n8n vs CircleChat
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. n8n has the lower starting price: about $24 a month, against $29 for CircleChat.
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
- Goal-to-task planning
- Skill-based task routing
- Approval for risky actions
- Shared task board
- Works with any model
- Docker self-hosting
| Feature | n8n | CircleChat |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Source-available workflow automation you can self-host | Open-source team chat where AI agents plan and do tasks |
| Category | Agents & automation | Agents & automation |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting price | $24/mo | $29/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Made by | n8n GmbH | CircleChat |
| Based in | Germany | – |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
n8n has the lower starting price: about $24 a month, against $29 for CircleChat.
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
4 plans
Self-host
Free
- MIT licensed
- Your own servers and model keys
Starter
$29/mo
- Per workspace
- 3 agents
- Dedicated single-tenant server
Team
$79/mo
- Per workspace
- 10 agents
- Custom domain
Scale
$199/mo
- Per workspace
- Unlimited agents
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
CircleChat
- Free to self-host under MIT license
- Flat per-workspace pricing
- Human sign-off on risky steps
- Cloud trial requires a card
- Starter cloud plan caps you at 3 agents
- Self-hosting means running your own server
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 CircleChat if you want:
- Free to self-host under MIT license
- Flat per-workspace pricing
- Human sign-off on risky steps
Watch out: cloud trial requires a card.
n8n vs CircleChat FAQ
What is the difference between n8n and CircleChat?
n8n: Source-available workflow automation you can self-host. CircleChat: Open-source team chat where AI agents plan and do tasks. Both are agents & automation tools.
Is n8n or CircleChat cheaper?
n8n has the lower starting price: about $24 a month, against $29 for CircleChat.
Do n8n and CircleChat have free plans?
n8n: Yes. CircleChat: Yes.
Who makes n8n?
n8n is made by n8n GmbH, based in Germany.
Who makes CircleChat?
CircleChat is made by CircleChat.
Which should I choose, n8n or CircleChat?
Choose n8n if you value free to self-host and billed per execution, not per step. Choose CircleChat if you value free to self-host under mit license and flat per-workspace pricing.