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It's a split decision.
Choose n8n if your team wants to build and inspect workflows visually, add code where needed, and trace or rerun individual steps. Choose Windmill if engineers want scripts in familiar languages, Git-based collaboration, internal apps and data pipelines on one orchestration platform. Both offer open-source self-hosted options. Their cost models differ: n8n Cloud charges by execution tier, while Windmill Enterprise pricing depends on seats and compute. Compare the deployment model and usage limits against your workload before choosing.
01Side by side
| n8n | Windmill | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Execution-tier Cloud; free self-hosted Community | Free OSS; Enterprise from $120/month, seats and compute |
| Free tier | Unlimited executions, bounded by your server | Unlimited executions; 3 workspaces, up to 50 users |
| Open source and licence | Open source; licence name not listed | Open source; Enterprise requires commercial licence |
| Self-hosting | On-premises or Docker deployment | Deploy with Docker or Kubernetes |
| API and languages | Visual workflows; add code when needed | Python, TypeScript, Go, PHP, Bash, SQL |
| Integrations | Examples include Slack, Jira, Notion and Claude | Examples include Stripe, PostgreSQL, Snowflake and Slack |
| Deployment model | Cloud or self-hosted | Cloud or self-hosted |
| Limits and scaling | Cloud plans have hard execution caps | Free plan has unlimited executions; workers add cost |
n8n Choose n8n if
- Choose n8n if visual workflows should also document each step.
- Choose n8n if operators need to inspect runs and rerun failed steps.
- Choose n8n if Cloud execution tiers fit your expected volume.
Windmill Choose Windmill if
- Choose Windmill if your team wants to write scripts in familiar languages.
- Choose Windmill if Git-based collaboration is central to workflow development.
- Choose Windmill if you need workflows, internal apps and data pipelines together.
02Pricing at real usage
n8n Community Edition is free to self-host, with executions limited by your server. Its Cloud Starter plan includes 2,500 executions per month and costs $24 monthly or $20 per month with annual billing. Pro includes 10,000 executions for $60 monthly or $50 annually billed; the 10,000-execution tier allows 20 concurrent executions. Starter and Pro are hard-capped, with no execution overages. Windmill’s free plan includes unlimited executions, three workspaces and up to 50 users. Enterprise starts at $120 per month, but subscriptions are based on committed seats and compute units. The pricing simulator lists builders at $20 per month, non-builders at $10, and workers at $50 each. Windmill’s costs therefore rise with seats and compute; n8n Cloud costs rise by execution tier.
03API, SDKs and integration
n8n’s visual builder is the main way to assemble workflows, with the option to drop into code. Its homepage highlights connections such as Slack, Jira, Notion and AI models including Claude Sonnet 4.6. It focuses on making each workflow step visible, with run history and the ability to rerun a broken step. Windmill is code-first: scripts can use Python, TypeScript, Go, PHP, Bash and SQL. Its homepage says scripts can call REST and GraphQL APIs, and that every script and flow gets an autogenerated webhook. The platform also supports DAG-based workflows, generated forms and interfaces, and apps built with its low-code editor or React and Svelte frontends. Windmill’s homepage links to its docs. Neither homepage names a standalone SDK, so check the vendor docs for client-library requirements. Windmill names Stripe, PostgreSQL, Snowflake, HubSpot, Slack and Teams among its integrations.
04Open source, self-hosting and lock-in
Both products are open source and self-hostable. n8n offers on-premises or Docker deployment, and its source code is available on GitHub. Its free Community Edition excludes SSO, LDAP, queue mode and admin roles; Business adds SSO/LDAP, multiple environments, Git version control and queue mode. Windmill supports self-hosting with Docker or Kubernetes and describes Git-based collaboration as part of its development workflow. Its Enterprise plan includes a commercial licence. The product homepages do not name the open-source licence or describe a data-export procedure. Before adopting either platform, check the licence terms and confirm how to export workflow definitions, credentials and run history. Git-based workflows may help manage code changes, but do not by themselves establish a complete migration path.
Questions people ask
Is n8n or Windmill better for AI agents?
n8n emphasizes visual, inspectable workflows and live or past run visibility for agents, with human approval steps. Windmill supports AI agents alongside scripts, workflows, apps and data pipelines, and lists 12 agent providers. Choose based on whether visual run inspection or code-first orchestration better fits your team.
Can I self-host n8n and Windmill?
Yes. n8n lists on-premises and Docker deployment, and its Community Edition is self-hosted. Windmill supports self-hosting with Docker or Kubernetes. Check which plan includes the security, administration and support features your deployment requires.
How do the free plans compare?
n8n Community Edition has unlimited users, workflows and executions, with execution capacity limited by your server; it excludes features such as SSO and queue mode. Windmill’s free plan includes unlimited executions, three workspaces, up to 50 users and 10 GiB of workspace object storage.
Which platform is better for code-first workflows?
Windmill is the more direct fit for teams writing scripts in Python, TypeScript, Go, PHP, Bash or SQL and collaborating through Git. n8n offers a visual workflow builder with the option to add code, which suits teams that want a visual-first approach.