Automate workflows, keep data on your own server, no growing SaaS costs. We have been running n8n in production since mid-2025 and deploy it for clients.
n8n is a workflow platform under a Fair Code licence. Unlike Zapier or Make, it runs on your own server — your data never leaves your infrastructure.
n8n comparisonThe same technology, two worlds with their own requirements. We know both and adapt implementation, operations, and data protection accordingly.
From small businesses and trades to industry: wherever routine daily tasks eat up time and margin and skilled workers are scarce.
District offices, municipalities, and public utilities that must maintain citizen services despite a shortage of skilled workers.
Every node is ready to use immediately. If an integration is missing, we add it via HTTP request or custom node.
Outlook · Teams · SharePoint · OneDrive · Excel · Entra ID · Dynamics 365
HubSpot · Salesforce · Pipedrive · ActiveCampaign · Zoho · Brevo
Slack · Telegram · WhatsApp Cloud API · Twilio · Mailgun · Postmark
MySQL · PostgreSQL · MongoDB · Supabase · Redis · Airtable · SQLite
Shopify · WooCommerce · Stripe · PayPal · Mollie · Billbee
Jira · Asana · Trello · Notion · Linear · GitHub · GitLab
OpenAI · Claude · Google Gemini · Langchain · Pinecone · Mistral
HTTP Request · Code Node (JS/Python) · Webhook · SSH · FTP/SFTP · GraphQL
The right choice depends on data control, the available IT team, and workflow volume. For most SMEs we recommend Community self-hosted.
We help you choose the right model. Request free advice
Self-hosted on your server or a German hosting provider. No data goes to US cloud services — GDPR-compliant by design. For healthcare, tax, legal, HR, and public administration, often the only acceptable option.
400+ nodes plus custom HTTP requests cover virtually any system landscape. If a node is missing, we write it. JavaScript and Python directly in the flow, no vendor lock-in.
The Community Edition is free; self-hosting costs only the VPS. With 50+ workflows, this quickly saves several thousand euros per year compared to SaaS alternatives.
List prices and typical characteristics. What makes economic sense depends on your active workflows and system requirements.
| Criterion | n8n (Self-hosted) | Power Automate | Zapier | Make |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Data storage | Your own server | Microsoft Cloud (EU) | US cloud | EU/US |
| Custom Code | JS + Python (full) | Power Fx (limited) | No | Limited |
| Self-Hosting | Yes | No | No | No |
| Microsoft integration | Good (nodes) | Native | Good | Good |
| Scaling costs | Hosting only | Per licence/flow | Per task | Per operation |
| Best for | GDPR-critical, API-heavy | Microsoft environments | Simple integrations | Visual flows |
Wherever data protection requirements, custom logic, or complex system landscapes rule out a direct SaaS solution.
Enquiries parsed from forms or email, transferred to the CRM, follow-up sent, sales team notified.
Master data and orders flow bidirectionally between systems with no native integration.
Saving 4–8 h per weekData collected from multiple sources, processed, generated as a PDF, and distributed.
instead of 2–3 h manual workDocuments captured, fields extracted via AI/regex, transferred to DATEV or ERP, logged.
IT access created, welcome email sent, documents in SharePoint, tasks in Jira.
Saving 2–3 h per new hireTickets classified by priority and routed to the responsible team, critical cases sent as Slack alerts.
n8n can do both: embed AI nodes directly in deterministic flows, or build full AI agent workflows with tool calling and memory.
Our own instance runs on a German server, containerised with Docker, secured with Nginx and SSL. When we recommend n8n, we know its strengths and challenges from real-world use.
Free initial analysisIn 60 minutes we clarify which processes are worthwhile, whether self-hosting or cloud makes sense, and what a realistic setup costs.
Self-hosted n8n only incurs hosting costs: a Hetzner VPS starting at around 10–30 €/month, with no task limits. From 50 active workflows, n8n is often 80–90 % cheaper than Zapier or Make. The exact saving depends on your volume.
For self-hosting, yes — a simple VPS with Hetzner, Strato, or Ionos is sufficient. Alternatively, n8n.cloud is available without any own infrastructure. We set up either option and compare them with you to determine what makes sense, including a GDPR assessment.
Yes. When self-hosted on a German or EU server, your data never leaves your infrastructure. That is the core advantage over US-based SaaS services and is often decisive for public authorities and regulated industries.
Yes, provided an API or RFC interface is available. SAP offers REST APIs via the BTP; DATEV provides APIs for accounting and payroll. During the initial analysis we assess which node or Custom HTTP Request establishes the connection.
A setup with the first 2–3 workflows typically takes 2–3 weeks; more complex development projects with API integrations take 4–8 weeks depending on scope. We start with a free initial analysis of about one hour.
You receive full documentation and a handover to your team. If you wish, we take on long-term SLA operations: monitoring, updates, error alerting, and adjustments. We do not disappear after go-live.
