n8n

Open source workflow automation

Visit Website Self-host free, cloud from $20/mo

n8n is automation for people who want control. Founded by Jan Oberhauser in 2019, it’s “fair-code” — source is open, you can self-host free, but can’t commercialize it. 70k GitHub stars. Quadrupled revenue in 8 months after pivoting to AI automation. Europe’s 25th fastest-growing startup in 2024.

What's good

  • Self-hostable
  • More powerful than Zapier/Make
  • 70k+ GitHub stars

Watch out for

  • Steeper learning curve
  • Self-hosting needs technical skill

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