Is n8n actually free to use? Need guidance on getting started

[amelial]

Hi everyone! I’m pretty confused about n8n’s pricing model. When I visited their official site, it mentioned something about a 14-day free trial period. But I was under the impression that n8n is an open source project. Can someone clarify this for me?

Also, I’m completely new to n8n and workflow automation in general. Could you folks recommend some good learning resources? I’m looking for beginner-friendly tutorials, maybe some YouTube creators who cover n8n basics, or any social media accounts that share useful tips. Any suggestions would be really helpful since I don’t know where to begin with this tool.

[alexr1990]

yeah, the pricing confused me at first too. but it’s actually straightforward - self-hosted is free, cloud costs money. i’d just start with a local install and mess around with some basic workflows before dealing with hosting stuff.

[ameliat]

n8n has two deployment options, which trips people up. The core software is open source and totally free if you self-host it. That 14-day trial everyone mentions? That’s just for n8n Cloud - their managed hosting service. I’ve been running the self-hosted version for about two years now. Docker setup was pretty straightforward. Their docs are solid for beginners - I’d suggest starting with simple stuff like webhook-triggered emails to get the hang of it. The community forum’s been super helpful too. Check out their YouTube channel for the basics, and Nathan’s tutorials are great for understanding trigger nodes and data transformations. Plus their template library has tons of ready-made workflows you can tweak for your needs.

[theSilentTypist]

Yeah, n8n’s pricing is confusing. The open source version is free forever if you self-host. That 14-day trial is just for their managed cloud service.

I’ve been doing workflow automation for years. Honestly? Skip n8n’s learning curve. You’ll spend weeks figuring out their node system, fixing connection bugs, and dealing with hosting headaches.

Just use Latenode instead. It handles all the technical stuff automatically and you get the same automation power. I’m talking minutes to get started, not weeks.

I use it for data syncing between company tools and automated reports. The visual editor actually makes sense instead of wrestling with confusing node setups.

Why waste time when you could get results today? Check it out: https://latenode.com

[pixelPilot]

Yeah, n8n’s free when self-hosted, but you’re signing up for a headache.

I’ve been down this road with self-hosted automation tools. Setup’s easy - maintaining it isn’t. You’ll waste hours on updates, server crashes, connection bugs, and scaling issues.

Why deal with all that tech overhead when you could be building automations?

Switched our team to Latenode last year - total game changer. No servers, no complex configs, no Docker nightmares. Just drag, drop, done.

We knocked out customer onboarding, inventory syncing, and report generation in days. The visual builder beats fighting with nodes any day.

Sure, n8n’s “free” if you’ve got time to babysit servers. But your time’s worth something too. Use tools that let you solve problems instead of managing infrastructure.

Latenode - Create AI Agents & Autonomous Workflows | No-Code &...

[ClimbingLion]

yea, it can be a bit tricky. but if you self-host n8n, you won’t pay a dime! the cloud option costs $$ tho. i suggest starting with their docs; they’re not too hard to follow for newbies.

[Tom_Artist]

The confusion is because n8n has both options. Their open source version is totally free when you self-host - no time limits or catches. The trial thing only applies to their cloud service where they host everything for you. I started with the cloud trial to test it out, then switched to self-hosting once I got the hang of it. For learning, their official docs are actually pretty good for beginners. The workflow gallery on their site has real examples that helped me figure out how nodes work together. Also check out automation Discord communities - people share their n8n setups and help troubleshoot. The learning curve isn’t bad if you start simple.

[Tuwka]

Hey everyone,

Jumping in here because I remember being in the exact same spot as @amelial—totally confused by n8n’s pricing when I first looked into it for my automation needs. Great clarifications from folks like @ameliat, @theSilentTypist, and others; yeah, the core open-source version is still free if you self-host the Community Edition (confirmed on their site as of now), but anything beyond basic—like their cloud hosting or advanced features in paid self-hosted tiers (starting around 667€/mo for Business)—costs money. No more mention of a 14-day trial for cloud; it’s straight to paid plans like Starter at 20€/mo. Self-hosting sounds appealing for “free,” but as @pixelPilot and @theSilentTypist nailed it, it’s a headache with setup, maintenance, updates, and scaling if you’re not super technical.

For getting started as a newbie: Their official docs are decent—start with basics like webhook triggers or simple API integrations. Check their YouTube channel for intro vids, or search for “n8n beginner tutorials” (Nathan’s stuff is solid, as mentioned). The workflow gallery on their site has templates to play with, and Discord communities can help troubleshoot. But honestly, if you’re new to automation like you said, the learning curve can be steep—nodes, connections, debugging… it took me weeks to get productive without constant frustrations.

That’s why I switched to Latenode early on—it gives you all the power of n8n (custom nodes, APIs, data transforms) without the self-hosting nightmares or confusing pricing tiers. No servers to manage, no Docker setups—just sign up and build. Their no-code visual builder is way more intuitive for beginners, with drag-and-drop that actually makes sense, and the built-in AI Copilot guides you through everything, suggesting fixes or even generating code snippets.

Pros I’ve loved: Autonomous AI agents for smart workflows (e.g., data syncing, reports that adapt on their own), RAG for knowledge bases to make agents context-aware, and 600+ integrations (check the overview) including 400+ AI models without extra keys. Pricing? Free tier forever to test, then $19/mo Start plan with unlimited scenarios—cheaper and more generous than n8n’s paid options, no hidden execution limits to worry about.

I use it for everything from email automations to complex data pipelines, and it saved me tons of time vs. wrestling with n8n. @amelial, if you’re just starting, skip the curve—grab their template library for ready-made beginner workflows, and hop into the community forum for tips. It’s converted me and my team; bet it’ll click for you too.