n8n
n8n GmbH
7.7
Overall Score / 10
Pipedream
Pipedream Inc.
7.7
Overall Score / 10
Our Verdict
Choose n8n if:
- —Developers who want self-hosted automation
- —Teams with data privacy/compliance requirements
- —Power users who need custom code in workflows
Choose Pipedream if:
- —Developers who want to write code in automation workflows
- —Teams needing API-first automation with custom logic
- —Developers building internal tools and data pipelines
The biggest difference: n8n offers a visual workflow builder that can be self-hosted for full data sovereignty. Pipedream is a code-first serverless platform where developers write Node.js, Python, or Go steps — more like a programmable API glue than a visual automation tool.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Criteria | n8n | Pipedream |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest Paid Plan | $20/mo (Starter)Source: n8n GmbH pricing page → | $29/mo (Basic)Source: Pipedream Inc. pricing page → |
| Free Tier | Yes Self-hosted community edition is free and unlimited | Yes 100 credits/month, 3 active workflows, 30-second timeout |
| Value for Money | 9 | 9 |
| Ease of Use | 4 | 5 |
| Feature Power | 10 | 9 |
| Setup Ease | 3 | 6 |
| Migration Ease | 5 | 5 |
| Transparency | 10 | 9 |
| Deployment | hybrid | cloud |
| API Available | Yes | Yes |
| Platforms | Web, Self-hosted (Docker) | Web |
| Compliance | Self-hosted: full data control, SOC 2 (cloud) | SOC 2 Type II, GDPR |
Feature Comparison
Feature Comparison Matrix
16 features compared · 15 differences
| Feature | n8n | Pipedream |
|---|---|---|
| Core | ||
| Credential sharing | Full | None |
| Cron scheduling | None | Full |
| Data stores | None | Full |
| Event sources (triggers) | None | Full |
| HTTP endpoints | None | Full |
| Self-hostable | Full | None |
| Serverless execution | None | Full |
| Version control | Full | None |
| Visual builder | Full | None |
| Advanced | ||
| AI agent nodes | Full | None |
| Custom code (JS/Python) in any node | Full | None |
| Custom code (Node.js, Python, Go, Bash) | None | Full |
| Workflow builder | None | Full |
| Integrations | ||
| 2,000+ API integrations | Full | Full |
| 400+ integrations | Full | None |
| Webhook triggers | Full | None |
Pricing Comparison
n8n Pricing
Unlimited; self-host required
2,500 executions, cloud-hosted. Note: all cloud prices are in EUR.
10,000 executions, unlimited workflows, global regions
Unlimited, SSO, audit logs, dedicated support
Pipedream Pricing
100 credits/month, 3 active workflows
Unlimited workflows, 2,000 credits/month, 15-second timeout
2,000 credits/month, unlimited workflows, priority support
Custom credits, SSO, SLA, dedicated support
Who Should Choose Which?
Who should choose n8n
Best for
- Developers who want self-hosted automation
- Teams with data privacy/compliance requirements
- Power users who need custom code in workflows
Avoid if
- You want zero-code simplicity
- You don't want to manage infrastructure (use cloud version)
- You need the broadest pre-built integration catalog
Who should choose Pipedream
Best for
- Developers who want to write code in automation workflows
- Teams needing API-first automation with custom logic
- Developers building internal tools and data pipelines
Avoid if
- You want no-code, visual-only automation
- Your team has no coding experience
- You need a simple trigger-action setup (Zapier is easier)
Switching Guidance
Switching from n8n
Common triggers to leave:
- •Need more pre-built integrations
- •Don't want to manage infrastructure
Potential blockers:
- •Self-hosted data sovereignty
- •Custom code nodes
- •Infrastructure investment
Switching from Pipedream
Common triggers to leave:
- •Need no-code interface for non-technical team
- •Need broader pre-built integration library
Potential blockers:
- •Custom code in workflows
- •Data store configurations
- •API integrations built
Try n8n
Start free — no credit card required
Try Pipedream
Start free — no credit card required