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Software · head to head

AWS API Gateway vs n8n

AWS API Gateway logo

AWS API Gateway

Software

Fully managed API gateway service for creating and managing APIs at scale

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
n8n logo

n8n

Software

The fair-code workflow automation tool

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: AWS API Gateway rEST APIs cost $3.50 per million calls against $1.00 for HTTP APIs, so the older and more featureful type is three and a half times dearer; n8n starter tier limited to 1 project and 5 concurrent executions
  • They diverge on capability: AWS API Gateway covers REST APIs, n8n covers Workflow automation.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which AWS API Gateway and n8n actually diverge.

Attributes where AWS API Gateway and n8n differ
AttributeAWS API Gatewayn8n
Pricing modelusage-basedfreemium
PlatformsAWS CloudWeb, Docker, Self-hosted
Founded20062019

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

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 AWS API Gateway

  • REST APIs
  • WebSocket APIs
  • HTTP APIs
  • Lambda
  • EC2
  • DynamoDB
  • CloudWatch
  • IAM

Only in n8n

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

What people use each for

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

AWS API Gateway

  • Fronting Lambda functions with an HTTP endpointnot n8n
  • REST and HTTP API management with throttling and keysnot n8n
  • WebSocket APIs for real-time clientsnot n8n
  • Private APIs reachable only inside a VPCnot n8n
  • Publishing a developer portal for API consumersnot n8n

n8n

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

Where each one falls short

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

AWS API Gateway

  • REST APIs cost $3.50 per million calls against $1.00 for HTTP APIs, so the older and more featureful type is three and a half times dearer
  • Data transfer out is charged at $0.09 per GB on top of request pricing
  • WebSocket APIs bill connection minutes as well as messages, at $0.25 per million minutes
  • Private APIs avoid data transfer charges but incur AWS PrivateLink costs instead
  • The developer portal is $125 a month, with additional portal products at $12.50 each
  • The free tier lasts 12 months rather than being ongoing

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

AWS API Gateway

Free
  • Free TierFree
    • 1M requests per month
    • Basic API management
  • Pay-as-you-go$3.5/per 1M requests
    • Unlimited requests
    • HTTP APIs
    • REST APIs

n8n

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the n8n review.

Which should you pick?

Choose AWS API Gateway if

  • You need rest apis.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on AWS Cloud.
  • You also want websocket apis.
AWS API Gateway 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 AWS API Gateway or n8n better?
Neither clearly leads. AWS API Gateway 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, AWS API Gateway or n8n?
AWS API Gateway starts at Free and n8n at Free.
Does AWS API Gateway or n8n run on more platforms?
AWS API Gateway runs on AWS Cloud. n8n runs on Web, Docker, Self-hosted.
Can I use AWS API Gateway for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is AWS API Gateway best used for?
AWS API Gateway is most often used for fronting lambda functions with an http endpoint, rest and http api management with throttling and keys, websocket apis for real-time clients, private apis reachable only inside a vpc. Of those, fronting lambda functions with an http endpoint and rest and http api management with throttling and keys are not what n8n is typically brought in for.
What can AWS API Gateway do that n8n cannot?
AWS API Gateway covers REST APIs, WebSocket APIs, HTTP APIs, Lambda. n8n covers Workflow automation, Visual editor, Conditional execution, Looping.
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