| Feature | Dify | n8n |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Pricing | Free / $59/mo | Free (self-host) / $20/mo cloud |
| Rating | ★★★★★ 4.6 | ★★★★★ 4.6 |
| Key Feature 1 | Visual workflow builder | AI agent nodes |
| Key Feature 2 | RAG pipeline | 400+ integrations |
| Key Feature 3 | Multi-model support | Self-hostable |
Reach buyers comparing Dify and n8n. High-intent traffic, direct conversions.
Dify and n8n are rated almost identically by users (4.6 vs 4.6), so the right pick comes down to feature fit rather than overall quality. Both Dify and n8n offer free plans, so you can test both before committing. Both tools are widely used by programmers, startups, agencies — the deciding factor is usually which specific feature set matches your existing workflow.
Dify and n8n are frequently weighed against each other — Dify is built around coding tools while n8n leans toward productivity tools. Dify is best known for visual workflow builder, whereas n8n stands out for ai agent nodes. Both land at 4.6/5 with users, so the right pick comes down to fit rather than raw quality.
Where Dify pulls clearly ahead is building a customer-facing chatbot with RAG over your own documentation. A frequent plus in reviews: Open-source codebase — self-host for full data control, audit the code, or contribute to the community. n8n, by contrast, is the stronger choice for building complex automation workflows with custom JavaScript logic when needed. In its favour: Free self-hosting option provides cost savings and control over infrastructure, especially for large-scale automation tasks. Trying to force either tool outside its lane is where teams usually get frustrated.
Dify is the strongest open-source option for teams building production LLM applications who need more control than no-code tools but less overhead than building from scratch. N8n is the strongest choice when you need automation with the option to drop into code — the hybrid no-code/code approach covers a wider range of complexity than Make or Zapier. If you only have budget or appetite for one, match the tool to your heaviest workflow rather than the spec sheet.
Choose Dify if you are focused on developers and technical teams who want to build and deploy LLM-powered applications — chatbots, RAG pipelines, AI agents, and internal tools — without writing backend AI infrastructure from scratch, or if a big part of your week goes to creating internal AI tools that query your company knowledge base. Its free tier also lets you validate the fit before paying.
Choose n8n if your priority is technical teams and developers who want powerful automation with the flexibility of code, the ability to self-host for data privacy, and more capability than no-code-only tools like Zapier, especially for self-hosting the automation platform for complete data control. A free plan is available, so you can trial the workflow at zero cost first.
Real-world output tracks the ratings closely: Dify at 4.6/5 and n8n at 4.6/5, with the difference showing up most in building a customer-facing chatbot with RAG over your own documentation.
Learning curve is worth weighing. Dify has a known trade-off — Steeper learning curve than no-code tools. On n8n's side: Self-hosting requires technical expertise, which can be a barrier for non-technical users or those without extensive IT resources. Factor in the integrations you already rely on — that usually settles which one sticks after the trial.
Both tools offer a free plan, so you can trial each side by side before spending anything. Paid plans start at $59/mo for Dify (Professional (Cloud)) and $20/mo for n8n (Starter (Cloud)), making n8n the cheaper entry point at $20/mo versus $59/mo. The extra spend on Dify only pays off if you need what its higher tier unlocks. The sticker price rarely tells the whole story — check seat counts and usage limits before you commit.
🚀 Ready to decide? Try both free and see which fits your workflow.
Dify is an open-source platform for building production-ready AI applications and agents without deep engineering expertise. Its visual work… Read the full Dify review →
n8n is an open-source workflow automation platform that can be self-hosted — combining visual workflow building with the ability to write cu… Read the full n8n review →
• Open-source codebase — self-host for full data control, audit the code, or contribute to the community
• Supports all major AI models
• Visual builder, no deep coding needed
• Strong RAG and agent capabilities
• Steeper learning curve than no-code tools
• Self-hosting requires server setup — worth evaluating before committing if this is central to your use case
• Free self-hosting option provides cost savings and control over infrastructure, especially for large-scale automation tasks.
• Highly customizable and scalable, making it suitable for complex automation tasks and large-scale deployments.
• Supports 400+ integrations, providing extensive connectivity options and enabling seamless interactions between different apps and services.
• AI Agent nodes enable advanced automation capabilities, such as browsing the web, executing code, and querying databases.
• Self-hosting requires technical expertise, which can be a barrier for non-technical users or those without extensive IT resources.
• Cloud plan is pricier than some alternative automation tools, such as Zapier, which may be a concern for budget-conscious users.