n8n

A Tier · 8.0/10

Open-source workflow automation with AI nodes, self-hostable and way cheaper than Zapier for complex flows. **Microsoft Agent 365 Trigger node shipped 2026-05-05** -- agents built in n8n now show up as @-mentionable members inside Teams / Outlook / Word

Last updated: 2026-05-19Free tier available

Score Breakdown

6.0

Ease of Use

8.0

Output Quality

9.0

Value

9.0

Features

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The Good and the Bad

What we like

+Self-hosted option is genuinely free with unlimited everything -- hard to beat that value
+400+ integrations and AI nodes for LLMs, vector databases, and agent workflows
+Pricing is per-execution, not per-step -- complex 50-node workflows cost the same as simple ones
+Active open-source community with thousands of shared workflow templates
+You own your data and can inspect every line of code running your automations

What could be better

−Steeper learning curve than Zapier or Make -- not beginner-friendly
−Self-hosting requires server management skills and ongoing maintenance
−Error messages can be vague, making debugging frustrating without digging into node logs
−SSO and advanced permissions locked behind the $800/mo Business plan
−Visual canvas gets unwieldy with highly complex branching logic or recursive flows

Pricing

Community (Self-Hosted)

✓Unlimited executions
✓Unlimited workflows
✓All integrations
✓Full source code access

Starter (Cloud)

$24/month

✓2,500 executions/month
✓Unlimited workflows & users
✓All integrations

Pro (Cloud)

$60/month

✓10,000 executions/month
✓Unlimited workflows & users
✓All integrations
✓Debug executions

Business (Cloud)

$800/month

✓50,000 executions/month
✓SSO & advanced permissions
✓Priority support

Known Issues

PRODUCT (2026-05-05): n8n shipped the **Microsoft Agent 365 Trigger node** -- agents built in n8n now show up as @-mentionable members inside Microsoft Teams channels, Outlook, and Word. End-user @-mentions an agent in a Teams thread; n8n routes the prompt through whatever workflow you've wired (LLM call, tool use, DB lookup, multi-step) and posts the response back in-thread as the agent identity. Pairs with Microsoft Agent 365's 5/1 GA -- n8n is one of the first independent automation platforms to ship a first-party Agent 365 surface, giving teams a self-hostable / open-source path to native M365 agentic deployment vs Microsoft's own Copilot Studio. Material for any n8n shop already on Microsoft 365 -- you get Agent 365 native presence without buying Microsoft's $15/user/mo Agent 365 SKU for every seat.Source: n8n blog (blog.n8n.io/deploy-n8n-agents-that-show-up-as-members-of-the-team-inside-microsoft-apps/), n8n docs (docs.n8n.io/integrations/builtin/cluster-nodes/root-nodes/n8n-nodes-langchain.microsoftagent365trigger/) · 2026-05-05
Critical security vulnerabilities (CVE-2026-27577, CVSS 9.4) discovered in workflow expression evaluation -- patch immediately if self-hostingSource: Hacker News, CISA advisory · 2026-03
Cloud version can slow down with very large datasets; self-hosting gives more control over performanceSource: G2 reviews · 2026-01
Credential connections to some services (like Firestore) expire silently, causing workflows to fail without clear errorsSource: n8n Community forum · 2025-11

Best for

Technical users and teams who want powerful automation without per-step pricing. Especially strong if you can self-host and want AI agent workflows.

Not for

Non-technical users who want drag-and-drop simplicity. If you've never touched a server or API, start with Zapier and graduate to n8n later.

Our Verdict

n8n is the best value in workflow automation, full stop. The self-hosted version is free with no execution limits, and even the cloud plans are cheaper than Zapier for complex workflows. The trade-off is complexity -- it takes longer to learn and self-hosting means you're responsible for security patches (which matter, given the recent CVEs). But if you're building AI-powered automations and don't want to pay per step, n8n is the clear choice.