n8n vs Pipedream

n8n gives more power and flexibility; Pipedream suits simpler workflows. Pick n8n for complex automation, Pipedream for quick connections.

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The verdict Side by side Plans and pricing Who each is for Other options

The verdict

For most lean B2B founders, n8n is the more durable bet. Self-hosting the free Community Edition gives you data control and an automation bill that stays flat as you grow, which matters when you are watching every line of spend. The 400+ integrations cover the mainstream B2B stack, and the HTTP node handles the rest.

Pipedream earns its place when connector breadth is the deciding factor. With 3,000+ apps and managed auth, it reaches into long-tail SaaS APIs that n8n would make you wire up by hand, and there is nothing to host or maintain. The trade is a credit-based bill that gets harder to forecast as volume climbs, and your data and credentials living in someone else's cloud.

Neither is wrong. The honest split: choose n8n for control and cost, Pipedream for reach and convenience.

What the data says

n8n covers more of the features we compared: 6 of 6, against 4.
Both have a free plan, so you can try each before you pay.
Both have an API and an MCP server, so either works with AI employees.
In our Automation ranking, n8n places 1 and Pipedream 6 of 11.

Side by side

n8n and Pipedream compared
10 points compared	n8n	Pipedream
Starts at	€20/mo	$99/mo
Free plan	Yes	Yes
API	Yes	Yes
MCP server	Yes	Yes
AI / LLM nodes	Yes	Yes
Custom code steps	Yes	Yes
Integrations & API	Yes	Yes
Open source	Yes	No
Self-hosting	Yes	No
Visual builder	Yes	Yes
Links	Visit	Visit

Plans and pricing

n8n

Community Edition (self-hosted)Free standard self-hosted version of n8n, offered by n8n on GitHub.Free
StarterHosted by n8n with 2,500 workflow executions a month; 20 per month billed annually.€240/yr
ProHosted by n8n with 10,000 executions a month and 3 shared projects; 50 per month billed annually.€600/yr
BusinessSelf-hosted only with 40,000 executions a month, SSO and Git version control; 667 per month billed annually.€8,004/yr

Pipedream

FreeFull access in development with no credit card; production use needs the Startup plan.Free
StartupRun in production: 100 external users and 10,000 usage credits included, then $2 per user and $0.012 per credit. Annual is $99 per month.$150/mo

Prices as the vendors list them. They change often; the final price is on their sites.

Who each is for

Choose n8n if…

Choose Pipedream if your automations reach into a long tail of niche SaaS APIs and you want a ready-made, managed-auth connector waiting for nearly all of them (3,000+ apps), or if you want zero infrastructure to stand up and maintain. It suits a developer-led team that values speed to first workflow and breadth of integration over self-hosting and predictable per-execution cost. The free tier (100 credits/mo, 3 active workflows) is enough to prototype; paid plans start at 29 USD/mo.

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Choose Pipedream if…

Choose n8n if you want to self-host and keep customer data and credentials in-house (compliance, data residency, or just principle), if predictable cost matters more than raw connector count, or if you are happy to run a bit of infrastructure in exchange for a free Community Edition. It is the better fit for a founder who wants code-level flexibility, native AI/LLM nodes, and a bill that does not creep as automation volume grows. Cloud Starter from ~22 USD/mo if you would rather not self-host.

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