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Software · head to head

n8n vs Xano

n8n logo

n8n

Software

The fair-code workflow automation tool

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Xano logo

Xano

Software

The low-code backend platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: n8n starter tier limited to 1 project and 5 concurrent executions; Xano limited real-time capabilities; websocket support underdeveloped and not suitable for real-time applications
  • They diverge on capability: n8n covers Workflow automation, Xano covers API builder.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which n8n and Xano actually diverge.

Attributes where n8n and Xano differ
Attributen8nXano
Pricing modelfreemiumusage-based
PlatformsWeb, Docker, Self-hostedWeb, Cloud, BYOC
Founded20192014

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
  • Error handling
  • 400+ integrations
  • HTTP requests
  • Custom nodes

Only in Xano

  • API builder
  • Database management
  • Data transformation
  • Real-time sync
  • Authentication
  • Zapier
  • Make
  • OAuth

Both cover

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

Xano

  • 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

Xano

  • Limited real-time capabilities; websocket support underdeveloped and not suitable for real-time applications
  • Performance concerns at scale; users report crashes, dropped queries, and no RAM visibility on any plan
  • Interface designed for mouse input only, does not work well with touch-screen tablets
  • Limited version control, data backup and restore features, and data management logging capabilities
  • Requires pairing with a frontend builder, adding cost, complexity, and integration overhead

Pricing, plan by plan

n8n

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the n8n review.

Xano

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Limited requests
    • Basic features
  • Professional$99/month
    • 100K requests
    • Advanced features
  • Business$299/month
    • 500K requests
    • Premium support

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 Xano if

  • You need api builder.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Cloud, BYOC.
  • You also want database management.
Xano review

Questions people ask

Is n8n or Xano better?
Neither clearly leads. n8n starts at Free and Xano at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, n8n or Xano?
n8n starts at Free and Xano at Free.
Does n8n or Xano run on more platforms?
n8n runs on Web, Docker, Self-hosted. Xano runs on Web, Cloud, BYOC.
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 Xano is typically brought in for.
What can n8n do that Xano cannot?
n8n covers Workflow automation, Visual editor, Conditional execution, Looping. Xano covers API builder, Database management, Data transformation, Real-time sync. Both handle Scheduling, Webhooks, REST API, Webhooks.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Xano: Does Xano offer a free plan?

Yes. Xano offers a free plan with unlimited APIs and a rate limit. The free plan includes watermarked stored images. Paid plans start at $85 per month.

Source
Xano: What databases does Xano use?

Xano provides managed PostgreSQL database with no migrations or DevOps overhead required. It includes automatic backups, scaling, and full ACID transaction support.

Source
Xano: Does Xano require coding knowledge?

Xano is a no-code platform but requires foundational understanding of backend concepts like database structure, APIs, authentication, and logic flow. The learning curve is steep, requiring weeks or months to become proficient.

Source
Xano: What integrations does Xano support?

Xano integrates with Snowflake, Datadog, AWS, GCP, Azure, Stripe, Segment, and works with frontend platforms like Bubble, Webflow, FlutterFlow, and Lovable.

Source
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