| Feature | Microsoft Agent 365 | n8n |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | ✗ No | ✓ Yes |
| Pricing | $30/user/mo (add-on) | Free (self-host) / $20/mo cloud |
| Rating | ★★★★☆ 4.4 | ★★★★★ 4.6 |
| Key Feature 1 | Centralised agent management | AI agent nodes |
| Key Feature 2 | Microsoft 365 integration | 400+ integrations |
| Key Feature 3 | Microsoft Graph connectivity | Self-hostable |
Reach buyers comparing Microsoft Agent 365 and n8n. High-intent traffic, direct conversions.
Microsoft Agent 365 and n8n are rated almost identically by users (4.4 vs 4.6), so the right pick comes down to feature fit rather than overall quality. n8n offers a free plan, making it the lower-risk option to try first — Microsoft Agent 365 starts at $30/user/mo (add-on). Microsoft Agent 365 tends to be favoured by remote-work and sales, while n8n is more popular with programmers and freelancers.
Microsoft Agent 365 and n8n are frequently weighed against each other — both sit in the productivity tools space, but they solve the problem from different angles. Microsoft Agent 365 is best known for centralised agent management, whereas n8n stands out for ai agent nodes. On aggregate user ratings n8n holds a slight edge (4.4/5 vs 4.6/5), though that gap rarely decides the match on its own.
Where Microsoft Agent 365 pulls clearly ahead is building custom AI agents for HR, IT help desk, and operations workflows. A frequent plus in reviews: Deep native integration with Microsoft Graph connectivity — no brittle middleware or manual sync required. 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. Picking based on which of those jobs you actually do day to day beats chasing a longer feature list.
Microsoft Agent 365 is purpose-built for Microsoft-heavy enterprises — the M365 integration means agents can access the email, document, and Teams data that lives in Microsoft's ecosystem. 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 Microsoft Agent 365 if you are focused on enterprise organisations on Microsoft 365 wanting to build and deploy custom AI agents that automate business processes within their existing M365 ecosystem — without custom AI development, or if a big part of your week goes to automating document processing and approval workflows in SharePoint. It rewards teams ready to commit to a paid plan from the start.
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.
On reliability and output quality, both are dependable, but Microsoft Agent 365 shines at building custom AI agents for HR, IT help desk, and operations workflows and n8n at building complex automation workflows with custom JavaScript logic when needed.
Learning curve is worth weighing. Microsoft Agent 365 has a known trade-off — $30/user/mo (add-on) puts it out of reach for individual users and very small teams on tight budgets. On n8n's side: Self-hosting requires technical expertise, which can be a barrier for non-technical users or those without extensive IT resources. Budget a week or two to get fluent in either before judging the output.
n8n is the easier on-ramp: it offers a free plan, whereas Microsoft Agent 365 asks for payment up front. Paid plans start at $30/user/mo for Microsoft Agent 365 (Included in M365 Copilot) and $20/mo for n8n (Starter (Cloud)), making n8n the cheaper entry point at $20/mo versus $30/user/mo. The extra spend on Microsoft Agent 365 only pays off if you need what its higher tier unlocks. Watch for usage caps and per-seat costs at the tier you'll really land on, not the headline price.
🚀 Ready to decide? Try both free and see which fits your workflow.
Microsoft Agent 365 is Microsoft's AI agent platform built into Microsoft 365 — enabling organisations to create, deploy, and manage AI agen… Read the full Microsoft Agent 365 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 →
• Deep native integration with Microsoft Graph connectivity — no brittle middleware or manual sync required
• Enterprise-grade security with SOC 2 compliance, SSO, and audit logs that meet corporate IT requirements
• Centralised governance for IT teams
• Works with existing M365 licences
• $30/user/mo (add-on) puts it out of reach for individual users and very small teams on tight budgets
• Microsoft ecosystem only — 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.