Verdict
Preliminary read: the automation tool for people who want to own the workflow and possibly host it. More setup than Zapier, more control.
Why it ranks here
Automation you can host. The builder's Zapier.
n8n connects apps and APIs into workflows, with an AI assistant on cloud plans. The Community Edition is free to self-host. n8n Cloud lists Starter at €20 a month billed annually and Pro at €50 a month billed annually, priced by workflow executions rather than by step.
Preliminary score. Reviewed from docs, checked 15 Oct 2026. The 80 is the rubric total. Paid placement is not an input. How we score.
Not on today's card. The directory score still stands on its own.
Best for
- Technical teams automating their own stack
- Self-hosting
Watch-outs
- A non-technical person who wants a template in ten minutes
- Building the product UI
Score breakdown
Seven criteria, 100 points. The bars are the published marks, not a sponsor adjustment.
Works as claimed
20/25
Did the standard task actually succeed?
Good for its stated job
21/25
Would a builder or a professional keep using it for this job?
Better than the default option
12/15
Is it better than ChatGPT, Claude, Cursor, or whatever people already use?
Time to value
6/10
Minutes from signup to the first useful result.
Price and value
9/10
Free tier, price clarity, and cost per real use.
Trust
8/10
Privacy policy, data handling, who's behind it, and security basics.
Momentum
4/5
Shipping pace and community traction.