n8n Pricing Explained: Cloud vs Self-Hosted Costs
How n8n pricing works, what an execution is, the real cost of self-hosting, how n8n compares with Zapier and Make, and how to pick the right option for your team.
How n8n Pricing Works
n8n has two ways to pay: use n8n Cloud, where n8n hosts everything for a monthly fee, or self-host the software on your own server. The free Community Edition covers most self-hosted use; paid self-hosted plans add team and enterprise features.
The key difference from Zapier or Make is the billing unit. n8n Cloud counts executions — one full run of a workflow — rather than each individual step. Long, multi-step workflows therefore cost the same per run as short ones.
Plan names, prices and execution limits change periodically. Always confirm the current numbers on the official n8n pricing page before budgeting.
n8n Plans Compared
| Option | Who hosts it | What you pay for | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Community Edition | You | Your server only | Developers, cost-sensitive teams |
| Cloud Starter / Pro | n8n | Monthly plan with execution quota | Teams that want zero maintenance |
| Business (self-hosted) | You | License for team features | Companies needing SSO, environments, Git |
| Enterprise | You or n8n | Custom contract | Large organisations with compliance needs |
The Real Cost of Self-Hosting n8n
| Setup | What it includes | Rough monthly hosting |
|---|---|---|
| Hobby | Single small VPS, SQLite | Low single digits (USD) |
| Small business | VPS with Docker, PostgreSQL, HTTPS, backups | Roughly $10–$40 |
| Production at scale | Queue mode with Redis, multiple workers, managed database | $50+ |
Hosting prices vary by provider and region. The bigger hidden cost is people time: updates, monitoring, backups and security. If nobody on the team owns that, Cloud is often cheaper overall.
n8n vs Zapier vs Make: Pricing Models
| Platform | Billing unit | A 10-step workflow run costs | Self-hosting |
|---|---|---|---|
| n8n Cloud | Execution (full run) | 1 execution | Also available free |
| Zapier | Task (each action step) | Up to 10 tasks | No |
| Make | Operation / credit (each module) | About 10 operations | No |
This is why n8n tends to become cheaper as workflows get longer and run more often.
How to Keep n8n Costs Low
- Combine related steps into one workflow instead of chaining many small ones.
- Use webhook triggers instead of frequent polling schedules.
- Filter out irrelevant items early so workflows stop before doing unnecessary work.
- Turn off saving successful execution data for high-volume workflows.
- Start from a ready-made template to cut build time.
Which Option Should You Choose?
- No technical staff and modest volume: start on n8n Cloud.
- Technical team, sensitive data or high volume: self-host the Community Edition.
- Several builders needing SSO, environments and version control: a Business plan.
- Strict compliance, audit and support requirements: talk to n8n about Enterprise.
Not sure? An n8n expert can estimate your execution volume and total cost before you commit.
Keep reading
Frequently Asked Questions
Is n8n free?
Yes, the self-hosted Community Edition is free to use under n8n's fair-code Sustainable Use License, with no limit on workflows or executions. You pay only for the server it runs on. n8n Cloud and the paid self-hosted plans cost money.
How does n8n Cloud pricing work?
n8n Cloud plans are billed monthly or annually and include a set number of workflow executions per month. An execution is one full run of a workflow, no matter how many steps it has. Check n8n.io/pricing for the current plans and limits.
What counts as an execution in n8n?
One execution is one complete run of a workflow from trigger to finish. A 20-step workflow that runs once is one execution — unlike tools that charge for every step or task.
How much does it cost to self-host n8n?
The software is free; the cost is hosting. A small VPS is enough for light use, while production setups with PostgreSQL, backups and queue-mode workers cost more. Factor in the time to maintain updates and security too.
Is n8n cheaper than Zapier?
Usually, especially at volume. Zapier bills per task, meaning every action step counts, while n8n Cloud bills per full workflow run and self-hosted has no execution fee. Simple, low-volume automations can cost similar amounts on either.
Can I use n8n commercially for free?
You can use the free self-hosted version for your own internal business automations. Offering n8n itself as a hosted service to others, or embedding it in a product you sell, needs a commercial agreement with n8n.
Which n8n plan should I choose?
Pick Cloud if you want no server maintenance, self-hosted Community Edition if you have technical skills and want the lowest cost, and a Business or Enterprise plan when you need SSO, advanced permissions, environments or support guarantees.
Ready to build?
Start from a ready-made workflow, or have an expert build one around your own systems.