kitio.ain8n vs Ardor
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Ardor has the lower starting price: about $20 a month, against $24 for n8n.
At a glance
Best for
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- Node-based workflow editor
- AI Agent node
- JavaScript and Python code nodes
- MCP client and server
- Self-hosted Community Edition
- Persistent cloud computer
- Mobile check-ins
- Approval prompts
- GitHub app deployment
- Pay-as-you-go hosting
| Feature | n8n | Ardor |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Source-available workflow automation you can self-host | Cloud AI agent with its own computer that keeps working while you're away |
| Category | Agents & automation | Agents & automation |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting price | $24/mo | $20/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Made by | n8n GmbH | Ardor |
| Based in | Germany | – |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
|
|
Pricing compared
Ardor has the lower starting price: about $20 a month, against $24 for n8n.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
5 plans
Community
Free
- Self-hosted
- Free and source-available
Starter
$24/mo
- 2.5K workflow executions
- 5 concurrent executions
- 1,600 Assistant credits/month
Pro
$60/mo
- 10K workflow executions
- Up to 50 concurrent executions
- 3 shared projects
Business
€667/mo billed yearly
- 40K workflow executions
- SSO and LDAP
- Self-hosted
Enterprise
Contact sales
- 200+ concurrent executions
- 365 days of insights
- External secret stores
5 plans
Free
Free
- Baseline usage capacity
- 5-hour and weekly windows
- Selected OpenAI models
Starter
$20/mo
- 4x Free usage
- Adds Claude, Grok and Gemini models
Pro
$50/mo
- 10x Free usage
- Adds top-tier Claude models
Max
$100/mo
- 2x Pro usage limits
- All models included
Enterprise
Contact sales
- SSO
- Audit logs
Prices in USD, checked Oct 28, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
n8n
- Free to self-host
- Billed per execution, not per step
- Code steps when no-code falls short
- Self-hosting means owning updates and security
- Short log retention on the cheapest cloud plan
Ardor
- Keeps working with your laptop closed
- Choice of models from several labs
- Hosts the apps it builds
- Usage limits reset in rolling windows
- Hosting compute is billed on top
- Live screen view not on every account yet
Which one should you choose?
Choose n8n if you want:
- Free to self-host
- Billed per execution, not per step
- Code steps when no-code falls short
Watch out: self-hosting means owning updates and security.
Choose Ardor if you want:
- Keeps working with your laptop closed
- Choice of models from several labs
- Hosts the apps it builds
Watch out: usage limits reset in rolling windows.
n8n vs Ardor FAQ
What is the difference between n8n and Ardor?
n8n: Source-available workflow automation you can self-host. Ardor: Cloud AI agent with its own computer that keeps working while you're away. Both are agents & automation tools.
Is n8n or Ardor cheaper?
Ardor has the lower starting price: about $20 a month, against $24 for n8n.
Do n8n and Ardor have free plans?
n8n: Yes. Ardor: Yes.
Who makes n8n?
n8n is made by n8n GmbH, based in Germany.
Who makes Ardor?
Ardor is made by Ardor.
Which should I choose, n8n or Ardor?
Choose n8n if you value free to self-host and billed per execution, not per step. Choose Ardor if you value keeps working with your laptop closed and choice of models from several labs.