n8nvsMicrosoft Power Automate
Two automation tools, the same questions. Every answer comes from the official pages, with the date we checked. Nothing here is ranked.
last check 2026-10-11
n8n
by n8n
Workflow automation and AI agent builder you can self-host or use in n8n Cloud, mixing visual nodes with JavaScript or Python code.
All n8n factsMicrosoft Power Automate
by Microsoft
Microsoft's automation service: cloud flows between 1,400+ connectors, plus desktop RPA on Windows and Copilot that drafts flows from descriptions.
All Microsoft Power Automate factsWhere they differ
- Free plann8n: SupportedMicrosoft Power Automate: Limited
- Platformsn8n: WebMicrosoft Power Automate: Web, Desktop app
- Free plan limitsn8n: Free Community edition must be self-hosted and lacks features such as custom variables, environments, external secrets and log streaming.Microsoft Power Automate: With a free Microsoft account there is no AI Builder, no cloud-flow integration, no premium or custom connectors and no unattended RPA.
- Used to train AIn8n: Workflow context sent to n8n Assistant is not used to train the AI services' models.Microsoft Power Automate: Microsoft says it does not use customer data to train Copilot or its AI features unless you consent.
- MCPn8n: SupportedMicrosoft Power Automate: Limited
- Apps it connectsn8n: Over 500 integrationsMicrosoft Power Automate: More than 1,400 prebuilt, certified connectors
- AI agentsn8n: SupportedMicrosoft Power Automate: Limited
- Run on your own servern8n: SupportedMicrosoft Power Automate: Not supported
Same answer, but for different plans or with different conditions: build by describing it. The table below shows the conditions.
Confirmed for only one of the two so far: open source. The table below shows which.
Same answer for both: AI steps.
Plans and prices
As listed on each official pricing page, in the currency we were shown. No conversion, no rounding.
n8n
- Community Edition Free plan$0.00 / month
- Starter Paid, individualPrice not confirmed
- Pro Paid, individualPrice not confirmed
- Business TeamPrice not confirmed
- Enterprise EnterprisePrice not confirmed
Microsoft Power Automate
- Power Automate for desktop Free plan$0.00 / month
- Power Automate free trial Time-limited trialPrice not confirmed
- Power Automate Premium Paid, individual$15.00 / month, billed annually
- Power Automate Process Enterprise$150.00 / month, billed annually
- Power Automate Hosted Process Enterprise$215.00 / month, billed annually
Full comparison with sources
| Automation | ||
| What it is for | ||
| What it is for | Workflow automation and AI agent builder you can self-host or use in n8n Cloud, mixing visual nodes with JavaScript or Python code. | Microsoft's automation service: cloud flows between 1,400+ connectors, plus desktop RPA on Windows and Copilot that drafts flows from descriptions. |
| Good for | ||
| Editor's suggestion | No editor suggestion yet | No editor suggestion yet |
| Cost | ||
| Free planA free plan that is not time-limited. Trials are listed separately. |
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| Plans and pricesOriginal currency and billing period. No conversion. |
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| Input and output | ||
| Build by describing itYou describe the automation in words and it builds the workflow. |
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| Workflow | ||
| PlatformsWhere the product is offered: web, desktop app, mobile app, or editor extension. |
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| MCPSupports the Model Context Protocol, a standard way to connect tools and data sources. |
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| Apps it connectsHow many apps it connects to, as the official pages state. |
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| AI stepsA step in a workflow can call an AI model, for example to summarise or sort. |
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| AI agentsAgents that decide their next steps themselves, within limits you set. |
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| Requirements | ||
| Open sourceThe tool's own code is published under an open-source licence. |
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| Run on your own serverYou can install it and run it on your own server. |
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| Sources and confidence | ||
| Confidence | Last checked 2026-10-11 All compared fields have a confirmed value. | Last checked 2026-10-11 Not yet confirmed: Open source |
What it is for
What it is for
n8n:
Workflow automation and AI agent builder you can self-host or use in n8n Cloud, mixing visual nodes with JavaScript or Python code.
