Hey everyone!
I’m trying to pick an automation platform to get started with and I’m pretty confused about something. I’ve been comparing n8n, Make, Zapier, and Latenode, and there’s this weird thing with n8n that doesn’t make sense to me.
Here’s what I found when looking at their cheapest paid plans:
| Platform |
Cost per month |
Workflow limit |
| n8n Basic |
€20 |
Only 5 workflows |
| Make Standard |
€9 |
No limit |
| Latenode Small |
€5 |
20 workflows |
| Zapier Professional |
€19.99 |
No limit |
I get that some tools charge per workflow run (like n8n and Latenode) while others charge per individual action (like Make and Zapier). That makes sense for pricing.
But what I don’t understand is why n8n only gives you 5 active workflows for 20 euros when competitors give you way more for less money. That seems like a huge restriction.
Am I looking at this wrong? For people who actually use n8n, doesn’t this feel really limiting? What am I not seeing here?
Thanks for any insights!
yeah, n8n’s pricing is weird. feels like they’re pushing everyone to self-host - the cloud version is basically a demo. for small businesses, that workflow limit is a killer when zapier gives you unlimited workflows for about the same price.
The workflow limits make perfect sense when you look at n8n’s business model. They’re basically using the cloud version to funnel people toward self-hosting, where they actually make money. Most serious users end up self-hosting anyway since the cloud pricing is terrible at scale. I’ve been running n8n self-hosted for 18 months now - it’s completely different. No workflow limits, way better performance, and I control my data. The cloud version is deliberately crippled to push you down that route. But if you don’t want to deal with servers or the hassle, those competitors are honestly better choices. n8n cloud works fine for testing stuff or tiny personal projects, but for real business use? Either self-host n8n or just go with Make/Zapier from day one.
I switched from n8n to Make 6 months ago and the workflow limit was a huge factor. You hit that 5 workflow ceiling fast once you start automating different parts of your business. I had workflows for lead generation, email marketing, social media posting, data backups, and customer support - that’s already maxed out. n8n workflows are more complex since you’re building everything from scratch instead of using pre-built templates. Make has you creating multiple simple workflows, but n8n pushes you to build fewer comprehensive ones. Still, 5 feels arbitrary when you’re paying that much. I think n8n’s banking on their self-hosted option for power users, but not everyone wants to manage their own infrastructure. The cloud pricing just can’t compete with the alternatives you mentioned.