n8n
Microsoft Power Automate
| Feature | n8n | Microsoft Power Automate |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $24/mo | Free / from $15/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.6 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Best For | developers, technical-teams, agencies, cost-conscious-teams, ai-builders | microsoft-users, enterprise, it-departments, business-analysts |
| Founded | 2019 | 2016 |
| Workflows | ✓ | ✗ |
| Self Hosting | ✓ | ✗ |
| Code Nodes | ✓ | ✗ |
| Webhooks | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ai Agents | ✓ | ✗ |
| Api | ✓ | ✗ |
| Docker | ✓ | ✗ |
| Cloud Flows | ✗ | ✓ |
| Desktop Flows | ✗ | ✓ |
| Rpa | ✗ | ✓ |
| Ai Builder | ✗ | ✓ |
| Connectors | ✗ | ✓ |
| Process Mining | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ 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
✓ Microsoft Power Automate Pros
- Microsoft integration
- RPA included
- AI builder
- Enterprise-grade
✗ Microsoft Power Automate Cons
- Complex licensing
- Learning curve
- Microsoft-centric
The Verdict
n8n is built for developers and technical teams, with a focus on workflows and self-hosting. Microsoft Power Automate targets microsoft users and enterprise and leads with cloud-flows and desktop-flows.
On pricing, Microsoft Power Automate is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $15/mo compared to $24/mo for n8n. That $9/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 4.2). 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 Microsoft Power Automate takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
Bottom line: n8n has a slight overall edge — but if microsoft integration matters most to you, Microsoft Power Automate may still be the right call.
