n8n
osTicket
| Feature | n8n | osTicket |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $24/mo | Free / from $12/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.6 / 5 | 4 / 5 |
| Best For | developers, technical-teams, agencies, cost-conscious-teams, ai-builders | small-businesses, budget-conscious-teams, self-hosted-advocates, it-departments |
| Founded | 2019 | 2003 |
| Workflows | ✓ | ✗ |
| Self Hosting | ✓ | ✗ |
| Code Nodes | ✓ | ✗ |
| Webhooks | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ai Agents | ✓ | ✗ |
| Api | ✓ | ✗ |
| Docker | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ticket Management | ✗ | ✓ |
| Email Piping | ✗ | ✓ |
| Custom Fields | ✗ | ✓ |
| Sla Management | ✗ | ✓ |
| Agent Collision Avoidance | ✗ | ✓ |
| Knowledge Base | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ 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
✓ osTicket Pros
- Completely free self-hosted version
- Active open-source community
- Highly customizable
- Supports multiple departments
✗ osTicket Cons
- Dated user interface
- Requires server management
- Limited automation compared to paid tools
The Verdict
n8n is built for developers and technical teams, with a focus on workflows and self-hosting. osTicket targets small businesses and budget conscious teams and leads with ticket-management and email-piping.
On pricing, osTicket is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $12/mo compared to $24/mo for n8n. That $12/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.
n8n edges out on user ratings (4.6 vs 4). While both are well-regarded, that gap reflects real differences in user satisfaction worth considering.
Feature-wise, n8n offers broader built-in capabilities (7 features vs 6), while osTicket takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
Bottom line: n8n has a slight overall edge — but if completely free self-hosted version matters most to you, osTicket may still be the right call.
