Apache Airflow vs n8n: Features, Pricing and User Reviews 2026
Compare features, pricing, reviews, and more to make an informed decision
Apache Airflow
Apache Airflow is a free open-source platform for building, scheduling, and monitoring data workflows using Python code and visual dashboards.
n8n
n8n is a workflow automation platform that combines visual building with code, offering 400+ integrations and native AI capabilities.
Apache Airflow
Apache Airflow is a free open-source platform for building, scheduling, and monitoring data workflows using Python code and visual dashboards.
n8n
n8n is a workflow automation platform that combines visual building with code, offering 400+ integrations and native AI capabilities.
Apache Airflow
Python-based workflow creation
Visual web dashboard with monitoring
Automatic task scheduling and retries
Smart dependency management
Scalable from laptop to cloud
1,500+ ready-made integrations
Works with AWS, Google Cloud, Azure
Command-line tools for automation
Built-in logging and alerting
Open source and self-hosted
Active community support
Enterprise-grade features available
n8n
Visual workflow builder with 400+ integrations
Native AI capabilities and LangChain support
Self-hosting and cloud deployment options
JavaScript/Python coding when needed
Advanced debugging and testing tools
900+ community workflow templates
Enterprise security with SOC2 compliance
Git-based version control
High-performance execution (220 workflows/second)
Webhook triggers and cron scheduling
Apache Airflow
Apache Airflow is completely free and open source. You can download, install, and use it without any licensing costs or usage fees. This makes it accessible for individuals, startups, and large enterprises alike.
Since it is open source, you only pay for the infrastructure where you run it. This could be your own servers, cloud virtual machines, or container platforms. The cost depends on your computing needs and how many workflows you run.
If you prefer a managed solution, several companies offer hosted Airflow services. Astronomer provides Astro, a managed platform built on Airflow with pricing starting around $100-300 per month for small teams. Amazon offers MWAA (Managed Workflows for Apache Airflow), Google has Cloud Composer, and Microsoft has managed Airflow on Azure. These services handle infrastructure, updates, and scaling for you.
n8n
n8n offers flexible pricing to fit different needs and deployment preferences. The Community Edition is completely free and open-source, perfect for self-hosting with unlimited workflows.
For cloud hosting, n8n provides several plans:
Starter Plan – €20 per month (€24 monthly, €20 annually) with 2,500 workflow executions and 5 active workflows
Pro Plan – €50 per month (€60 monthly, €50 annually) with 10,000 executions and 15 active workflows
Enterprise Plan – Custom pricing with unlimited executions, advanced security features, dedicated support, and compliance tools
Special offer: Startup plan available for companies with up to 20 employees and under $5M funding.
Unlike competitors that charge per operation or task, n8n charges per complete workflow execution, making costs predictable regardless of workflow complexity. A single workflow with 100 steps costs the same as one with 5 steps, offering significant savings for complex automations.