n8n vs Bardeen: Features, Pricing and Verdict
n8n vs Bardeen compared on features, pricing and fit. n8n runs server-side workflows; Bardeen automates tasks inside your browser. Pick the right one.
By Galactic News Editorial · Published 2026-11-11T07:27:49+00:00 · Updated 2026-11-11T07:27:49+00:00
n8n vs Bardeen: Features, Pricing and Verdict
n8n and Bardeen both automate work, but they solve different problems. n8n is a node-based workflow platform that connects apps on a server. Bardeen is a browser extension that automates tasks inside the web pages you already use. Choose n8n for scheduled, server-side workflows. Choose Bardeen for browser work such as scraping and lead research. This comparison covers features, pricing and the right fit for each tool.
n8n vs Bardeen at a glance
| Attribute | n8n | Bardeen |
|---|---|---|
| Where it runs | Cloud or your own server | Browser extension (Chrome, Edge, Brave, Arc) |
| How you build | Visual node editor with code options | No-code Playbooks or plain-language Magic Box |
| Best for | Scheduled workflows across apps | Scraping, lead research and in-browser tasks |
| Runs unattended | Yes, on cloud or self-hosted | Free runs need the browser open |
| Free option | Free self-hosted Community Edition | 100 free credits every month |
| Entry paid price | Starter at 20 euros a month, billed annually | Basic at 10 dollars a month |
| Billing unit | Workflow executions | Credits per output row |
How n8n works
n8n builds workflows from nodes. Each node is a step, such as a trigger, an app action or a code block. A workflow runs from start to finish when its trigger fires. n8n charges per workflow execution, not per step. A long workflow with many steps still counts as one execution. Every paid plan includes unlimited users, unlimited workflows and every integration. The Community Edition is free to self-host under the Sustainable Use License. It has no execution cap from n8n. You pay only for your own server. The trade-off is maintenance. You handle updates, backups and security yourself. n8n Cloud removes that work. It starts with a 14-day free trial and needs no credit card to start. Cloud plans are hosted by n8n in Frankfurt. n8n also supports AI agents and MCP connections on its paid plans. That makes it a strong fit for technical teams that want code-level control.
How Bardeen works
Bardeen lives inside your browser as an extension. It runs Playbooks, which are small automations built from ready-made actions. You can start from a catalog of pre-built Playbooks or describe a task in plain language. Its Magic Box feature then builds the steps for you. Bardeen focuses on go-to-market work. Its main tools are a web scraper, web search, contact enrichment and AI actions. It can pull lead lists from websites, find and validate contact details, qualify leads and send results to Google Sheets, Airtable or Notion. Because it runs in your browser, it can read pages that need a login. That is its biggest strength. It is also its main limit. On the free allowance, automations run only while the browser stays open. Running with the browser closed is a paid feature. Bardeen suits sales and research work done by hand in the browser.
n8n vs Bardeen pricing
n8n lists its prices in euros. Bardeen lists its prices in dollars. The table below uses each vendor's own pricing page, checked on 2026-11-11.
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| n8n Community Edition | Free | Self-hosted, no execution cap from n8n |
| n8n Starter | 20 euros a month, billed annually | 2,500 executions a month, hosted by n8n |
| n8n Pro | 50 euros a month, billed annually | 25,000 executions a month, hosted by n8n |
| n8n Business | 667 euros a month, billed annually | 40,000 executions a month, self-hosted only |
| Bardeen free allowance | 0 dollars | 100 credits every month |
| Bardeen Basic | 10 dollars a month | 100 more credits a month |
| Bardeen Premium | 50 dollars a month, or 480 dollars a year | 1,000 more credits a month |
| Bardeen Enterprise | Custom | Custom bulk credits and support |
Bardeen charges one credit per output row for scraping, web search and AI actions. Enrichment costs three credits per row. Import, export and utility actions are free. Unused credits expire at the end of each billing period. That makes Bardeen's free allowance small for heavy scraping. Ten profile links with enrichment can cost more than half of it. n8n's Starter plan, by contrast, covers 2,500 full workflow runs a month. The two meters are hard to compare directly. Count rows for Bardeen and count runs for n8n.
Setup time also differs. Bardeen installs as a browser extension in minutes. You can run a first Playbook the same day. n8n Cloud is also quick to start, with a trial that needs no credit card. Self-hosted n8n takes longer. You need a server, a database and a plan for updates. The learning curve follows the same split. Bardeen is built for non-technical users. Its Magic Box turns plain-language requests into working steps. n8n rewards technical skill. Its node editor, code steps and API access give experts more control. Beginners can still use n8n, but they will move slower at first. Support differs too. n8n's paid plans include forum support, with dedicated support on Enterprise. Bardeen's Enterprise plan adds premium support and custom scrapers built by its team.
Which tool fits which team
Pick n8n if you need workflows that run on a schedule without anyone watching. It fits data syncs, notifications, order processing and multi-app pipelines. Pick it if your team can run a server, because the Community Edition is free forever. Pick Bardeen if your work happens inside the browser. It fits lead sourcing, LinkedIn research, price checks and copying data between web apps. Pick it if you want results the same day with no setup. Small sales teams often get value from Bardeen's free credits alone. Technical teams usually outgrow it fast. The tools can also work together. Bardeen can collect leads in the browser. n8n can then process, enrich and route those leads on a server. That pairing uses each tool where it is strongest.
Bottom line
n8n vs Bardeen is not a close call once you name the job. n8n wins for automated workflows that must run alone, on a schedule, across many apps. Its free self-hosted edition and per-execution pricing make it cheap at scale. Bardeen wins for browser work, scraping and lead research done by a person at a keyboard. Its free 100 credits a month are enough to test real work. If you can only pick one, pick n8n for backend automation and Bardeen for browser automation. If your work spans both, use both.