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Software · head to head

Grain vs n8n

Grain logo

Grain

Software

AI meeting highlights and clips

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: Grain no concurrent recording - only one meeting per account at a time; n8n starter tier limited to 1 project and 5 concurrent executions
  • They diverge on capability: Grain covers Auto-recording, n8n covers Workflow automation.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Grain and n8n actually diverge.

Attributes where Grain and n8n differ
AttributeGrainn8n
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
PlatformsWeb, Chrome Extension, Desktop Audio CaptureWeb, Docker, Self-hosted
Founded20182019

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 Grain

  • Auto-recording
  • AI highlights
  • Video clips
  • Transcription
  • Zoom
  • Google Meet
  • Notion
  • Web support

Only in n8n

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

Both cover

  • Slack

What people use each for

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

Grain

  • ai tools managementnot n8n
  • Workflow automationnot n8n
  • Reportingnot n8n

n8n

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

Where each one falls short

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

Grain

  • No concurrent recording - only one meeting per account at a time
  • No automatic slide capture for presentations
  • Limited video demo context - audio-focused with poor video file support
  • Cannot record in-person meetings
  • No native mobile app
  • Limited admin controls for company-wide automatic recording
  • Free plan limited to 20 recordings if using personal email
  • No automatic file uploads on free tier
  • Lacks advanced sales analytics features of enterprise competitors
  • Limited CRM integration compared to higher-end platforms

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

Grain

Free
  • Free ForeverFree
    • Unlimited meetings up to 45 minutes each
    • AI transcription and notes
    • 90-day history
  • Starter$15/month
    • Unlimited meeting length
    • Unlimited AI highlights
    • Video clip creation
  • Business$33/month
    • All Starter features
    • Advanced team coaching
    • Deeper analytics

n8n

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the n8n review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Grain if

  • You need auto-recording.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Chrome Extension, Desktop Audio Capture.
  • You also want ai highlights.
Grain 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 Grain or n8n better?
Neither clearly leads. Grain 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, Grain or n8n?
Grain starts at Free and n8n at Free.
Does Grain or n8n run on more platforms?
Grain runs on Web, Chrome Extension, Desktop Audio Capture. n8n runs on Web, Docker, Self-hosted.
Can I use Grain for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Grain best used for?
Grain is most often used for ai tools management, workflow automation, reporting. Of those, ai tools management and workflow automation are not what n8n is typically brought in for.
What can Grain do that n8n cannot?
Grain covers Auto-recording, AI highlights, Video clips, Transcription. n8n covers Workflow automation, Visual editor, Conditional execution, Looping. Both handle Slack.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Grain: Is Grain free?

Grain offers a Free Forever plan with unlimited meetings up to 45 minutes each and 90-day history. Paid plans start at $15/month per user for unlimited meeting length and advanced AI features.

Source
Grain: Does Grain require a bot in meetings?

No. Grain uses bot-less transcription to capture meeting audio without requiring a bot participant, though video recording requires bot participation if you want recording visible.

Source
Grain: What platforms does Grain work with?

Grain integrates with Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, and supports desktop audio capture. It exports to Claude, ChatGPT, Slack, and CRM platforms like HubSpot and Salesforce.

Source
Grain: Can Grain record multiple meetings at once?

No. Grain does not support concurrent meeting recordings, meaning only one meeting per account can be recorded at a time.

Source
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Related pages

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