kitio.ain8n vs Manus
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Manus 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
- Cloud virtual computer
- Web browsing and code execution
- Scheduled tasks
- App connectors
- Desktop mode
| Feature | n8n | Manus |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Source-available workflow automation you can self-host | General-purpose AI agent that works in its own cloud computer |
| Category | Agents & automation | Agents & automation |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting price | $24/mo | $20/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Made by | n8n GmbH | Butterfly Effect |
| Based in | Germany | Singapore |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
Manus 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
- 300 credits a day
- Up to 1,500 credits a month
Pro
$20/mo
- 4,000 credits per month
- 20 concurrent tasks
Pro 8K
$40/mo
- 8,000 credits per month
- Adjustable up to 20,000 credits
Pro 40K
$200/mo
- 40,000 credits per month
- Adjustable up to 5M credits
Team
$20/mo
- Per seat, starting price
- Shared credit tiers
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
Manus
- Handles long multi-step tasks alone
- Keeps working after you close it
- Produces finished files and sites
- Credit use is hard to predict
- Long tasks can fail midway
- Data runs on its cloud machines
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 Manus if you want:
- Handles long multi-step tasks alone
- Keeps working after you close it
- Produces finished files and sites
Watch out: credit use is hard to predict.
n8n vs Manus FAQ
What is the difference between n8n and Manus?
n8n: Source-available workflow automation you can self-host. Manus: General-purpose AI agent that works in its own cloud computer. Both are agents & automation tools.
Is n8n or Manus cheaper?
Manus has the lower starting price: about $20 a month, against $24 for n8n.
Do n8n and Manus have free plans?
n8n: Yes. Manus: Yes.
Who makes n8n?
n8n is made by n8n GmbH, based in Germany.
Who makes Manus?
Manus is made by Butterfly Effect, based in Singapore.
Which should I choose, n8n or Manus?
Choose n8n if you value free to self-host and billed per execution, not per step. Choose Manus if you value handles long multi-step tasks alone and keeps working after you close it.