n8n is a workflow automation tool with agents and AI nodes, and it suits technical solo builders and small teams who think in runs rather than seats. The catch is that you pay by monthly workflow executions, 2.5K on Starter at 20 euros a month billed annually, as of Oct 2026, with no free hosted plan on the pricing page.
n8n prices automation differently from most tools, and that's what a review needs to explain. I read n8n's pricing page and the model is spelled out at the top: every plan includes unlimited users, unlimited workflows and every integration, and "pricing is based on monthly workflow executions, regardless of complexity". So the plan you need depends on how often your workflows run, not how many people use them.
n8n plans by executions
| Plan | Price (euros, billed annually) | What's included | The limit that bites |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | 20 euros a month, billed annually | Hosted by n8n; 1 shared project; agents, MCP and AI nodes; 1,600 Assistant credits a month | 2.5K workflow executions a month with unlimited steps; 5 concurrent executions |
| Pro | 50 euros a month, billed annually | Hosted by n8n; everything in Starter, plus 3 shared projects, 7 days of insights and up to 9,600 Assistant credits | 10K workflow executions a month with unlimited steps; up to 50 concurrent executions |
| Business | 667 euros a month, billed annually | Everything in Pro, plus 6 shared projects, SSO and LDAP, 30 days of insights, multiple environments, queue mode, version control using Git and forum support; for companies with fewer than 100 employees | 40K workflow executions a month with unlimited steps; self-hosted only |
Figures are in euros on the billed-annually view as of Oct 2026; the page's toggle reads "Annually (Save 17%)". There's also an Enterprise plan through sales. Check the vendor's pricing page before you buy.
Why n8n counts runs, not steps or seats
Here's the part that's easy to miss. An execution is one run of a workflow, and every plan says "with unlimited steps". A two-step workflow and a sprawling one with branches and AI calls both count as one execution each time they run. n8n's own line is that "unlike other tools that charge per step or user", you only pay when a workflow runs from start to finish, which it sums up as "if it doesn't run, you don't pay".
That's good news if you build long, complicated workflows. It's less good news if you build a short one that fires constantly. A workflow triggered by every new form entry or every incoming email can eat through Starter's 2.5K executions a month far faster than a long weekly report ever would. Before picking a plan, I'd add up how often each workflow will trigger in a month, not how complex each one looks.
The second limit is concurrency: how many runs can happen at the same moment. Starter allows 5 concurrent executions and Pro up to 50. If several workflows fire together, that ceiling matters as much as the monthly total.
Third, the Business plan is self-hosted only. At 667 euros a month billed annually for 40K executions, you'd also be running it on your own servers, with the SSO, LDAP, environments, queue mode and Git version control that come with it. If you were expecting the top plan to be hosted for you, it isn't on this page.
And last, there's no free hosted tier shown on the pricing page. What you get instead is a free trial on the plans, with no credit card required.
What every n8n plan includes
Leaving the limits aside, here's what the pricing page says you get:
- Unlimited users, unlimited workflows and every integration, on all plans.
- Agents, MCP and AI nodes, from Starter up.
- Assistant credits each month: 1,600 on Starter and up to 9,600 on Pro.
- Shared projects: 1 on Starter, 3 on Pro and 6 on Business.
- Insights: 7 days on Pro and 30 days on Business.
- SSO and LDAP, multiple environments, queue mode for scaling and version control using Git on Business.
If you're new to the idea of AI agents doing work inside a workflow, my plain-English guide to AI agents and automation for small businesses explains the basics. And for a wider look at where n8n sits among other options, see my round-up of workflow automation tools.
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Who n8n is built for, and who should skip it
n8n suits:
- Technical solo builders and small teams who want to automate with agents and AI nodes.
- People who think in runs per month rather than seats, and want everyone on the team to have access at no extra charge per user.
- Anyone building long, many-step workflows, since steps aren't counted.
I'd skip it if:
- You're non-technical and want a free hosted tier. The pricing page doesn't show one.
- You need the Business plan's features hosted for you. Business is self-hosted only.
My advice on n8n
I'd start the free trial on Starter and count executions, not workflows. If your automations run a few hundred times a month, Starter at 20 euros a month billed annually has plenty of headroom. If they fire on every lead or every email, work out the monthly run count first, because that's what decides whether you need Pro's 10K. I'd skip n8n if you're not comfortable building workflows yourself, because there's no free hosted plan to learn on, and the top plan expects you to run your own servers.
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Frequently asked questions
Is there a free n8n plan?
The pricing page doesn't show a free hosted plan. Starter, Pro and Business each offer a free trial, and the page says no credit card is required.
How does n8n count usage?
By monthly workflow executions, regardless of complexity. Each plan includes unlimited steps, users and workflows, and n8n says you only pay when a workflow runs from start to finish.
How much does n8n cost?
On the billed-annually view as of Oct 2026, Starter is 20 euros a month for 2.5K executions, Pro is 50 euros for 10K and Business is 667 euros for 40K.
Is n8n Business hosted?
No. The pricing page lists the Business plan as self-hosted only. Starter and Pro are hosted by n8n.
