Comparison
Custom Automation
vs n8n
n8n is the most powerful visual automation tool available. The question is whether you want to run the infrastructure or have someone do it for you.
25+ years building softwareAWS Certified Solutions Architect24/7 monitored infrastructure
Credit Where It's Due
n8n Is Impressive
For technical teams that want full control, n8n is a serious option.
Open Source
Self-host for free. No vendor lock-in. Your data stays on your servers.
Code Nodes
Write JavaScript or Python inside workflows. Bridge the gap between visual and code.
No Task Limits
Self-hosted has no execution limits. Process as much as your server can handle.
Active Community
400+ integrations and a growing community building more.
The Reality
You Have to Run It
"Free" doesn't include everything it takes to keep n8n running in production.
Server infrastructure.
VPS or cloud instance running 24/7. $20-100/month plus setup.
Maintenance.
Updates, security patches, dependency management. Someone has to do it.
Monitoring.
If n8n goes down at 2am, who notices? Who fixes it?
Security.
n8n stores API credentials for all your services. That server needs proper hardening.
Custom: Same Power, None of the Ops
The fundamental difference:
We build it.
You describe the problem. We write the code.
We host it.
On our managed infrastructure. No server to maintain.
We monitor it.
Proactively. If something needs attention, we handle it.
We fix it.
When APIs change or something breaks, it's our problem, not yours.
You call us for changes.
Need a workflow updated? Pick up the phone or send an email. We handle it.
Feature Comparison
Side by Side
| Feature | n8n (Self-Hosted) | n8n Cloud | Custom Automation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who builds it | You | You | Us |
| Who hosts it | You | n8n | Us |
| Who monitors it | You | You | Us |
| Who fixes it | You | You | Us |
| Monthly cost | $20-100 (server) | $24-676 | Flat managed fee |
| Execution limits | None | By plan | None |
| Technical skill needed | High | Moderate | None |
| Support | Community | Email/chat | Direct line to the builder |
Decision Guide
When to Use n8n vs Custom
n8n makes sense if:
- You have a developer on staff
- You want to own your automation infrastructure
- You enjoy building and maintaining workflows
- Workflows are complex but stable (set up once)
Custom automation makes sense if:
- You don't have technical staff
- You want someone else to handle the maintenance
- Workflows need to be reliable above all else
- You'd rather focus on your business
Already running n8n and tired of maintaining it? We've migrated n8n workflows to managed custom automation — keeping the logic but eliminating the operational burden. The typical migration happens 6-12 months after n8n deployment, once the person who set it up has moved on or gotten tired of babysitting the server.
Is n8n better than Zapier?
For technical teams, yes. Code-level control, self-hosting, no per-task limits. But it requires developer skills most SMBs don't have.
Is n8n really free?
Self-hosted is free. But "free" doesn't include server costs, maintenance time, security updates, or the developer hours to build and troubleshoot workflows.
Can n8n replace Zapier for a small business?
If you have a technical person, yes. If you don't, n8n will create more problems than it solves. It's a developer tool, not a business tool.
What's the difference between n8n and custom?
n8n is a platform you build on and maintain. Custom automation is code we build, deploy, and manage for you. n8n gives you a tool; we give you a solution.
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Running n8n and Tired of Maintaining It?
We migrate n8n workflows to managed custom automation. Same logic, no ops burden.