The n8n Sustainable Use License Explained

The n8n Sustainable Use License (SUL) is the license under which the majority of the n8n source code is published, and it governs what companies may do with the software without entering into a paid license. In essence: you may freely use, modify, and further develop n8n internally within your own company, but you may not resell n8n to third parties as a hosted product or SaaS service. This distinction between internal use and resale as a service is the central point of the license. As of: July 2026.

What Does the Sustainable Use License Specifically Allow?

According to the official n8n documentation, the license grants free rights to use, modify, create derivative works from, and redistribute the software, but with three restrictions: you may only use the software for your own internal business purposes or for non-commercial or private use, any redistribution to third parties must be free of charge and non-commercial, and you may not remove or alter any license, copyright, or other notices from the licensor. In practice, according to the n8n documentation on the Sustainable Use License, almost any use is permitted, as long as you do not sell a product or service whose value derives entirely or predominantly from the n8n functionality itself. As permitted examples, n8n cites synchronizing your own company data, for instance from a CRM into an internal database, as well as building your own n8n nodes or integrations for your own product.

What Is Not Allowed Under the Sustainable Use License?

It is not permitted to white-label n8n and make it available to customers for payment, or to host n8n and grant users access for money. n8n itself explicitly names these two examples as what the Sustainable Use License does not cover. The common denominator: as soon as n8n itself becomes the product being sold, for example as a standalone hosting offering or as a relabeled automation platform, the free license is no longer sufficient. The full legal text is available in the n8n GitHub repository, which also formally defines terms such as Software, Licensor, and You, along with the note that files with ".ee." in the name are subject to a separate Enterprise License.

Are Consultants and Agencies Allowed to Use n8n for Clients?

Yes, commercial consulting and support services around n8n are expressly permitted. Service providers may build workflows and automations for clients without having to conclude a separate license agreement with n8n. This covers the classic case in which a consultant works on the client's system or uses their own n8n instance for implementation, without permanently hosting client data or credentials on their own, commercially remarketed n8n instance. NordFlux operates n8n within exactly this framework, for example as part of its n8n automation services for small and medium-sized businesses, where workflows are operated on the client's infrastructure or on the client's behalf.

When Is the Sustainable Use License No Longer Sufficient?

As soon as you permanently host your own customers' workflows or credentials on an n8n instance you operate, or embed n8n into your own product, you need a paid license. For hosting customer data on your own instance, according to n8n support, an Enterprise License is generally required, and for embedding n8n into your own software product, a so-called Embed License. Both models differ from the free Sustainable Use scenario in that n8n then becomes part of a commercial offering that no longer serves solely the internal business operation. If there is uncertainty about your own use case, n8n itself recommends contacting license@n8n.io directly.

Frequently Asked Questions About the n8n Sustainable Use License

Is n8n Free Under the Sustainable Use License?

Yes, internal use within your own company is free of charge under the Sustainable Use License, and no license fee is payable to n8n. You may host, customize, and use the software yourself for your own business processes. Costs only arise for your own infrastructure or if you additionally use n8n Cloud or a commercial license.

May I Sell n8n as a White-Label Product?

No, white-labeling n8n and selling it to customers are, according to the n8n documentation, expressly not part of the Sustainable Use License. Anyone wishing to distribute n8n under their own name or as a standalone paid product needs a separate commercial agreement with n8n. For this case, n8n refers to direct contact via license@n8n.io.

Does the Sustainable Use License Apply to the Entire n8n Codebase?

No, it applies to the code in the n8n main repository, with the exception of files that carry ".ee." in the name. These Enterprise files are subject to the separate n8n Enterprise License with its own terms. Which features are affected can be traced in the GitHub repository based on the file naming.

Do I Need My Own n8n License for Client Projects?

For classic consulting services in which you build workflows for clients, a separate license is generally not required. It looks different as soon as you permanently host client data or credentials on your own, commercially operated n8n instance, because in that case the Enterprise License generally applies. If in doubt, it is worth clarifying briefly with n8n directly or with your own implementation partner before the project starts.

This article does not replace legal advice. For a binding assessment of your specific use case, please contact n8n directly at license@n8n.io or consult specialized legal counsel.