n8n
Workato
| Feature | n8n | Workato |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $24/mo | Contact sales |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Rating | 4.6 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 |
| Best For | developers, technical-teams, agencies, cost-conscious-teams, ai-builders | enterprises, it-teams, business-operations, integration-architects |
| Founded | 2019 | 2013 |
| Workflows | ✓ | ✗ |
| Self Hosting | ✓ | ✗ |
| Code Nodes | ✓ | ✗ |
| Webhooks | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ai Agents | ✓ | ✗ |
| Api | ✓ | ✗ |
| Docker | ✓ | ✗ |
| Recipe Builder | ✗ | ✓ |
| Connectors | ✗ | ✓ |
| Workbot | ✗ | ✓ |
| Api Management | ✗ | ✓ |
| Governance | ✗ | ✓ |
| Ai Copilot | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ 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
✓ Workato Pros
- Leader in enterprise iPaaS
- AI-powered recipe building
- Strong governance
- 1000+ pre-built connectors
✗ Workato Cons
- Enterprise pricing only
- Complex for simple needs
- Requires dedicated admin
The Verdict
n8n is built for developers and technical teams, with a focus on workflows and self-hosting. Workato targets enterprises and it teams and leads with recipe-builder and connectors.
Workato uses custom enterprise pricing, while n8n starts at $24/mo — a tangible advantage for teams with a fixed budget.
n8n has a free plan, which gives it a meaningful edge for individuals and small teams exploring their options. Workato requires a paid subscription from day one.
Feature-wise, n8n offers broader built-in capabilities (7 features vs 6), while Workato takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
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.