Microsoft Power Automate:
Microsoft's automation service: cloud flows between 1,400+ connectors, plus desktop RPA on Windows and Copilot that drafts flows from descriptions.
Editor's suggestion
n8n:
No editor suggestion yetMicrosoft Power Automate:
No editor suggestion yetCost
Free plan
A free plan that is not time-limited. Trials are listed separately.
n8n:
- Supporteddocs.n8n.iochecked 2026-10-11
Community Edition plan
Microsoft Power Automate:
- Limitedlearn.microsoft.comchecked 2026-10-11
Plans: Power Automate for desktop (Microsoft account). Free use covers desktop flows in Power Automate for desktop on Windows; the pricing page offers cloud flows as a 30-day trial or paid plans.
Plans and prices
n8n:
- Community Edition (Free plan)$0.00 / month
- Starter (Paid, individual)Price not confirmed
- Pro (Paid, individual)Price not confirmed
- Business (Team)Price not confirmed
- Enterprise (Enterprise)Price not confirmed
- All plan details and sources
Microsoft Power Automate:
- Power Automate for desktop (Free plan)$0.00 / month
- Power Automate free trial (Time-limited trial)Price not confirmed
- Power Automate Premium (Paid, individual)$15.00 / month, billed annually
- Power Automate Process (Enterprise)$150.00 / month, billed annually
- Power Automate Hosted Process (Enterprise)$215.00 / month, billed annually
- All plan details and sources
Input and output
Build by describing it
You describe the automation in words and it builds the workflow.
n8n:
- Supporteddocs.n8n.iochecked 2026-10-11
Plans: Community Edition, Starter, Pro, Business
Microsoft Power Automate:
- Supportedlearn.microsoft.comchecked 2026-10-11
Plan not specified
Workflow
Platforms
Where the product is offered: web, desktop app, mobile app, or editor extension.
n8n:
- Webdocs.n8n.iochecked 2026-10-11
Microsoft Power Automate:
- Web, Desktop appmicrosoft.comchecked 2026-10-11
MCP
Supports the Model Context Protocol, a standard way to connect tools and data sources.
n8n:
- Supporteddocs.n8n.iochecked 2026-10-11
Plan not specified
Microsoft Power Automate:
- Limitedlearn.microsoft.comchecked 2026-10-11
Plan not specified
Microsoft documents a preview MCP server for Process Mining data, which needs an active Process Mining licence.
Apps it connects
How many apps it connects to, as the official pages state.
n8n:
- Over 500 integrationsn8n.iochecked 2026-10-11
Microsoft Power Automate:
- More than 1,400 prebuilt, certified connectorsmicrosoft.comchecked 2026-10-11
AI steps
A step in a workflow can call an AI model, for example to summarise or sort.
n8n:
- Supporteddocs.n8n.iochecked 2026-10-11
Plan not specified
Microsoft Power Automate:
- Supportedlearn.microsoft.comchecked 2026-10-11
Plan not specified
AI agents
Agents that decide their next steps themselves, within limits you set.
n8n:
- Supporteddocs.n8n.iochecked 2026-10-11
Plan not specified
Microsoft Power Automate:
- Limitedlearn.microsoft.comchecked 2026-10-11
Plan not specified
Preview; limited to nine listed connectors such as SharePoint, Outlook and Teams unless you ask Microsoft for more.
Requirements
Open source
The tool's own code is published under an open-source licence.
n8n:
- Not supporteddocs.n8n.iochecked 2026-10-11
Plan not specified
Microsoft Power Automate:
- Not yet confirmed
Run on your own server
You can install it and run it on your own server.
n8n:
- Supporteddocs.n8n.iochecked 2026-10-11
Plan not specified
Microsoft Power Automate:
- Not supportedmicrosoft.comchecked 2026-10-11
Plan not specified
Sources and confidence
Confidence
n8n:
Last checked 2026-10-11
All compared fields have a confirmed value.
Microsoft Power Automate:
Last checked 2026-10-11
Not yet confirmed: Open source