Kestra
n8n
| Feature | Kestra | n8n |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $100/mo | Free / from $24/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.4 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 |
| Best For | data-engineers, devops-teams, backend-developers, workflow-automation | developers, technical-teams, agencies, cost-conscious-teams, ai-builders |
| Founded | 2020 | 2019 |
| Workflow Orchestration | ✓ | ✗ |
| Scheduling | ✓ | ✗ |
| Event Triggers | ✓ | ✗ |
| Plugins | ✓ | ✗ |
| Monitoring | ✓ | ✗ |
| Secret Management | ✓ | ✗ |
| Multi Tenant | ✓ | ✗ |
| Workflows | ✗ | ✓ |
| Self Hosting | ✗ | ✓ |
| Code Nodes | ✗ | ✓ |
| Webhooks | ✗ | ✓ |
| Ai Agents | ✗ | ✓ |
| Api | ✗ | ✓ |
| Docker | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Kestra Pros
- Open-source with full orchestration capabilities
- Declarative YAML workflows (GitOps friendly)
- 500+ plugins for data, cloud, and messaging services
- Real-time triggers, schedules, and event listeners
✗ Kestra Cons
- Less visual builder than no-code tools
- Learning curve for YAML workflow syntax
- Newer platform with smaller community than Airflow
✓ n8n Pros
- Free self-hosting (forever)
- Full JavaScript/Python in every node
- AI agent workflow builder
- No per-task pricing when self-hosted
✗ n8n Cons
- Requires technical setup for self-hosting
- 400+ integrations vs Zapier's 7,000+
- Steeper learning curve than Zapier or Make
The Verdict
Kestra is built for data engineers and devops teams, with a focus on workflow-orchestration and scheduling. n8n targets developers and technical teams and leads with workflows and self-hosting.
On pricing, n8n is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $24/mo compared to $100/mo for Kestra. That $76/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Both offer free plans, so you can test each with your real workflow before committing to a subscription.
This is a genuinely close comparison. If you can, sign up for both free trials (where available) and run a one-week test with your actual team tasks before deciding.
