n8n vs Pipedream: Features, Pricing and Verdict
n8n vs Pipedream compared on features and pricing. n8n wins workflow automation; Pipedream Connect serves AI agents. Workflows shuts down March 2027.
By Galactic News Editorial · Published 2026-11-08T10:24:41+00:00 · Updated 2026-11-08T10:24:41+00:00
n8n vs Pipedream: Features, Pricing and Verdict
n8n and Pipedream both serve developers who automate with code, but they now point in different directions. n8n is a workflow automation platform with a free self-hosted edition and cloud plans. Pipedream has shifted to an integration layer for AI agents, and its Workflows product shuts down on March 31, 2027. This n8n vs pipedream guide focuses on what each tool does today, not what it did a year ago.
n8n vs Pipedream at a Glance
| Feature | n8n | Pipedream |
|---|---|---|
| Core idea | Visual workflows with code steps | Integration layer for apps and agents |
| Self-hosting | Yes, free Community Edition | No, cloud only |
| Billing unit | Workflow execution | Usage credit per 30 seconds of compute |
| Cloud from | 20 euros a month, billed annually | Free in development; Startup for production |
| Connectors | Every integration on all plans | 3,000+ connectors, 10,000+ tools |
| Code support | JavaScript and Python nodes | Node.js, Python, Go, Bash steps |
| Workflows product | Active and growing | Shuts down March 31, 2027 |
How n8n Works
n8n builds automations as workflows on a visual canvas. You connect nodes, and each node does one job, such as fetching data, transforming it, or calling an API. Code nodes run JavaScript or Python when the visual nodes are not enough. Triggers start workflows on a schedule, a webhook, or an app event.
n8n charges per execution, not per step. A workflow with 50 nodes that runs once counts as one execution. That rule makes costs easy to predict. The Starter cloud plan costs 20 euros a month on annual billing and includes 2,500 executions. Pro costs 50 euros a month and includes 10,000 executions. A larger Pro size covers 50,000 executions for about 121 euros a month on annual billing.
Self-hosting is n8n's biggest draw. The Community Edition is free under a fair-code license, with no execution cap from n8n. You pay only for your server. The paid Business license, for self-hosted use, starts at 667 euros a month on annual billing and adds single sign-on, Git, environments, and shared projects. Enterprise is priced on request.
Every plan includes unlimited users and unlimited workflows. The meter is executions alone. That makes n8n friendly to small teams that run many workflows at low volume.
How Pipedream Works
Pipedream now describes itself as the integration layer for AI agents. It offers managed authentication for more than 3,000 APIs, over 10,000 prebuilt tools and triggers, and a single MCP endpoint that lets agents call those tools. Developers build with code in Node.js, Python, Go, or Bash.
The important change is the Workflows shutdown. Pipedream announced that Workflows and its String product shut down on March 31, 2027. Workflows no longer accepts signups or subscriptions. Existing workflows keep running until the shutdown date, and workflow data will be deleted by April 30, 2027. Pipedream Connect is not affected.
Current pricing is built around Connect. Development is free, with every feature available while you build and test. The Startup plan is required to serve real external users in production. It costs $99 a month billed annually, or $150 billed monthly, and includes 100 external users and 10,000 usage credits. Extra users cost $2 each, and extra credits cost $0.012 each. Business is custom priced and adds volume pricing, SSO, SCIM, HIPAA support, and dedicated support.
A usage credit covers one action, MCP tool call, proxy request, or trigger event per 30 seconds of compute. Management calls, such as listing apps and accounts, do not use credits.
n8n vs Pipedream Pricing
| Plan | n8n price | n8n allowance | Pipedream price | Pipedream allowance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | Community Edition, $0 license | No execution meter | Free, development only | Every feature while building |
| Entry paid | Starter, 20 euros a month billed annually | 2,500 executions a month | Startup, $99 a month billed annually | 10,000 credits, 100 users |
| Mid paid | Pro, 50 euros a month billed annually | 10,000 executions a month | Business, custom | Volume pricing |
| Top paid | Business, 667 euros a month billed annually | 40,000 executions, self-hosted | Business, custom | SSO, SCIM, HIPAA, SLAs |
Monthly billing costs more on both sides: n8n Starter is 24 euros and Pro is 60 euros a month; Pipedream Startup is $150 a month. Annual billing saves 17 percent on n8n. Prices are in euros for n8n and dollars for Pipedream, so compare them in your own currency before you commit.
For workflow automation, n8n is far cheaper at the entry level. Starter at 20 euros a month covers 2,500 full workflow runs. Pipedream Startup at $99 a month buys Connect production access, not a general workflow tool. The n8n vs pipedream price gap reflects two different products now, so compare what each price actually buys.
Community and support differ too. n8n has a large open community, a public GitHub repository, and many shared workflow templates that new users can copy and adapt. Pipedream offers community support on the free plan, email support on Startup, and a dedicated Slack channel on Business. If you learn by example, the n8n template library is a real advantage.
Features Compared
n8n leads on workflow building. Its canvas, code nodes, and execution history suit teams that run scheduled jobs, sync data between apps, and build internal tools. Self-hosting gives full control over data and cost. The community is large, with a public GitHub repository and many shared workflow templates.
Pipedream leads on API connectivity for agents. Its 3,000-plus connectors and managed per-user authentication solve a hard problem: letting an AI agent act inside a user's connected apps without handling OAuth tokens by hand. The MCP server exposes those tools to assistants in one endpoint. For agent builders, that is the product.
Both tools support code, but the style differs. n8n wraps code inside visual workflows, so a non-developer can follow the flow and a developer can drop into code where needed. Pipedream is code-first, so developers write steps directly and keep full control of the logic.
Data control also differs. n8n lets you host the whole platform on your own server, which suits teams with strict data rules. Pipedream is cloud only, with no self-hosting option at any price. Its security story rests on SOC 2 Type 2, GDPR, and encrypted credentials scoped per project.
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose n8n if you need workflow automation. It is the clear pick for scheduled jobs, app-to-app syncs, and internal tools. The n8n vs pipedream choice is simpler than it looks: workflows go to n8n, and agent integrations go to Pipedream. The free self-hosted edition removes the cost question entirely, and the cloud plans stay cheap as volume grows.
Choose Pipedream Connect if you build AI agents or apps that act inside your users' accounts. Managed authentication for thousands of APIs is the hard part, and Pipedream handles it. Do not choose Pipedream for new workflow automation, since Workflows shuts down on March 31, 2027.
Some teams use both. n8n runs the internal workflows, and Pipedream Connect supplies the authenticated tools that an agent calls. That split plays to each tool's strength and avoids betting new workflows on a product with a shutdown date.
Bottom Line: n8n vs Pipedream
n8n vs Pipedream is no longer a close call for workflow automation. Pipedream's Workflows shutdown ends that contest: n8n wins for scheduled jobs, data syncs, and self-hosted control, starting free or at 20 euros a month. Pipedream wins a different contest, as the integration layer that lets AI agents act across thousands of APIs, with production access from $99 a month. Pick n8n for workflows, Pipedream Connect for agent integrations, and both if your stack needs each job done well.