Workflow Automation
An honest comparison to help you pick the right workflow automation tool in 2026.
| Feature | n8n | Windmill |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Workflow Automation | Workflow Automation |
| Free Tier | Yes | Yes |
| Paid Plan | $24/mo | $10/user/mo |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom |
| Best For | Technical teams who want self-hosted automation with the ability to write custom code nodes | Developer teams who want to build internal tools and automation with real code, not drag-and-drop |
| Feature 1 | Self-hostable | Code-first workflows |
| Feature 2 | Code nodes | TypeScript/Python/Go |
| Feature 3 | AI agents | Internal app builder |
| Feature 4 | 400+ integrations | Self-hostable |
| Feature 5 | Fair-code license | Auto-generated UIs |
| Website | n8n | Windmill |
n8n and Windmill are both popular choices in the workflow automation category, but they serve different types of developers. n8n is fair-code workflow automation tool with 400+ integrations, code nodes, self-hosting, and AI agent capabilities. Meanwhile, Windmill is open-source developer-first workflow platform for building scripts, flows, and internal apps with TypeScript, Python, and Go.
Both tools offer free tiers, which means you can try each one before committing. n8n's paid plan starts at $24/mo, while Windmill's starts at $10/user/mo.
n8n stands out with Code nodes and AI agents, while Windmill differentiates itself through Code-first workflows and TypeScript/Python/Go. The right choice depends on which capabilities matter most for your workflow. Ultimately, technical teams who want self-hosted automation with the ability to write custom code nodes, while Windmill is best for developer teams who want to build internal tools and automation with real code, not drag-and-drop.
n8n: Free tier available. Paid plans start at $24/mo. Enterprise pricing: Custom.
Windmill: Free tier available. Paid plans start at $10/user/mo. Enterprise pricing: Custom.
Choose n8n if you value self-hostable and code nodes. Go with Windmill if developer teams who want to build internal tools and automation with real code, not drag-and-drop. Both are solid workflow automation options in 2026 — the best pick depends on your team size, budget, and technical requirements. We recommend trying both (especially if they have free tiers) before committing to one.
Not sold on either n8n or Windmill? Check out these other workflow automation tools:
See all n8n alternatives or Windmill alternatives.
Read more about workflow automation on our Apps page.
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