4 reasons why n8n outshines its competitors and is the perfect automation tool for you

1. Open-source, easy to embed code

Among the automation tools available today, n8n is well-known as one of the few platforms with open-source code. This means it allows users to access, edit, and share the code completely free of charge, without the risk of copyright infringement. Anyone can download n8n's source code from GitHub to experiment with and try before deciding to use paid versions.

n8n was created with software developers and IT programmers in mind. It allows you to write custom code within the workflow to handle complex logic. If desired, you can easily embed Javascript or Python code into n8n and run it whenever you need.

Typically, open-source platforms have their own licenses, most of which allow users to freely use, modify, and even resell after “improving.” Unfortunately, n8n's developers don’t currently allow commercial use of the license. You would need to contact the developers to negotiate if you want to use it commercially.

Nevertheless, open-source code is a significant advantage that helps n8n stand out against competitors like Make.com or Zapier. With these platforms, you often need to submit a request to support teams if you want to make your workflow more flexible and advanced.

2. The power of self-hosting

n8n is one of the rare automation platforms that can be self-hosted (run on a private server). This means that users can easily install and operate n8n on independent infrastructure. This helps optimize the speed of automated workflows, making management and upgrades smoother and easier.

Since the source code of n8n is available on GitHub, you can easily install it for self-hosting on platforms like Render, Railway, AWS, etc. From my experience, the installation process only takes around 8 to 10 minutes, which is quite fast.

Additionally, with n8n's self-hosted version, you can add npm packages to enhance the power of your workflows (n8n’s repository has up to 3 million npm packages). You can also install and use CLI (Command Line Interface) programs within the workflow to expand customization capabilities. For example, instead of manually finding a way to download a YouTube video, you can embed the CLI tool "youtube-dl" into your workflow.

3. A great solution for handling complex workflows

Many users choose to "switch homes" to n8n from Zapier and Make.com for this reason. Both of these famous platforms are not ideal for those who like to experiment and frequently work with complex workflows. In contrast, n8n excels in handling complex workflows, especially when managing multiple loops and nodes.

For example, even with a simple loop, Make.com uses an iterator and aggregator mechanism, which means you have to spend time understanding them to master the workflow. On the other hand, n8n has integrated these mechanisms into its nodes, making it easier for users to handle loops.

n8n is also optimized to make workflow control easier. It supports copying and pasting workflows as JSON, and includes sticky notes that help you easily track, debug, and resolve issues throughout the process.

4. An optimal cost-effective solution

Zapier and Make.com are both powerful automation tools, that’s for sure. However, many users complain about the high cost, which can be very expensive for businesses with high demands and larger scales. Of course, both platforms offer free versions, but they have many feature limitations, especially in terms of the number of workflows.

In contrast, n8n is completely free since it’s open-source. Starting in 2024, users can also enjoy 3 paid features for free for life, including: workflow history viewing, debugging, and retrieving data from nodes. If you need higher capabilities, you can upgrade the host to boost system performance, thus improving speed and reducing latency. The initial cost is also quite affordable, ranging from 5 to 7 USD per month.

Unfortunately, n8n's cloud version isn’t free, and its prices aren’t cheap:
- Starter plan: 24 Euros/month, allows 5 workflows and 2,500 execution steps.
- Pro plan: 60 Euros/month, allows 15 workflows and 10,000 execution steps.

However, it’s still a cost-effective solution for those who need to optimize professional workflows because it doesn’t limit the number of users or workflows created for testing.

Overall, n8n is not perfect. It takes more time to master compared to Make.com or Zapier. However, its advantages have helped n8n maintain a strong position in the hearts of its users since its launch.