Google Agent Development Kit vs n8n
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, and ratings
At a glance
| Dimension | Google Agent Development Kit | n8n |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free (MIT license) | Free self-hosted, paid Cloud tiers (execution-based) |
| Deployment | Local development, deploy via Cloud Run, GKE, Apigee AI Gateway | Self-host via Docker or n8n Cloud |
| Language Support | Python, TypeScript, Go, Java, Kotlin SDKs | JavaScript/Python snippets in workflows |
| Key Features | Graph workflows, collaborative agents, observability, MCP/A2A protocols | Visual builder, 500+ integrations, human-in-the-loop, execution-based pricing |
| Model Support | Gemini, Gemma, Claude, plus Ollama, vLLM, LiteLLM | OpenAI, Anthropic via integrations |
| Target User | Developers building production multi-agent systems | IT Ops, SecOps, DevOps, developers needing visual + custom logic |
If you're a developer who wants a lightweight, code-first framework tightly integrated with Google Cloud and multi-model routing, ADK 2.0 is your pick—especially now with graph workflows. But if you need a visual canvas, 500+ integrations out of the box, and fine-grained control over execution costs, n8n gives you that flexibility with self-hosting and human-in-the-loop guardrails. Choose n8n for ops-heavy automation with a GUI; choose ADK for pure code-based agent orchestration.
Google's open-source framework for building production-grade AI agents across Python, TypeScript, Go, Java, and Kotlin.
Visit WebsiteFeature-by-feature
n8n and ADK target different workflows. n8n shines with its drag-and-drop canvas and 500+ pre-built integrations—think Slack, Salesforce, HubSpot—plus the ability to inject JavaScript or Python anywhere, making it a favorite for IT Ops, SecOps, and DevOps teams that need quick automations with audit trails. Its AI agent builder supports multi-agent and RAG, and every reasoning step is traceable on the canvas. Execution-based pricing is a differentiator: you pay per execution, not per step or user. ADK, on the other hand, is a pure-code SDK across five languages (Python, TypeScript, Go, Java, Kotlin) and is MIT-licensed free. ADK 2.0 now adds graph workflows for deterministic logic and collaborative agents—ideal for complex orchestration. It supports Gemini, Gemma, and Claude, with model routing via Ollama, vLLM, LiteLLM, and LiteRT-LM, and even MCP/A2A protocols. ADK’s enterprise observability (logging, metrics, traces) and REST API are baked in, plus deployment via Cloud Run, GKE, or Apigee. No visual builder like n8n’s, but it has a web interface and visual builder for those who want it. If you need no-code, n8n wins; if you want code-level orchestration with multi-model flexibility, ADK leads.
Pricing compared
Pricing flips the script between these two. ADK is free under MIT license—you only pay for the compute and services you use, like Google Cloud Run or GKE, and any API calls to models like Gemini or Claude. No per-seat, per-step, or execution fees. n8n is freemium: you can self-host for free, but if you want managed n8n Cloud, you pay based on execution volume—not per step or user, which is great for high-step workflows. The free self-hosted tier gives you full functionality; you only pay for cloud convenience and support. For most developers, ADK’s direct cost is zero for the framework itself, but n8n’s execution-based pricing can be more predictable for automation workloads that have many integrations but occasional runs. If you’re on Google Cloud and need minimal overhead, ADK’s free model is compelling. But if you want a managed platform with built-in integrations, n8n Cloud’s execution-based pricing might be simpler to budget than cloud compute and model API costs.
Who should pick which
- IT Ops teams automating onboarding and incident responsePick: n8n
n8n’s visual drag-and-drop with 500+ integrations and human-in-the-loop approvals lets you build onboarding flows quickly, with multiple checkpoints for manual review.
- Security operations (SecOps) enriching threat intelligence with SOAR-like workflowsPick: n8n
n8n’s traceable agent reasoning and ability to inject Python/Javascript for custom enrichment logic fit SOAR patterns, and execution-based pricing keeps costs tied to actual threat events.
- Developers building production multi-agent systems on Google CloudPick: Google Agent Development Kit
ADK 2.0’s graph workflows and collaborative agents are built for complex orchestration, plus native integration with Cloud Run, GKE, and Apigee makes deployment smooth.
- Teams needing multi-language agent development (Python, TS, Go, Java, Kotlin)Pick: Google Agent Development Kit
No other tool offers SDKs in all these languages; n8n only supports JS/Python snippets, so ADK is the clear choice for polyglot teams.
- DevOps teams converting natural language into API callsPick: n8n
n8n’s 500+ pre-built integrations and visual canvas let you quickly wire up API calls, with custom code nodes for complex transforms—plus self-hosting for full control.
Frequently Asked Questions
Google Agent Development Kit vs n8n: which should you choose?
If you're a developer who wants a lightweight, code-first framework tightly integrated with Google Cloud and multi-model routing, ADK 2.0 is your pick—especially now with graph workflows. But if you need a visual canvas, 500+ integrations out of the box, and fine-grained control over execution costs, n8n gives you that flexibility with self-hosting and human-in-the-loop guardrails. Choose n8n for ops-heavy automation with a GUI; choose ADK for pure code-based agent orchestration.
Can I use n8n with Gemini or Google Cloud models?
n8n has integrations for OpenAI and Anthropic, but the static data doesn’t mention Gemini. You can always add custom API calls, but there’s no native Gemini node listed.
Does ADK have a visual builder like n8n?
Yes, ADK has a web interface and visual builder, but it’s more of a code-centric tool. n8n’s visual canvas is more mature for non-technical users.
How do I manage human-in-the-loop approvals in ADK?
The static data doesn’t specify human-in-the-loop features for ADK. For that, n8n explicitly offers approvals and guardrails as a built-in feature.
Which one is better for self-hosting?
n8n is designed for self-hosting via Docker, making it easy to run on your own infrastructure. ADK is a framework you run on your own compute, but it’s less of a turnkey solution.
Can I use ADK with non-Google models only?
ADK supports Claude, Ollama, vLLM, and LiteLLM, so you can use non-Google models. However, it’s built with Google Cloud in mind, so you’ll get the best integration there.
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Last reviewed: August 13, 2026