Pick n8n if
technical ops, DevOps, and automation engineers who need to connect SaaS apps, internal APIs, and LLM tools — especially teams that want self-host / data residency.
Read the n8n pagen8n vs Pipedream
Our take
Pick n8n if technical ops, DevOps, and automation engineers who need to connect SaaS apps, internal APIs, and LLM tools — especially teams that want self-host / data residency. Pick Pipedream if app teams who will stay on Free $0 while they build in development, then buy Startup at $99/month billed annually ($150 monthly) the day they serve real external users. Skip n8n if someone who only wants a chat window, or a
Best for
n8n Wiring tools together
Pipedream 3,000 APIs behind one auth layer you meter in credits
Free plan
n8n $0 · no license fee. You run Docker or npm. Choose n8n describes a free Registered Community email unlock (folders, debug in editor, custom execution data). SSO, Git, environments, and similar extras need a paid Business/Enterprise license key
Pipedream $0 · no card. Every feature in development. 3,000+ connectors. 10,000+ tools/triggers. MCP + Connect proxy. Unlimited team members. Community support. No production for external users
Lowest paid
n8n Cloud Starter €20/mo yearly
Pipedream Startup $99/user/mo, monthly only
Next step up
n8n Cloud Pro €50/mo yearly
Pipedream
Coding agent
n8n AI agents on the canvas
Pipedream MCP servers
Runs where
n8n Local; you host it
Pipedream Local; you host it
Watch out
n8n You operate the graph
Pipedream Free is development only
Last checked
n8n 2026-10-19 · n8n.io/pricing
Pipedream 2026-10-22 · pipedream.com/pricing
Which one, then?
Pick Pipedream if
app teams who will stay on Free $0 while they build in development, then buy Startup at $99/month billed annually ($150 monthly) the day they serve real external users.
Read the Pipedream page