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It's a split decision.
Choose Langflow for visual AI agents and MCP servers, especially if you want Python customization and self-hosting. Its open-source edition is free, but cloud pricing and seat limits are not published. Choose n8n for workflow automation controls: approvals, run-by-run visibility, and error recovery. Community self-hosting is free; Cloud Starter costs $20/month annually ($24 monthly), with 2,500 executions monthly and a hard cap.
01Side by side
| Langflow | n8n | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free self-hosted; cloud price not published | Free self-hosted; Cloud Starter $20/month annually |
| Free plan | Yes: MIT-licensed self-hosted open source | Yes: Community Edition self-hosted |
| Best for | Visual AI agents, MCP servers, reusable flows | Automations combining AI, rules, and approvals |
| Core strength | Visual AI building with Python customization | Step-level run visibility and error recovery |
| Learning curve | Visual flows plus Python customization | Visual builder; code is optional |
| Integrations/data | Connect models, vector stores, data sources, tools | Workflow connections; catalog details not published |
| Team/seat costs | Seat limits not published | Unlimited users; Starter is $20/month annually |
| Support | IBM Elite Support available; terms not published | Enterprise dedicated support with SLA; custom quote |
Langflow Choose Langflow if
- Choose Langflow if you’re building visual AI agents or MCP servers.
- Choose Langflow if Python customization matters to your team.
- Choose Langflow if free, self-hosted open source is enough.
n8n Choose n8n if
- Choose n8n if you need approvals alongside AI and rule-based workflows.
- Choose n8n if run-by-run visibility and error recovery matter.
- Choose n8n if you want published cloud pricing and execution limits.
02Pricing compared
Langflow’s self-hosted, MIT-licensed open-source edition is free. Its pricing page does not publish cloud prices, seat limits, usage limits, or billing terms, so teams should confirm costs before committing to a hosted deployment. IBM Elite Support and watsonx integration are listed for enterprise, but their prices are not published.
n8n’s Community Edition is free to self-host, with executions limited by your own server; it does not include vendor hosting or support. Cloud Starter is $20 per month with annual billing or $24 monthly, and includes 2,500 executions per month with a hard cap. Pro starts at $50 monthly with annual billing or $60 monthly. Both cloud plans have a 14-day trial. n8n’s Business self-hosted plan is $800 monthly with annual billing or $960 monthly.
03Features and depth
Langflow is centered on building AI agents and MCP servers with visual flows. Teams can connect models, vector stores, data sources, and other tools, then customize flows and components with Python. Reusable components and pre-built flows support repeatable builds, while agent fleets can run one agent or multiple agents with access to components as tools. Langflow Cloud can deploy flows as APIs; the published product description also says the open-source and cloud versions are the same Langflow.
n8n covers broader workflow automation, including AI agents alongside standard automations. Its visual builder allows code when needed, and teams can inspect agent runs step by step, add human approvals, and rerun a failed step rather than the whole workflow. Self-hosting is available. SSO/SAML, LDAP, encrypted secret stores, RBAC, and audit logs are listed as enterprise security controls. The practical distinction: Langflow is more specifically aimed at visual AI and MCP builds; n8n emphasizes workflow control and operational visibility.
04Ease of use and learning curve
Both products offer visual builders, but neither removes the need to understand what a workflow is doing. Langflow’s drag-and-drop flows can help teams assemble AI components visually, while Python customization gives developers a way to go further. That flexibility may be useful, but teams wanting hosted Langflow costs or seat limits will need to ask; they are not published.
n8n makes workflow steps visible and supports code when the visual builder is not enough. Run history, step-level inspection, and rerunning an errored step are useful for diagnosing automations. Cloud plans also impose clear execution caps, so teams need to estimate volume before choosing a tier.
Questions people ask
Is n8n obsolete now?
The published product information does not indicate that n8n is obsolete. It describes a current workflow automation platform with AI agents, human approval steps, run-by-run visibility, and self-hosted and cloud options. That does not establish how it compares with every newer tool.
Is Langflow completely free?
Langflow’s MIT-licensed, self-hosted open-source edition is listed at $0. That does not mean every way of using Langflow is free: cloud pricing, seat limits, usage limits, and billing terms are not published. IBM support and watsonx integration are also listed without prices.
What’s the difference between n8n and LangChain?
The published material here does not describe LangChain’s features or pricing, so we can’t make a grounded comparison. It describes n8n as a visual workflow automation platform for automations and AI agents, with code options, approvals, and step-level run visibility.
What are some good alternatives to Langflow for AI workflows?
n8n is one option if you want visual workflow automation alongside AI agents, approvals, and run-by-run visibility. The published information does not compare other alternatives, so we can’t rank additional tools or say which fits your workflow without more detail.