n8n Open Source
Workflow Automation

Yes! n8n is 100% open source under the Fair-Code license (Apache 2.0 with Commons Clause). You can view the source code on GitHub, self-host it for free, modify it for your needs, and use it commercially within your company. The only restriction is that you cannot sell n8n as a hosted service to others. For personal and business use, n8n open source is completely free.

n8n uses a Fair-Code license based on Apache 2.0 with Commons Clause. This means the source code is publicly available, you can self-host it for free, modify the code, and use it commercially. The Commons Clause prevents you from offering n8n as a SaaS product to compete with n8n Cloud. For self-hosting and internal business use, n8n open source is completely free with no restrictions.

n8n is already the best open source automation alternative to Zapier and Make.com. However, other open source alternatives include: Huginn (Ruby-based automation), Node-RED (IoT and flow-based programming), Apache Airflow (data pipelines), and Windmill (developer-focused automation). None match n8n's combination of 400+ pre-built integrations, visual workflow editor, and ease of use. For most users, n8n open source is the clear winner.

You can self-host n8n using Docker, npm, or managed hosting providers like OpenHosst. The easiest way is OpenHosst ($1.67/month) where we handle installation, SSL certificates, updates, backups, and monitoring. If you prefer DIY, you can install n8n on any server with Docker, but you'll need to manage configuration, SSL, domains, updates, and backups yourself. Most users choose OpenHosst for hassle-free n8n open source hosting.

Absolutely! n8n open source can be used commercially within your company for free. You can automate business processes, connect your company's apps, and build unlimited workflows without any licensing fees. The only restriction is that you cannot sell n8n as a hosted service to others (like competing with n8n Cloud). For internal business use, n8n open source is completely free with unlimited workflows and executions.

n8n open source is self-hosted on your own infrastructure with unlimited workflows and executions for free. n8n Cloud is the official hosted version starting at $20/month with execution limits. With OpenHosst, you get self-hosted n8n open source for just $1.67/month with the convenience of managed hosting. You get unlimited everything, complete data ownership, and 95% cost savings compared to n8n Cloud.

No! n8n open source has no execution limits, no workflow limits, and no data transfer limits. Unlike Zapier (750 tasks/month on basic), Make.com (1,000 ops/month), or even n8n Cloud (2,500 executions/month), self-hosted n8n open source is completely unlimited. Run millions of workflow executions without worrying about per-execution pricing or hitting usage caps.

n8n open source supports 400+ integrations including Google Workspace (Gmail, Sheets, Drive), Slack, Discord, GitHub, Airtable, Notion, HubSpot, Salesforce, Stripe, Shopify, WordPress, MySQL, PostgreSQL, and many more. It also has HTTP Request nodes for connecting to any API, webhook support for real-time triggers, and custom code nodes (JavaScript/Python) for unlimited flexibility. New integrations are constantly added by the open source community.

Yes! n8n open source is free forever under the Fair-Code license. You can self-host it on your own servers for free with no licensing costs. If you use managed hosting like OpenHosst, you pay for the infrastructure and management ($1.67/month), but the n8n software itself remains free and open source. There are no per-user fees, no per-execution charges, and no hidden costs with n8n open source.

Absolutely! n8n welcomes open source contributions on GitHub. You can submit bug fixes, create new integration nodes, improve documentation, or suggest features. The n8n community is very active with thousands of contributors worldwide. Check out the n8n GitHub repository to get started. Contributing to n8n open source is a great way to add features you need while helping the entire community.