n8n
n8n-io/n8nReviewed by AI
What it does
n8n is a platform for building automations on a visual canvas: you connect boxes for apps, databases and AI models, and the workflow runs on a schedule or when something happens. It reaches more than 1500 services and can also run JavaScript or Python when the boxes are not enough, so it serves both non-programmers and developers. You run it yourself with Docker, and the editor then opens at localhost:5678, or you pay for the company's hosted cloud. The license is not an open-source one: use is limited to personal use or your own internal business.
How easy it is to install
A · download and open · Web
- Windows D
- macOS D
- Linux D
- Web A
The company's hosted version is an A: you sign in at app.n8n.cloud and build in the browser on a paid plan. Running it yourself is a D on Windows, macOS and Linux, because the documented route is Docker plus a terminal: 'docker volume create n8n_data' and then a 'docker run' command, or the install script.
Numbers on GitHub
- Stars
- 209,212on Oct 31, 2026
- Downloads
- 40,1621,310 this week
- Growth
- +616stars in 6 days
Stars over time
Facts
- Runs on
- Windows, macOS, Linux, Web
- You need to install
- Node.js, Docker
- To build from source
- Node.js
- Disk space
- 100 MB–500 MB · estimate
- Accounts or keys
- Each app you connect brings its own account or key (OpenAI, Google, Slack and the rest of the 1500+ integrations)
- Cost
- Freemium · Running it yourself is free of charge under the Sustainable Use License. The hosted cloud is paid, and source files with '.ee' in the name need a paid n8n Enterprise License.
- License
- NOASSERTION (Other)
- Last update
- Oct 31, 2026
Risk signals (5)
- Attentionlicense is not open source
LICENSE.md, Sustainable Use License, 'Limitations': 'You may use or modify the software only for your own internal business purposes or for non-commercial or personal use. You may distribute the software or provide it to others only if you do so free of charge for non-commercial purposes.' It also says files with '.ee.' in the name need an n8n Enterprise License, and 'Content of branches other than the main branch... are not licensed.'
AI review
- Attentioninstall pipes remote script to shell
README 'Quick Start': 'curl -fsSL https://get.n8n.io | sh' runs a script downloaded at that moment with your shell.
AI review
- Attentionworkflows can run code
README 'Key Capabilities': 'Combine visual building with JavaScript, Python, and npm packages for advanced AI workflows.' A workflow you import from the 9,000+ public templates can therefore carry code that runs on your machine.
AI review
- Infoone place holds many account credentials
The quick start keeps everything in one Docker volume ('-v n8n_data:/home/node/.n8n'), and connecting any of the 1500+ integrations stores that account's credentials there, so whoever reaches the instance reaches those connections.
AI review
- Infosigning over rights to contribute
The repository root has CONTRIBUTOR_LICENSE_AGREEMENT.md alongside LICENSE.md and LICENSE_EE.md, so contributions go in under the company's agreement.
AI review
Evidence is shown in its original language.
What Radar could not check
- Which features of the demos are only in the paid Enterprise or cloud versions
- What the hosted cloud costs for your volume of runs
- How much memory and disk a busy instance needs
- Whether the apps you want to connect need paid plans of their own
- What happens to your instance once you open it to the internet