this section follows n8n’s official pricing page as checked on 17 October 2026.

n8n Cloud Starter costs €20 per month when billed annually and includes 2,500 workflow executions per month with up to five concurrent executions. Pro costs €50 per month annually billed and includes 10,000 executions. The pricing page lists 20 concurrent executions for Pro and also shows up to 50, so confirm which applies to the plan size you choose. These plans count a full workflow run as one execution regardless of how many steps it contains. That billing unit can suit workflows with many steps, but it is not a like-for-like comparison with services that count each action separately.

Cloud plans also cap how long a single run can last: five minutes on Starter and 40 minutes on Pro. Saved execution history is capped as well, at 2,500 runs on Starter and 25,000 on Pro. n8n says reaching the history cap only removes the oldest records and does not stop workflows from running.

n8n Cloud has a free trial that does not require a credit card. It is limited to 1,000 executions, five concurrent executions, a 180-second run limit, and one team project, and it leaves out some Pro features such as admin roles and the public API.

Business costs €667 per month when billed annually and is self-hosted; it includes 40,000 executions and adds features such as SSO and LDAP, multiple environments, queue mode, and Git version control. n8n has a waitlist for a hosted version of Business, but it was not available at the time of checking. If a Business instance goes over its quota, workflows keep running and extra usage is billed at €4,000 per additional 300,000 executions, invoiced automatically 45 days later unless you upgrade. Companies with fewer than 20 employees may qualify for 50% off Business through n8n’s Start-up Plan.

Enterprise is custom and can be hosted or self-hosted; it is the only plan with dedicated support and an SLA. Starter and Business list forum support only. The free Community Edition is also self-hosted and has no n8n-imposed execution quota, but its capacity depends on your own infrastructure. Self-hosting shifts server operations, updates, security, and availability to you; it does not mean those costs disappear.

Community Edition is licensed under n8n’s Sustainable Use License. It can be used for your own internal business workflows, but making n8n available to customers so they can connect their accounts and build workflows, or embedding and reselling it, requires a separate commercial agreement. n8n states that charging fees for consulting, support, or building workflows for clients does not need a separate license. It is source-available, but the license is not OSI-approved open source. Businesses should check the license against their intended use before deployment.

Where it fits

n8n’s AI Agent and integration capabilities are useful for builders who want to connect models and tools in a workflow. They do not remove the need to understand the workflow’s data, conditions, and failure paths. Reviewers praise its flexibility and code options, while learning complexity, documentation, and the effort of running a production self-hosted setup are recurring caveats. Self-hosting is also a meaningful option for teams that need operational control, provided they can maintain it.

Verdict

n8n is a capable choice for technical teams that need custom logic, multi-step workflows, or control over hosting. Its execution-based cloud pricing can be attractive for workflows with many steps, but cost comparisons need to account for each vendor’s different billing unit. The free trial makes it easy to test before paying. The free self-hosted edition is not a no-cost hosted service: it brings infrastructure work and license conditions. Choose n8n when that flexibility is worth the operational and learning overhead.