Easy Tech TutsHow Much Does n8n Cost, N8N Pricing Explained Clearly 2026
By Impran M N
Choosing between n8n's free self-hosted option and its paid cloud tiers depends heavily on your execution volume and how much infrastructure work you're willing to take on yourself. This guide breaks down the core pricing model, what each cloud tier includes, and the hidden costs of self-hosting so you can pick the most cost-effective path for your automations.
01Understand the hybrid pricing model
n8n offers a free, open-source Community Edition alongside paid managed Cloud tiers, and pricing is generally based on the number of workflow executions rather than individual steps.
02Evaluate the free Community Edition
Self-hosting lets you run unlimited executions on your own hardware at no license cost, though you're responsible for setup and maintenance.
03Check the Cloud Starter plan
This entry-level paid tier includes a base monthly execution cap along with memory and concurrency restrictions suited to smaller workloads.
04Compare the Cloud Pro plan
This tier raises your execution cap and adds features like advanced global variables, deeper execution history, and multi-user permissions.
05Consider the Business tier
The top tier adds features like single sign-on and Git-based version control for teams that need enterprise-grade collaboration.
06Factor in self-hosting's hidden costs
Running your own instance means paying for server infrastructure, a managed database, and ongoing DevOps time, which can add up even though the software itself is free.
Frequently asked questions
Is n8n really free to use?
Yes, the self-hosted Community Edition is free and open-source with unlimited executions, though you'll need your own server to run it on.
How does n8n's execution-based billing work?
On paid cloud plans, you're generally billed based on the number of full workflow runs per month rather than each individual node execution.
Is self-hosting actually cheaper than Cloud plans?
Not always — while there's no license fee, you take on server hosting, database, and maintenance costs, which can offset the savings depending on your setup.
How do I know which plan fits my usage?
Estimate your monthly execution volume against each tier's cap, since exceeding a plan's limit is usually what triggers unexpected overage costs.
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