# n8n review

> n8n is a fair-code workflow automation platform for building AI agents and workflows with a visual canvas plus custom code, self-hosted or cloud.

Devtoolwatch Board, the week of Oct 25–31, 2026. Canonical page: https://index.devtoolwatch.com/tools/n8n/

## TL;DR

n8n is a fair-code platform for building and deploying AI agents and workflow automations. It is for technical teams who want a visual canvas combined with JavaScript, Python and npm packages. It runs self-hosted or in the cloud, connects to many integrations, and lets you switch between model providers.

## n8n at a glance

- **Category:** [Agent frameworks](https://index.devtoolwatch.com/categories/agent-frameworks/)
- **Maintained by:** n8n - Workflow Automation (organization, [@n8n-io](https://github.com/n8n-io) on GitHub)
- **Language:** TypeScript, Vue, JavaScript
- **Repository:** [github.com/n8n-io/n8n](https://github.com/n8n-io/n8n)
- **Website:** [n8n.io](https://n8n.io)
- **npm package:** [n8n](https://www.npmjs.com/package/n8n) 2.44.5
- **Latest release:** [stable](https://github.com/n8n-io/n8n/releases/tag/stable) on GitHub, Oct 21, 2026
- **First published:** Jun 22, 2019

## What n8n does

- n8n builds multi-step AI workflows and agents with logic, tool use, human approvals and observability.
- n8n connects to OpenAI, Anthropic, Google or open-source models, and you can switch providers without changing your architecture.
- n8n combines visual building with JavaScript, Python and npm packages.
- n8n calls any API over HTTP and connects to agents or coding assistants via MCP.
- n8n lets you watch agents work live or open any past run inside the same workflow.
- n8n offers role-based access and audit trails for self-hosted or secure deployments.
- n8n lets you add your own nodes and functionality.

### How it works

n8n runs as a server that you self-host with Docker or on-prem, or use through n8n cloud. You build workflows in a browser editor, served at http://localhost:5678 when self-hosted. Workflows chain nodes that connect to integrations, HTTP APIs, MCP tools and AI models. It is written in TypeScript, and the npm package provides an n8n command.

## How to install n8n

**With the install script (Docker)**

```
curl -fsSL https://get.n8n.io | sh
```

**Create a Docker volume**

```
docker volume create n8n_data
```

**Run with Docker**

```
docker run -it --rm --name n8n -p 5678:5678 -v n8n_data:/home/node/.n8n docker.n8n.io/n8nio/n8n
```

### Requirements

- Docker for the quick-start install script and manual Docker deployment.
- Node.js 24.0.0 or later for the npm package.

### First steps

1. Start n8n with the install script or the Docker run command.
2. Open the editor at http://localhost:5678.
3. Browse the workflow templates at n8n.io/workflows to start from an existing example.
4. Read the AI & LangChain guide in the docs to build AI agent workflows.

## Who n8n is for

- Technical teams automating business processes that mix AI steps with existing systems.
- Teams that want to self-host so data stays in their own environment.
- Developers who want visual workflows but need custom JavaScript or Python steps.
- Workflows that need human-in-the-loop approvals, such as Slack approval before an action.

### Limitations

- n8n is fair-code under the Sustainable Use License and n8n Enterprise License, not a standard open source license.
- Some additional features and support require an Enterprise License.
- The npm package requires Node.js 24.0.0 or newer.

## Usage data (the week of Oct 25–31, 2026)

- Board rank: #199 overall, #20 in Agent frameworks, momentum score 44
- Downloads that week: 147.7k (+2% vs 4-week average)
- New GitHub stars per week (last 12 weeks): Aug 9: 1k; Aug 16: 1.3k; Aug 23: 986; Aug 30: 781; Sep 6: 760; Sep 13: 1.4k; Sep 20: 754; Sep 27: 655; Oct 4: 696; Oct 11: 1.1k; Oct 18: 819; Oct 25: 865

## n8n alternatives

| Rank | Tool | Stars | Downloads/wk |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | [Harness²](https://index.devtoolwatch.com/tools/google-research-harness2/) | 21.7k | – |
| #2 | [HyperFrames](https://index.devtoolwatch.com/tools/heygen-com-hyperframes/) | 76.6k | 1.5M |
| #3 | [AgentScope](https://index.devtoolwatch.com/tools/agentscope-ai-agentscope/) | 35k | 51.4k |
| #4 | [AG-UI](https://index.devtoolwatch.com/tools/ag-ui/) | 16.9k | 4.6M |
| #5 | [LangGraph](https://index.devtoolwatch.com/tools/langgraph/) | 44.2k | 18.5M |
| #6 | [Bifrost](https://index.devtoolwatch.com/tools/maximhq-bifrost/) | 9.3k | – |

## n8n FAQ

### Is n8n free and open source?

n8n's code is on GitHub (n8n-io/n8n), but the repository doesn't declare a standard open-source license. Check its license file before using it commercially. Its website links to a pricing page: https://n8n.io/pricing/.

