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Automation Integration · head to head

MuleSoft vs n8n

MuleSoft logo

MuleSoft

Automation Integration

Integration platform as a service (iPaaS) with robust API management

From
$1500/monthly
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
n8n logo

n8n

Automation Integration

The fair-code workflow automation tool

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only n8n has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: MuleSoft pricing for MuleSoft solutions not published on vendor website; enterprise integration platform requires custom quote; n8n starter tier limited to 1 project and 5 concurrent executions
  • They diverge on capability: MuleSoft covers API Gateway, n8n covers Workflow automation.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which MuleSoft and n8n actually diverge.

Attributes where MuleSoft and n8n differ
AttributeMuleSoftn8n
Starting price$1500/monthlyFree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsCloud, On-premises, HybridWeb, Docker, Self-hosted
Founded19992019

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), 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 MuleSoft

  • API Gateway
  • API Design
  • Integration Platform
  • Salesforce
  • SAP
  • Oracle
  • AWS
  • ServiceNow

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.

MuleSoft

  • AI agent orchestration and governance across multiple LLM platformsnot n8n
  • API management and gateway control from development through productionnot n8n
  • Integration middleware for legacy systems and cloud applicationsnot n8n
  • Multi-agent ecosystem discovery and centralized agent registrynot n8n
  • Compliance and security monitoring across API, agent, and data interactionsnot n8n

n8n

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

Where each one falls short

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

MuleSoft

  • Pricing for MuleSoft solutions not published on vendor website; enterprise integration platform requires custom quote

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

MuleSoft

$1500/monthly
  • Starter$1500/monthly
    • API gateway
    • Design center
    • Basic integration
  • Professional$3500/monthly
    • Advanced integration
    • Analytics
    • Team collaboration
  • Enterprise$undefined/monthly
    • Full Anypoint platform
    • Custom SLA
    • Advanced security

n8n

Free
  • CommunityFree
    • Free self-hosted version on GitHub
    • Open source
  • Starter$20/month
    • 2,500 workflow executions
    • 5 concurrent executions
    • 2,300 AI credits/month
  • Pro$50/month
    • 10,000 workflow executions
    • 20 concurrent executions
    • 13,700 AI credits/month
  • Business$667/month
    • 40,000 workflow executions
    • Self-hosted option
    • 6 shared projects

Which should you pick?

Choose MuleSoft if

  • You need api gateway.
  • You work on Cloud, On-premises, Hybrid.
  • You also want api design.
MuleSoft 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 MuleSoft or n8n better?
Neither clearly leads. MuleSoft starts at $1500/monthly and n8n at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, MuleSoft or n8n?
n8n has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $1500/monthly for MuleSoft and Free for n8n.
Does MuleSoft or n8n run on more platforms?
MuleSoft runs on Cloud, On-premises, Hybrid. n8n runs on Web, Docker, Self-hosted.
Can I use n8n for free?
Yes. n8n has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. MuleSoft starts at $1500/monthly.
What is MuleSoft best used for?
MuleSoft is most often used for ai agent orchestration and governance across multiple llm platforms, api management and gateway control from development through production, integration middleware for legacy systems and cloud applications, multi-agent ecosystem discovery and centralized agent registry. Of those, ai agent orchestration and governance across multiple llm platforms and api management and gateway control from development through production are not what n8n is typically brought in for.
What can MuleSoft do that n8n cannot?
MuleSoft covers API Gateway, API Design, Integration Platform, Salesforce. n8n covers Workflow automation, Visual editor, Conditional execution, Looping.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

MuleSoft: What does MuleSoft cost?

MuleSoft does not publish pricing on its website. The vendor markets its Anypoint Platform to enterprises with custom licensing quotes.

Source
n8n: Is there a free version of n8n?

Yes, n8n Community Edition is free and open-source, available for self-hosting on GitHub with unlimited users and workflows.

Source
MuleSoft: How much does the MuleSoft Anypoint Platform cost per user?

MuleSoft does not disclose per-user, per-month, or per-API pricing on its website. Licensing models vary by customer requirements and deployment size.

Source
n8n: What is the difference between n8n plans?

Plans differ by monthly workflow executions (2,500 for Starter, 10,000 for Pro, 40,000 for Business), concurrent execution limits, AI credits, and shared project counts.

Source
MuleSoft: Does MuleSoft offer a free trial?

MuleSoft encourages users to watch demos or contact sales to explore the platform. No free trial offer is mentioned on the website.

Source
n8n: Does n8n offer annual billing discounts?

Yes, n8n offers 17% off when billing annually instead of monthly, and provides a Startup Plan at 50% off Business pricing for companies under 20 employees.

Source
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