Softwr

Automation & Integration · head to head

Airbyte vs n8n

Airbyte logo

Airbyte

Automation & Integration

The open-source ELT platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
n8n logo

n8n

Automation & Integration

The fair-code workflow automation tool

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Airbyte the self-managed open source Core edition has no SSO or RBAC, no multiple workspaces, no row filtering or encryption, and no monitoring integrations; n8n starter tier limited to 1 project and 5 concurrent executions
  • They diverge on capability: Airbyte covers Data replication, n8n covers Workflow automation.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Airbyte and n8n actually diverge.

Attributes where Airbyte and n8n differ
AttributeAirbyten8n
Pricing modelopen-sourcefreemium
PlatformsWeb, Self-hostedWeb, Docker, Self-hosted
Founded20202019

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Automation & Integration).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Airbyte

  • Data replication
  • Schema detection
  • ELT pipelines
  • Real-time sync
  • Data transformation
  • Monitoring
  • Custom connectors
  • 300+ connectors

Only in n8n

  • Workflow automation
  • Visual editor
  • Conditional execution
  • Looping
  • Error handling
  • Scheduling
  • Webhooks
  • REST API

Both cover

  • Self-hosted option
  • Cloud deployment
  • Self-hosted deployment

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Airbyte

  • Replicating data from SaaS applications into a warehousenot n8n
  • Self-hosting an open source ELT pipelinenot n8n
  • Managed data replication without running infrastructurenot n8n
  • Building connectors for sources without an off-the-shelf integrationnot n8n

n8n

  • Building AI agents and workflow automation for technical teamsnot Airbyte
  • Visual workflow design with capability to write custom JavaScript or Python codenot Airbyte
  • Enterprise deployments with self-hosted or cloud optionsnot Airbyte
  • Integrating 500+ pre-built applications with custom API connectionsnot Airbyte

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Airbyte

  • The self-managed open source Core edition has no SSO or RBAC, no multiple workspaces, no row filtering or encryption, and no monitoring integrations
  • Sync frequency on Core is limited compared with the managed tiers, which offer 15 minute syncs
  • Support on the free tier is community and AI only; premium support requires Pro or Enterprise
  • The free Agents plan stops at 1,000 agent operations a month and pauses capacity until the next month once hit
  • Agent overages are billed per operation at $0.004 to $0.005 once past the plan allowance

n8n

  • Starter tier limited to 1 project and 5 concurrent executions
  • Starter and Pro tiers restricted to Cloud hosting only, not self-hosted
  • Business tier requires 6 months minimum commitment at €667/month
  • SSO/SAML/LDAP authentication requires Business or Enterprise tier
  • Dedicated support with SLA available only on Enterprise plan

Pricing, plan by plan

Airbyte

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Self-hosted
    • Community support
    • Full features
  • Cloud$50/month
    • Cloud hosted
    • Email support
  • Enterprise$500/month
    • Dedicated support
    • Advanced features

n8n

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the n8n review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Airbyte if

  • You need data replication.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Self-hosted.
  • You also want schema detection.
Airbyte review

Choose n8n if

  • You need workflow automation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Docker, Self-hosted.
  • You also want visual editor.
n8n review

Questions people ask

Is Airbyte or n8n better?
Neither clearly leads. Airbyte starts at Free and n8n at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Airbyte or n8n?
Airbyte starts at Free and n8n at Free.
Does Airbyte or n8n run on more platforms?
Airbyte runs on Web, Self-hosted. n8n runs on Web, Docker, Self-hosted.
Can I use Airbyte for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Airbyte best used for?
Airbyte is most often used for replicating data from saas applications into a warehouse, self-hosting an open source elt pipeline, managed data replication without running infrastructure, building connectors for sources without an off-the-shelf integration. Of those, replicating data from saas applications into a warehouse and self-hosting an open source elt pipeline are not what n8n is typically brought in for.
What can Airbyte do that n8n cannot?
Airbyte covers Data replication, Schema detection, ELT pipelines, Real-time sync. n8n covers Workflow automation, Visual editor, Conditional execution, Looping. Both handle Self-hosted option, Cloud deployment, Self-hosted deployment.
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Related pages

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