n8n vs Power Automate

Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, and ratings

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At a glance

Dimensionn8nPower Automate
PricingFree self-hosted; cloud from $20/moFree for 1000 flows/mo; paid from $15/user/mo
Open SourceFully open source (GitHub 193k stars)Proprietary, no source access
AI AgentsMulti-agent, RAG, MCP, A2A, AI evalCopilot for flow creation, AI Builder models
DeploymentSelf-hosted (Docker) or cloudCloud-only (Azure)
Integrations500+ pre-built + custom APIs1000+ connectors, custom API support
GovernanceRBAC, SSO/SAML, audit logs, version control, DLP via nodesManaged Environments, DLP policies, mobile approvals

If you are a technical team that values open-source flexibility, data privacy, and cutting-edge AI agent orchestration (like A2A or MCP), n8n wins. If you are deeply invested in the Microsoft ecosystem and need enterprise-grade governance with low-code RPA, Power Automate is the natural fit. For most, n8n offers more innovation and freedom, but Power Automate provides tighter Microsoft integration.

Try n8nTry Power Automate
n8n
n8n

Open-source AI workflow automation with full traceability and control

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Power Automate
Power Automate

Low-code RPA and AI for Microsoft business process automation.

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Pricing
Freemium
Freemium
Plans
Free
€20/mo billed annually
€50/mo billed annually
€667/mo billed annually
Custom
$0 (30-day trial)
$15/user/month, paid yearly
$150/bot/month, paid yearly
$215/bot/month, paid yearly
Popularity
5.8k views
5.5k views
Skill Level
Intermediate
Beginner-friendly
API Available
Platforms
WebCLI
WebDesktopAPI
Categories
🤖 Automation & Agents
🤖 Automation & Agents
Features
Visual workflow builder with JavaScript/Python code
500+ pre-built integrations and custom API nodes
AI agent builder supporting multi-agent and RAG
Human-in-the-loop approvals and guardrails
On-prem deploy via Docker or n8n cloud
Git-based version control and workflow diffs
RBAC, SSO/SAML, LDAP, encrypted secrets
Audit logs, log streaming, workflow history
AI evaluation and performance optimization
Agent-to-Agent (A2A) protocol support
Community node: data leak prevention
Re-run single steps, replay data, mock calls
Isolated environments and multi-user workflows
Execution-based pricing (not per step/user)
AI authoring with Copilot for natural language flow creation
Desktop flows (RPA) for legacy system automation
Cloud flows (DPA) for apps, data, and services
Task and process mining for automation opportunity identification
Hosted RPA with auto-scaling on Azure infrastructure
Attended and unattended RPA execution
Over 1,000 API connectors available
Custom API connector creation
Prebuilt templates for rapid deployment
Managed Environments for governance and security
Data loss prevention (DLP) policies
Mobile approval support from anywhere
SAP procurement solution template
Integration with Microsoft 365: Teams, Excel, SharePoint
AI processing with built-in models for document and image extraction
Integrations
Slack
Salesforce
ServiceNow
Asana
GitHub
Docker
OpenAI
Anthropic Claude
Google Sheets
Microsoft Teams
Jira
PostgreSQL
MySQL
Redis
AWS S3
Excel
SharePoint
Outlook
OneDrive
Power BI
Power Apps
SAP
Dataverse
Microsoft 365 apps

Feature-by-feature

Both platforms offer visual workflow builders, but n8n's recent Agent-to-Agent (A2A) protocol support and MCP integration give it an edge for advanced AI workflows. n8n allows JavaScript/Python code nodes, self-hosting with Git version control, and re-running single steps — features for developers. Power Automate shines with its Copilot AI for natural language flow creation and robust governance (Managed Environments, DLP). However, n8n's open-source nature means full control and no vendor lock-in, while Power Automate locks you into Microsoft's cloud. n8n's 500+ integrations are sufficient, but Power Automate boasts 1000+ connectors, especially for Microsoft 365. For human-in-the-loop approvals, n8n has guardrails; Power Automate offers mobile approvals. n8n's AI evaluation and performance optimization are unique for production AI agents.

Pricing compared

n8n is free if self-hosted (no licensing cost, just infrastructure). Its cloud starter plan is $20/mo (1 seat). Power Automate has a free tier (1000 flows/month) but paid plans start at $15/user/month for cloud flows (3000 flows/month). RPA (unattended) bots cost $150/bot/month plus user license. For a solo developer or small team, n8n's free self-hosted option is vastly cheaper. For a large enterprise already paying for Microsoft E5, Power Automate may be included. But n8n's per-seat cloud pricing scales linearly, while Power Automate's per-bot RPA costs can explode. n8n offers better value for data-heavy, custom automation; Power Automate bundles well with M365 but gets expensive for RPA at scale.

Who should pick which

  • Developer building AI agents
    Pick: n8n

    n8n's native support for multi-agent, RAG, MCP, A2A, and AI evaluation allows custom, production-ready AI orchestration.

  • IT Ops automating employee onboarding
    Pick: Power Automate

    Tight integration with Microsoft 365 (Teams, SharePoint, Outlook) out-of-the-box simplifies onboarding flows.

  • Startup needing HIPAA/SOC 2
    Pick: n8n

    Self-hosted n8n lets you control compliance; Power Automate is cloud-only and may require extra Azure compliance costs.

  • Enterprise with heavy M365 use
    Pick: Power Automate

    Native connectors for Excel, Power BI, Dataverse and governance features like DLP policies align with Microsoft-centric orgs.

  • SecOps automating SOAR workflows
    Pick: n8n

    n8n's re-run single steps, mock external calls, and self-hosting provide control needed for security automation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use n8n for free?

Yes, n8n is fully open source and free to self-host (no license fees) with all features.

Does Power Automate have a free tier?

Yes, there is a free plan with 1000 cloud flow runs per month and limited connectors.

Which tool is better for AI agents?

n8n has stronger AI agent capabilities with multi-agent, RAG, MCP, and A2A support. Power Automate has Copilot for flow creation but not multi-agent orchestration.

Can I self-host these tools?

Only n8n supports self-hosting (Docker/on-prem). Power Automate runs only on Microsoft Azure cloud.

Which has more integrations?

Power Automate offers 1000+ connectors, especially Microsoft-centric. n8n has 500+ but supports custom APIs easily.

How do the mobile apps compare?

Power Automate has a dedicated mobile app for approvals. n8n relies on responsive web or third-party integrations for mobile access.

Is n8n or Power Automate easier to learn?

Power Automate is more accessible for non-technical users with Copilot and templates. n8n targets technical teams and requires some coding for advanced features.

Can I use n8n for RPA?

n8n is not an RPA tool; it automates APIs and cloud services. Power Automate has both cloud flows (DPA) and desktop flows (RPA).

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