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Software · head to head

n8n vs Salesforce Flows

n8n logo

n8n

Software

The fair-code workflow automation tool

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Salesforce Flows logo

Salesforce Flows

Software

Automation inside Salesforce

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: n8n starter tier limited to 1 project and 5 concurrent executions; Salesforce Flows not suitable for highly complex scenarios with intricate decision-making or bulk data processing
  • They diverge on capability: n8n covers Workflow automation, Salesforce Flows covers Visual flow builder.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which n8n and Salesforce Flows actually diverge.

Attributes where n8n and Salesforce Flows differ
Attributen8nSalesforce Flows
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
PlatformsWeb, Docker, Self-hostedSalesforce Cloud, Web, Mobile
Founded20191999

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 n8n

  • Workflow automation
  • Visual editor
  • Conditional execution
  • Looping
  • Scheduling
  • REST API
  • 400+ integrations
  • HTTP requests

Only in Salesforce Flows

  • Visual flow builder
  • Approvals
  • Scheduled actions
  • Screen flows
  • Multi-step workflows
  • Conditional logic
  • Salesforce native
  • External APIs

Both cover

  • Error handling
  • Webhooks
  • Webhooks
  • 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 Salesforce Flows
  • Visual workflow design with capability to write custom JavaScript or Python codenot Salesforce Flows
  • Enterprise deployments with self-hosted or cloud optionsnot Salesforce Flows
  • Integrating 500+ pre-built applications with custom API connectionsnot Salesforce Flows

Salesforce Flows

  • Workflow Automationnot n8n
  • Data Integrationnot n8n
  • Process Automationnot n8n
  • App Integrationnot n8n
  • API Connectivitynot 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

Salesforce Flows

  • Not suitable for highly complex scenarios with intricate decision-making or bulk data processing
  • No automatic record locking, causing conflicts when multiple users update same records
  • Limited error handling compared to Apex
  • Requires Enterprise edition or higher for full capabilities
  • Auto-launched Flows cannot display screens to users
  • Complex dependency management and configuration challenges when deploying between environments

Pricing, plan by plan

n8n

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the n8n review.

Salesforce Flows

Free
  • Salesforce FreeFree
    • 2 user licenses
    • Basic workflows
    • Limited automation
  • Starter$25/user/month
    • Sales flows
    • Lead routing
    • Email marketing analytics
  • Professional$100/user/month
    • Sales quoting
    • Forecasting
    • AppExchange access
  • Enterprise$165/user/month
    • Full Flow Builder
    • Custom objects
    • Sandboxes

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 Salesforce Flows if

  • You need visual flow builder.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Salesforce Cloud, Web, Mobile.
  • You also want approvals.
Salesforce Flows review

Questions people ask

Is n8n or Salesforce Flows better?
Neither clearly leads. n8n starts at Free and Salesforce Flows at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, n8n or Salesforce Flows?
n8n starts at Free and Salesforce Flows at Free.
Does n8n or Salesforce Flows run on more platforms?
n8n runs on Web, Docker, Self-hosted. Salesforce Flows runs on Salesforce Cloud, Web, Mobile.
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 Salesforce Flows is typically brought in for.
What can n8n do that Salesforce Flows cannot?
n8n covers Workflow automation, Visual editor, Conditional execution, Looping. Salesforce Flows covers Visual flow builder, Approvals, Scheduled actions, Screen flows. Both handle Error handling, Webhooks, Webhooks, Cloud deployment.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Salesforce Flows: Which Salesforce editions include Flows?

Salesforce Flow Builder is included in Enterprise Edition ($165/user/month) and above. Professional Edition lacks advanced automation capabilities and Flow Builder access. Starter and lower editions have limited Flow support.

Source
Salesforce Flows: What are the main limitations of Salesforce Flows?

Flows are limited by DML operations (max 150 data elements that modify data), SOQL queries (max 100 data elements that retrieve data), and are not designed for bulk processing. Auto-launched Flows do not support screens and have limited error handling compared to Apex.

Source
Salesforce Flows: Can Salesforce Flows integrate with external systems?

Yes, through MuleSoft connectors and Salesforce API Catalog. Pre-built connectors exist for systems like Asana, and admins can create custom connectors. Complex integrations may still require Apex or third-party platforms.

Source
Salesforce Flows: When was Salesforce Flow redesigned?

Flow Builder was introduced in Spring '19 as a replacement for the previous Flow Designer, providing a more familiar interface similar to other Salesforce Lightning Builder tools.

Source
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