n8n vs Pipedream
A side-by-side look at 2 AI & ML tools for 2026 — the verdict, pricing, ratings, features, and what readers think.
n8n.io
Best for Technical teams automating workflows and AI agents who want self-hosting and code access
Workflow automation and AI agents you can self-host, inspect and run step by step.
Visit n8n
pipedream.com
Best for Developers adding managed-auth integrations and MCP tools to AI agents
Managed auth and 10,000+ prebuilt tools that give your AI agents access to 3,000+ APIs.
Visit PipedreamPricing compared
n8n
€20/mo (billed annually)
Pipedream
$99/mo
Head to head
| n8n | Pipedream | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | €20/mo (billed annually) | $99/mo |
| Free tier | — | Yes |
| Free trial | Free trial on cloud plans, no credit card required | Free for development, no credit card |
| Platforms | Web · Self-hosted · API · CLI | Web · API · CLI |
Pros & cons
n8n
Pros
- Every plan includes unlimited users and workflows; pricing is by monthly executions.
- Self-hosting is supported, so data can stay in your own environment.
- Built-in AI Agent node, MCP server and client support, and human approval for tool calls.
- Code steps in JavaScript or Python sit next to the visual editor.
- 500+ native integrations plus any API over HTTP.
Cons
- Cloud Starter allows 5 concurrent executions and a 5-minute maximum execution time.
- SSO and LDAP are not on Starter or Pro; they start at Business (self-hosted only) and Enterprise.
- The Business plan is listed at €667/mo billed annually, a large step up from Pro at €50/mo.
- More technical than no-code tools, so non-technical users may find it harder to start.
Pipedream
Pros
- Managed OAuth and token refresh remove the need to register apps for each API.
- 10,000+ prebuilt tools and triggers cover most common SaaS actions.
- Remote MCP server works with any MCP client.
- Free plan includes every feature for development with unlimited team members.
- States SOC 2 Type 2 and GDPR compliance on all plans.
Cons
- Production use requires the paid Startup plan or a custom Business contract.
- Usage credits are billed per 30 seconds of compute, which takes effort to forecast.
- Developer-first with SDKs and code samples, so non-technical teams get less from it.
- SSO, SCIM and HIPAA are limited to the custom Business plan.