Latenode vs n8n
A detailed comparison to help you choose between Latenode and n8n.
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Verdict: n8n wins
n8n scores 4.3/5, edging out Latenode at 3.9/5. Technical teams and engineers who want code-level control and the option to self-host automation as core infrastructure.
Latenode Visual automation for APIs and data workflows without code | n8n Workflow automation that gives you control | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 3.9 (1 review) | 4.3 (1 review) |
| Pricing Model | freemium | freemium |
| Starting Price | Free tier available | Free tier available |
| Best For | Technically-inclined small teams and developers who want no-code automation with a real JavaScript escape hatch and pricing that does not bill per operation. | Technical teams and engineers who want code-level control and the option to self-host automation as core infrastructure. |
| Free Tier | ||
| API Access | ||
| Team Features | ||
| Open Source | ||
| Tags | free tierapi access | open sourcefree tierapi access |
| Visit Latenode → | Visit n8n → |
Latenode
Pros
- + CPU-second billing ignores node count — my 5,000-run/month lead-enrichment flow stayed inside the free allowance while per-operation tools would have billed every filter
- + Full JavaScript with npm inside any node: I handled a niche CRM's odd pagination in one JS node where no connector existed
- + No base fee on pay-as-you-go with rates falling from $0.00012 to $0.00005 per CPU second; 100,000 one-second runs comes to $10.80/month per the vendor's own examples
- + AI surface is structural, not cosmetic: agent node, code copilot, RAG storage and MCP deployment on every plan
- + Generous free tier for building — unlimited nodes per scenario, all apps and AI primitives included before any paid capacity
Cons
- - Users repeatedly rank native integration depth below Zapier/Make despite the 5,500+ vendor count; expect custom HTTP/JS nodes outside mainstream apps
- - Slow steps are expensive under CPU-second metering — LLM waits burn compute time, so agent-heavy flows need real cost modelling
- - Pricing surface has shifted (execution credits → CPU seconds → legacy plans plus lifetime deals), so verify which terms you are actually on
- - Run history caps at 3 days free / 30 days paid and error visibility in deep JS nodes is thinner than Make's logging
- - The 'without code' tagline oversells it: the product's ceiling is JavaScript, and non-technical users will feel the learning curve
n8n
Pros
- + Unlimited steps per execution: my 20-node nightly sync counted as one execution, so complexity stops driving cost (n8n.io/pricing)
- + Code nodes (JS/Python) with npm and env-var access meant I finished every prototype without leaving the platform
- + Self-hostable with no licence fee under the Sustainable Use License; full run snapshots and re-run-from-failed-node debugging
- + AI agent nodes (LLM connectors, vector stores, agents calling workflows as tools) are the deepest of any general automation platform I tested
- + Strong company trajectory: $180M Series C (Accel, Oct 2025) and a SAP strategic investment at ~$5.2B in May 2026
Cons
- - Not open source — the Sustainable Use License (fair-code) forbids offering n8n as a hosted service and fails OSI procurement checks
- - Assumes engineering literacy: JSON paths, expressions, and async data structures stumped every ops-only user I watched try it
- - Self-hosting carries real ops cost — queue mode, worker scaling and upgrades took me hours that a managed platform absorbs
- - Documentation is thin at the edges; AI node options and queue-mode config sent me to community forum threads
- - Business cloud tier is self-hosted-only at time of writing (cloud waitlisted), leaving a gap between Pro's 10K executions and Enterprise
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Latenode or n8n?▼
n8n scores higher at 4.3/5 vs 3.9/5 for Latenode, making it the better-rated option in our comparison.
What is the difference between Latenode and n8n?▼
Latenode: Latenode is a low-code automation platform with LLMs built into each node, connecting thousands of apps and running AI agents. n8n: n8n is a workflow automation platform that combines AI capabilities with business process automation, giving technical teams a visual builder with the option to add code when needed.
Is Latenode or n8n more affordable?▼
Latenode starts at €0/mo, n8n starts at €0/mo. Check the comparison table above for current pricing.
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