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Automation & Integration · head to head

n8n vs Power Automate

n8n logo

n8n

Automation & Integration

The fair-code workflow automation tool

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Power Automate logo

Power Automate

Automation & Integration

Automate your workflows with cloud and desktop RPA

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: n8n starter tier limited to 1 project and 5 concurrent executions; Power Automate unattended automation is priced per bot rather than per user, at $150 a bot per month against $15 per user for the attended Premium plan
  • They diverge on capability: n8n covers Workflow automation, Power Automate covers Cloud flows.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which n8n and Power Automate actually diverge.

Attributes where n8n and Power Automate differ
Attributen8nPower Automate
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
PlatformsWeb, Docker, Self-hostedWeb, Desktop
Founded20192016

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 n8n

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

Only in Power Automate

  • Cloud flows
  • Desktop RPA
  • Button flows
  • Automated flows
  • Scheduled flows
  • Approvals
  • Business process flows
  • Analytics

Both cover

  • Cloud deployment

What people use each for

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

n8n

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

Power Automate

  • Automating business processes across Microsoft 365 and other applicationsnot n8n
  • Running attended and unattended robotic process automationnot n8n

Where each one falls short

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

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

Power Automate

  • Unattended automation is priced per bot rather than per user, at $150 a bot per month against $15 per user for the attended Premium plan
  • Having Microsoft host the virtual machine for a bot adds $65 a month, taking it to $215 per bot
  • Every published price requires annual payment
  • Copilot Studio is a separate product at $200 a month for 25,000 credits rather than an included feature

Pricing, plan by plan

n8n

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the n8n review.

Power Automate

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 300 flows
    • Limited capacity
  • Cloud flows$15/month
    • Unlimited flows
    • Advanced features
  • Desktop flows$75/month
    • RPA capabilities
    • UI automation
    • Advanced features

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Power Automate if

  • You need cloud flows.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Desktop.
  • You also want desktop rpa.
Power Automate review

Questions people ask

Is n8n or Power Automate better?
Neither clearly leads. n8n starts at Free and Power Automate at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, n8n or Power Automate?
n8n starts at Free and Power Automate at Free.
Does n8n or Power Automate run on more platforms?
n8n runs on Web, Docker, Self-hosted. Power Automate runs on Web, Desktop.
Can I use n8n for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is n8n best used for?
n8n is most often used for building ai agents and workflow automation for technical teams, visual workflow design with capability to write custom javascript or python code, enterprise deployments with self-hosted or cloud options, integrating 500+ pre-built applications with custom api connections. Of those, building ai agents and workflow automation for technical teams and visual workflow design with capability to write custom javascript or python code are not what Power Automate is typically brought in for.
What can n8n do that Power Automate cannot?
n8n covers Workflow automation, Visual editor, Conditional execution, Looping. Power Automate covers Cloud flows, Desktop RPA, Button flows, Automated flows. Both handle Cloud deployment.
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