n8n is one of the most cost-effective automation tools in 2026 — mainly because self-hosting is completely free. But if you want managed cloud hosting, n8n offers three paid plans. This guide breaks down every n8n pricing tier, compares execution limits, and tells you exactly which plan to choose based on your needs.
💰 n8n Pricing 2026 — Quick Summary
✅ Self-Host: Free forever (unlimited workflows + executions)
✅ Cloud Starter: $20/month — 2,500 executions
✅ Cloud Pro: $50/month — 10,000 executions
✅ Enterprise: Custom pricing — unlimited + SSO + advanced roles
✅ Free Trial: 14-day trial on all Cloud plans
1. n8n Plans Overview 2026
| Plan | Price | Executions | Workflows | Users | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Self-Host | Free | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Developers, power users |
| Cloud Starter | $20/mo | 2,500/mo | 5 active | 1 | Freelancers, solo builders |
| Cloud Pro | $50/mo | 10,000/mo | Unlimited | Up to 5 | Small teams, agencies |
| Enterprise | Custom | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Large orgs, compliance needs |
Pro tip: n8n counts an "execution" as one workflow run — not per action/step. So a 10-step workflow triggered once = 1 execution. This makes n8n far more cost-efficient than Zapier's per-task model.
2. Self-Host n8n — Truly Free?
Yes — n8n self-hosting is genuinely free. The open-source version has no execution limits, no workflow limits, and no user limits. You only pay for server hosting.
- All 400+ integrations
- Unlimited workflows
- Unlimited executions
- AI Agent nodes
- Custom code (JS/Python)
- Hetzner CX11: ~$4/mo
- DigitalOcean Droplet: $6/mo
- Railway.app: $5/mo
- Self-managed VPS: $5-10/mo
Full self-hosting guide: How to Self-Host n8n on DigitalOcean →
3. n8n Cloud Starter — $20/month
The Starter plan is n8n's entry-level cloud option — no server management needed.
✅ Cloud Starter — $20/month
- 📊 2,500 workflow executions/month
- 📁 5 active workflows
- 👤 1 user seat
- 🔗 All 400+ integrations
- 🤖 AI Agent nodes included
- ☁️ Managed hosting (no server needed)
- 📧 Email support
- 🔄 14-day free trial
Best for: Freelancers, solopreneurs, or anyone testing n8n Cloud before committing to self-hosting. At $20/mo with 2,500 executions — ideal for light automation (roughly 80 runs/day).
🚀 Start n8n Starter Free Trial →4. n8n Cloud Pro — $50/month
The Pro plan is for small teams and agencies running serious automation workloads in the cloud.
⚡ Cloud Pro — $50/month
- 📊 10,000 workflow executions/month
- 📁 Unlimited active workflows
- 👥 Up to 5 user seats
- 🔗 All 400+ integrations
- 🤖 AI Agent nodes included
- ☁️ Managed hosting + auto-scaling
- 🔐 Advanced execution data retention
- 📞 Priority email support
- 🔄 14-day free trial
Best for: Small teams (2-5 people) running 300+ automations/day. The jump from Starter to Pro ($30 more) gives 4× more executions and removes the 5-workflow cap.
🚀 Start n8n Pro Free Trial →5. n8n Enterprise — Custom Pricing
Enterprise is for large organizations needing compliance, SSO, and dedicated support.
🏢 Enterprise — Contact for Pricing
- 📊 Unlimited executions
- 📁 Unlimited workflows
- 👥 Unlimited users + role management
- 🔐 SSO / SAML authentication
- 📋 Audit logs & compliance
- 🏠 On-premise or cloud deployment
- 🎯 Custom SLAs + dedicated support
- 🔗 Custom integrations
Best for: Enterprises with strict security requirements (SOC 2, GDPR), large IT teams, or organizations wanting n8n deployed on their own infrastructure with full control.
6. n8n vs Zapier vs Make.com — Pricing 2026
| Tool | Free Tier | Entry Paid | Mid Tier | Pricing Model |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| n8n Self-Host | ✅ Unlimited | — | — | Server cost only (~$5/mo) |
| n8n Cloud | 14-day trial | $20/mo | $50/mo | Per execution (workflow run) |
| Zapier | 100 tasks/mo | $19.99/mo | $49/mo | Per task (per action step) |
| Make.com | 1,000 ops/mo | $9/mo | $16/mo | Per operation |
Key difference: Zapier charges per task (each action step). A 5-step Zap running 1,000 times = 5,000 tasks. n8n charges per execution — the same workflow 1,000 times = 1,000 executions. n8n is 5× cheaper at scale.
7. Which n8n Plan Should You Choose?
🆓 Self-Host — if you...
- Are comfortable with Docker/Linux basics
- Run high automation volume (1,000+ runs/day)
- Want zero per-execution costs forever
- Need full data control for compliance
☁️ Cloud Starter $20/mo — if you...
- Don't want to manage servers
- Run fewer than 80 automations/day
- Are a solo user or freelancer
- Want instant setup with no DevOps
⚡ Cloud Pro $50/mo — if you...
- Have a team of 2-5 people
- Need unlimited active workflows
- Run up to 333 automations/day
- Want managed cloud without DevOps
🏢 Enterprise — if you...
- Need SSO/SAML login
- Have compliance requirements (SOC 2, HIPAA)
- Need audit logs and granular user roles
- Have 10+ users automating at scale
Ready to start? Get 14 days free on any Cloud plan.
🚀 Try n8n Cloud Free for 14 Days →No credit card required for trial