| Feature | n8n | Skyvern |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Pricing | Free (self-host) / $20/mo cloud | Free / $0.10 per task |
| Rating | ★★★★★ 4.6 | ★★★★☆ 4.3 |
| Key Feature 1 | AI agent nodes | Vision-based navigation |
| Key Feature 2 | 400+ integrations | Natural language tasks |
| Key Feature 3 | Self-hostable | Form filling |
Reach buyers comparing n8n and Skyvern. High-intent traffic, direct conversions.
n8n edges out Skyvern on user ratings (4.6 vs 4.3 out of 5), though both remain solid choices depending on your priorities. Both n8n and Skyvern offer free plans, so you can test both before committing. n8n tends to be favoured by agencies and freelancers, while Skyvern is more popular with enterprises.
Put n8n next to Skyvern and the differences surface fast — n8n is built around productivity tools while Skyvern leans toward agents. n8n is best known for ai agent nodes, whereas Skyvern stands out for vision-based navigation. On aggregate user ratings n8n holds a slight edge (4.6/5 vs 4.3/5), though that gap rarely decides the match on its own.
Where n8n pulls clearly ahead is building complex automation workflows with custom JavaScript logic when needed. A frequent plus in reviews: Free self-hosting option provides cost savings and control over infrastructure, especially for large-scale automation tasks. Skyvern, by contrast, is the stronger choice for automating form submission across websites without writing browser automation code. In its favour: Doesn't break when websites update layouts. Trying to force either tool outside its lane is where teams usually get frustrated.
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. Skyvern is the most robust web automation approach — using visual understanding rather than CSS selectors means it survives website redesigns that break Playwright/Selenium scripts. For most teams the deciding factor is existing workflow and budget, not a marginal feature gap.
Choose n8n if you are focused on 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, or if a big part of your week goes to self-hosting the automation platform for complete data control. Its free tier also lets you validate the fit before paying.
Choose Skyvern if your priority is developers and operations teams who need to automate repetitive browser tasks — form submission, data extraction, web scraping — without fragile CSS selectors or manual Selenium maintenance, especially for scraping data from websites that change layouts frequently. A free plan is available, so you can trial the workflow at zero cost first.
In day-to-day use, n8n feels strongest at building complex automation workflows with custom JavaScript logic when needed, while Skyvern is more at home with automating form submission across websites without writing browser automation code.
Learning curve is worth weighing. n8n has a known trade-off — Self-hosting requires technical expertise, which can be a barrier for non-technical users or those without extensive IT resources. On Skyvern's side: Slower than scripted RPA on stable sites — can be a bottleneck during high-traffic periods or when processing large batches. 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. n8n is priced Free (self-host) / $20/mo cloud and Skyvern Free / $0.10 per task; map the tier you'd actually buy against your real usage before committing. 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.
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 →
Skyvern is an open-source AI agent for browser automation — using computer vision and LLMs to navigate websites, fill forms, and extract dat… Read the full Skyvern review →
• 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.
• Doesn't break when websites update layouts
• Natural language task descriptions — especially for vision-based navigation workflows where Skyvern consistently outperforms manual approaches
• Open-source codebase — self-host for full data control, audit the code, or contribute to the community
• Handles complex multi-step web workflows
• Slower than scripted RPA on stable sites — can be a bottleneck during high-traffic periods or when processing large batches
• Computer vision adds latency per page