Lindy vs n8n

Lindy focuses on being an AI teammate that integrates into communication channels like Slack, Gmail, and iMessage. It automates email triage, meeting scheduling, and follow-ups with natural language. Recent updates added Agent Builder, Autopilot for computer use, and Lindy Build for creating web apps via prompts. These features are designed for non-technical users to create custom agents without code. The new task sharing and retry features improve reliability and collaboration. However, it lacks the deep customization and control that n8n offers. n8n is a workflow automation platform built for technical teams. It provides a visual canvas with drag-and-drop nodes, but also allows JavaScript/Python code steps everywhere. It has 500+ pre-built integrations and custom API support, making it highly flexible. Its AI features include multi-agent workflows, RAG support, and traceable reasoning on the canvas. Recent community updates highlight code node management as files with TypeScript and NPM, enhancing developer experience. n8n's human-in-the-loop approvals and guardrails are crucial for enterprise deployments. While Lindy offers a simpler, more consumer-friendly interface, n8n provides granular control and extensibility. If you need to automate complex, multi-step processes with custom logic, n8n is the clear choice. If you want an AI assistant to handle routine admin tasks via chat, Lindy is more straightforward.

Both tools are freemium, but their pricing structures differ significantly. Lindy's pricing is based on features like Autopilot, which is available on Pro and above. It likely scales with usage or features, but the static data doesn't specify. n8n uses an execution-based pricing model, meaning you pay per workflow execution, not per step. This can be more cost-effective for complex workflows, but may hit caps in high-volume production. The freemium tiers allow you to start free, but you'll need to upgrade for advanced features like Lindy's Autopilot or n8n's SSO/RBAC. For a small team wanting a simple AI assistant, Lindy's Pro plan might be worth it. For enterprises with heavy automation needs, n8n's execution-based pricing might be more predictable, but self-hosting is free (open-source) which can reduce costs. The choice depends on your usage patterns and need for control. If you're a developer, you can self-host n8n and pay only for storage and compute, saving money. Lindy is cloud-only, so you pay subscription fees. Overall, n8n offers more flexibility in cost management, especially for high-volume automation.