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Software · head to head

Fivetran vs n8n

Fivetran logo

Fivetran

Software

The most trusted data movement platform

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: Fivetran billed on monthly active rows, so the bill tracks how much source data changes rather than how much is stored or queried; n8n starter tier limited to 1 project and 5 concurrent executions
  • They diverge on capability: Fivetran covers Automated data pipeline, n8n covers Workflow automation.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Fivetran and n8n actually diverge.

Attributes where Fivetran and n8n differ
AttributeFivetrann8n
Pricing modelusage-basedfreemium
PlatformsWeb, CloudWeb, Docker, Self-hosted
Founded20122019

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 Fivetran

  • Automated data pipeline
  • Change Data Capture
  • Data transformation
  • Real-time sync
  • Monitoring
  • Data quality
  • Notifications
  • 500+ connectors

Only in n8n

  • Workflow automation
  • Visual editor
  • Conditional execution
  • Looping
  • Error handling
  • Webhooks
  • REST API
  • 400+ integrations

Both cover

  • Scheduling
  • Cloud deployment

What people use each for

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

Fivetran

  • Managed data pipelines from SaaS sources into a warehousenot n8n
  • Keeping a warehouse in sync with production databases without writing connectorsnot n8n

n8n

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

Where each one falls short

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

Fivetran

  • Billed on monthly active rows, so the bill tracks how much source data changes rather than how much is stored or queried
  • Each connection follows its own cost curve, so total spend is hard to predict before running a pipeline
  • The free plan allows 500,000 monthly active rows, 3,500 activation rows and 5,000 model runs
  • Transformations are metered separately, from $0.01 per model run above 5,000 down to $0.002 above 100,000
  • A schema change upstream that touches many rows raises the bill without any change on the customer's side

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

Fivetran

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Limited connectors
    • Basic support
  • Standard$300/month
    • 500+ connectors
    • Priority support
  • Enterprise$1000/month
    • Custom connectors
    • Dedicated support

n8n

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the n8n review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Fivetran if

  • You need automated data pipeline.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Cloud.
  • You also want change data capture.
Fivetran 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 Fivetran or n8n better?
Neither clearly leads. Fivetran 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, Fivetran or n8n?
Fivetran starts at Free and n8n at Free.
Does Fivetran or n8n run on more platforms?
Fivetran runs on Web, Cloud. n8n runs on Web, Docker, Self-hosted.
Can I use Fivetran for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Fivetran best used for?
Fivetran is most often used for managed data pipelines from saas sources into a warehouse, keeping a warehouse in sync with production databases without writing connectors. Of those, managed data pipelines from saas sources into a warehouse and keeping a warehouse in sync with production databases without writing connectors are not what n8n is typically brought in for.
What can Fivetran do that n8n cannot?
Fivetran covers Automated data pipeline, Change Data Capture, Data transformation, Real-time sync. n8n covers Workflow automation, Visual editor, Conditional execution, Looping. Both handle Scheduling, Cloud deployment.
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