### How do I install n8n?

Run `curl -fsSL https://get.n8n.io | sh`. It needs Node.js >=24.0.0. The install section above has the other options from the project's README.

### Is n8n still maintained?

Yes. The n8n-io/n8n repository was last updated on Oct 22, 2026, and the latest release, stable on GitHub, came out on Oct 21, 2026.

### How popular is n8n?

n8n has 209.2k GitHub stars as of Nov 1, 2026. It gained 865 new stars in the week of Oct 25–31, 2026, against a 12-week average of 922 a week. Its main package had about 147.7k downloads that week, +2% against its own 4-week average. That made it #20 among AI agent frameworks on the Devtoolwatch Board.

### n8n vs LangChain: how do they compare?

n8n and LangChain are both tracked by Devtoolwatch as AI agent frameworks. n8n has 209.2k GitHub stars and LangChain has 148.8k. In the week of Oct 25–31, 2026, n8n's main package had 147.7k downloads and LangChain's had 41.1M. [LangChain review](https://index.devtoolwatch.com/tools/langchain/)

### n8n vs LangGraph: how do they compare?

n8n and LangGraph are both tracked by Devtoolwatch as AI agent frameworks. n8n has 209.2k GitHub stars and LangGraph has 44.2k. In the week of Oct 25–31, 2026, n8n's main package had 147.7k downloads and LangGraph's had 18.5M. LangGraph is a low-level orchestration framework and runtime for building, managing, and deploying long-running, stateful agents in Python or JavaScript. [LangGraph review](https://index.devtoolwatch.com/tools/langgraph/)

### What are the best alternatives to n8n?

Other AI agent frameworks on the Devtoolwatch Board in the week of Oct 25–31, 2026, by momentum: Harness² (#1), HyperFrames (#2), AgentScope (#3), AG-UI (#4), LangGraph (#5). The alternatives table above has their numbers.

### Is n8n open source?

n8n is fair-code and source available, not under a standard open source license. It is distributed under the Sustainable Use License and the n8n Enterprise License. The source code is always visible, and you can self-host it.

### How do I run n8n locally with Docker?

n8n runs locally with the install script `curl -fsSL https://get.n8n.io | sh`, which requires Docker. You can also create the n8n_data volume and run the docker.n8n.io/n8nio/n8n image manually. Then open the editor at http://localhost:5678.

### Which AI models does n8n support?

n8n connects to OpenAI, Anthropic, Google or open-source models. You can switch providers without changing your workflow architecture.

### Can n8n work with coding assistants?

n8n can connect to any agent or coding assistant via MCP. It can also call any API over HTTP.

### What does the name n8n mean?

n8n is short for "nodemation" and is pronounced n-eight-n. "Node" refers to its Node-View and its use of Node.js, and "mation" comes from automation.

## Sources

1. [n8n-io/n8n on GitHub](https://github.com/n8n-io/n8n)
2. [n8n README](https://github.com/n8n-io/n8n/blob/master/README.md)
3. [n8n on npm](https://www.npmjs.com/package/n8n)
4. [n8n website](https://n8n.io)
5. [Release beta (Oct 21, 2026)](https://github.com/n8n-io/n8n/releases/tag/beta)
6. [Release n8n@2.45.1 (Oct 21, 2026)](https://github.com/n8n-io/n8n/releases/tag/n8n%402.45.1)
7. [Release stable (Oct 21, 2026)](https://github.com/n8n-io/n8n/releases/tag/stable)
8. [Hacker News: N8n.io – Workflow automation alternative to Zapier](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21191676)
9. [Hacker News: n8n.io - A powerful workflow automation tool](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37274052)
10. [Hacker News: N8n raises $180M](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45525336)
11. [Devtoolwatch Board, the week of Oct 25–31, 2026](https://index.devtoolwatch.com/)