Complete breakdown of n8n Cloud pricing tiers, execution limits, free tier details, and why self-hosting saves 95% on costs.
Honest analysis from a company hosting 1,000+ n8n instances
n8n Cloud is the official hosted version of n8n, a powerful workflow automation platform. Instead of self-hosting n8n on your own server, n8n Cloud provides a fully managed service where n8n GmbH handles infrastructure, updates, and maintenance.
Official n8n Cloud Starter and Pro tier pricing compared to OpenHosst's self-hosted alternative.
Billed annually ($240/year)
Execution limit reached = workflows stop
Billed annually ($600/year)
Still limited. Costs scale with usage.
Billed yearly ($20/year)
Save $588/year vs Pro plan
n8n Cloud Enterprise plans are custom-priced and typically start at $1,000+/year. They include SSO, audit logs, dedicated support, and SLA guarantees. Learn more in our n8n Community vs Enterprise editions comparison. With OpenHosst, you get isolated hosting, custom domains, and full control for just $12/year.
Get Enterprise Features for $1.67/moExecution limits are the #1 hidden cost of n8n Cloud pricing. Here's what you need to know.
On the n8n Cloud Starter plan ($20/mo), you get 2,500 executions per month. This sounds like a lot, but consider:
When you hit the limit, your workflows stop running until the next billing cycle.
With OpenHosst's self-hosted n8n, there are zero execution limits:
Pay $1.67/month regardless of how many times your workflows run.
| Scenario | Executions/Month | n8n Cloud Cost | OpenHosst Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 polling workflow (10 min) | 4,320 | $20+ (Starter won't fit) | $1.67 |
| 5 active workflows | 15,000+ | $50+ (Pro plan) | $1.67 |
| 10+ production workflows | 50,000+ | $200+ (overage fees) | $1.67 |
No, n8n Cloud does not offer a permanent free tier. While n8n previously offered a limited free plan, it has been discontinued. As of 2026, all n8n Cloud plans require payment:
The good news? n8n is open-source and free to self-host. Learn about the n8n open source license. With OpenHosst's n8n self-hosted VPS hosting, you can run the full version of n8n with unlimited executions for just $1.67/month—far cheaper than any Cloud plan:
2,500 executions/month
Unlimited executions
Currency conversion makes n8n Cloud prohibitively expensive for developers in India and emerging markets.
n8n Cloud bills in USD/EUR. For Indian developers, this means significant cost burden without purchasing power parity adjustments.
Save ₹50,400 per year
Compared to n8n Cloud Pro plan (₹4,200/mo vs ₹102/mo)
Honest side-by-side comparison to help you choose the right hosting option.
| Feature | n8n Cloud | Self-Hosted (OpenHosst) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Cost | $20-$50+ | $1.67 |
| Executions | 2,500-10,000/mo | Unlimited |
| Workflows | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Community Nodes | Not Supported | Full Support |
| Execute Command Node | Disabled | Available |
| Data Control | n8n Servers | Your VPS |
| Custom Domain | Enterprise Only | Free Included |
| Version Updates | Automatic | We Handle It |
| Setup Complexity | Easy | We Do It |
| Annual Cost | $240-$600+ | $20 |
Step-by-step guide to move your workflows from n8n Cloud to OpenHosst's self-hosted solution.
In n8n Cloud, go to Settings → Export and download all your workflows and credentials as JSON files. If you prefer DIY, see our guide on how to install n8n on DigitalOcean.
Start your 7-day free trial. We'll set up your self-hosted n8n instance on a dedicated VPS with SSL.
Import your workflows into your new instance, reconnect credentials, and test. Our support team assists 24/7.
Our team can help migrate your workflows from n8n Cloud at no extra cost. We'll ensure zero downtime and smooth transition.
Start Free MigrationEverything you need to know about n8n Cloud pricing and alternatives.
No, n8n Cloud does not offer a permanent free tier as of 2026. All plans require payment, starting at $20/month for the Starter plan. However, n8n offers a free trial. The better alternative is self-hosting with OpenHosst for $1.67/month with unlimited executions.
n8n Cloud Starter plan costs $20/month (billed annually at $240/year) and includes 2,500 executions per month, unlimited workflows, and basic support. However, the execution limit is very restrictive—a single polling workflow can exceed this cap.
n8n Cloud Starter costs approximately ₹1,700/month (~$20 USD), and the Pro plan is around ₹4,200/month (~$50 USD). With OpenHosst, you pay just ₹102/month (~$1.67 USD) for unlimited executions—a savings of ₹50,400 per year compared to Pro.
On the Starter plan ($20/mo for 2,500 executions), each execution costs $0.008. On the Pro plan ($50/mo for 10,000 executions), it's $0.005 per execution. With OpenHosst self-hosted, executions cost $0.000 since there are no limits.
Self-hosted is better for cost, control, and scalability. n8n Cloud costs $20-$50/month with execution limits, while self-hosting with OpenHosst is $1.67/month with unlimited executions. You also get full data control, custom nodes, and no vendor lock-in. See our n8n vs Zapier pricing comparison.
No, n8n Cloud does not support custom community nodes for security reasons. You can only use official nodes. With self-hosted n8n on OpenHosst, you have full access to install any community node from npm.
n8n Cloud Enterprise pricing is custom and typically starts at $1,000+/year. It includes SSO, audit logs, SLA guarantees, and dedicated support. OpenHosst provides isolated hosting with custom domains for just $20/year ($1.67/month).
n8n Cloud offers a limited free trial (typically 14 days) with reduced features and execution limits. After the trial, you must upgrade to a paid plan. OpenHosst offers a 7-day free trial, then $1.67/month with unlimited executions.
When you hit your monthly execution limit (2,500 on Starter, 10,000 on Pro), your workflows stop running immediately. You must either wait for the next billing cycle or upgrade to a higher plan. With OpenHosst, there are no execution limits.
Export your workflows from n8n Cloud (Settings → Export), sign up for OpenHosst, and import them into your new self-hosted instance. Our support team assists with migration at no extra cost to ensure zero downtime.
Stop paying for execution limits. Host n8n with unlimited workflows and executions for just $1.67/month.
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