AI Tool Comparison
n8n vs Workato
A side-by-side breakdown to help you pick the right tool for your workflow.
n8n
Visually connect apps, APIs, and AI models into multi-step automations, free and self-hostable, or run on Cloud with per-execution pricing.
Workato
Connect apps, orchestrate workflows, and now run AI agents to handle complex, cross-department processes at enterprise scale. Workato One adds agentic orchestration on top of core integration.
Bottom Line
Last reviewed: August 2026
n8n and Workato both compete in Automation, overlapping most directly on automation. n8n runs on a freemium model while Workato runs on a paid-only plan, which alone may settle it if budget or a free tier is a hard requirement. n8n carries the higher rating (4.7 vs 4.6), but a gap that size rarely overrides a real workflow fit on its own.
Choose n8n if…
Best for teams that want automation they can self-host and fully control, and its edge is free and self-hostable, with the same visual workflow builder as the paid competitors. The best choice when you want Zapier's flexibility without the recurring cost.
Choose Workato if…
Best for large organizations that need automation with the security and governance consumer tools don't provide, and its edge is enterprise-grade reliability and compliance controls built for complex, large-organization IT environments. The right tier once Zapier or Make can't meet your compliance requirements, the price reflects that enterprise scope.
| Attribute | n8n | Workato |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Automation | Automation |
| Pricing | freemium | paid |
| Pricing Detail | Free (self-hosted) / €20/mo Cloud Starter / €50/mo Cloud Pro | Custom quote-based: typical SMB ~$110K/yr, Enterprise ~$197K/yr |
| Rating |
Key Features
n8n
- 400+ integrations
- AI nodes (LangChain)
- Self-hosting option
- Code nodes (JavaScript/Python)
- Complex branching logic
- Natural-language AI Assistant for building workflows
Workato
- 1,200+ app connectors
- recipe suggestions
- On-prem agent
- Enterprise security and compliance
- Embedded integration platform
Pros
n8n
- •Open source and self-hostable
- •More powerful than Zapier for technical users
- •AI nodes are excellent
- •Great value vs Zapier
Workato
- •Enterprise-grade reliability and compliance
- •Best in class for complex enterprise workflows
- •Strong security controls
- •Excellent support
Cons
n8n
- Higher technical bar than Zapier
- Self-hosting requires maintenance
- Debugging complex flows can be hard
Workato
- Expensive, not for SMBs
- Requires dedicated admin
- Overkill for simple automations