Workflow automation, self-hostable · checked 28 Sept 2026
DeskFerry vs n8n
n8n is a node-graph workflow tool that engineers can run on their own servers, with code in any node. DeskFerry is a managed service: nobody on your side runs anything, and you brief an agent instead of wiring nodes.
Choose n8n when
- data has to stay on your own infrastructure
- you have engineers who want JavaScript or Python inside the workflow
- you want to swap LLM providers freely with your own keys
Choose DeskFerry when
- nobody on the team wants to be on call for an automation server
- the people who own the work are not the people who write expressions
- you want agents running today without provisioning anything
01 · Setup
n8n: wire nodes; reference data with expressions
DeskFerry: brief an agent in plain English
02 · Hosting
n8n: self-host free, or n8n Cloud
DeskFerry: fully managed
03 · Metered on
n8n: executions: one full workflow run
DeskFerry: credits per job
04 · Entry price
n8n: €20/mo billed yearly (Cloud)
DeskFerry: $49/mo
Who runs the server
Self-hosted n8n is free software. Running it is still a job.
The Community Edition costs nothing to download, and for a team with an engineer who enjoys owning infrastructure that is a real advantage. Here is the work that comes with it.
| Job | n8n self-hosted | n8n Cloud | DeskFerry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provision a server and Postgres | You | n8n | Us |
| TLS, domains and secrets | You | n8n | Us |
| Backups and restores | You | n8n | Us |
| Version upgrades | You | n8n | Us |
| Scaling with queue mode and workers | You | n8n | Us |
| Wiring each node and expression | You | You | The agent |
| Fixing a flow after an API changes | You | You | The agent, then you |
| What you pay | €0 licence + your server and time | €20 / €50 a month, billed yearly | $49 / $99 / $299 a month |
Where n8n wins
Data never leaves your servers, you can write code in any node, and every plan has unlimited workflows and users. For a technical team that is hard to beat.
Where DeskFerry wins
No one is paged when the box falls over, and the person who owns the task can build the agent without learning n8n's expression syntax.
Feature by feature
Where each one wins
| Feature | n8n | DeskFerry | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| How you build | Node canvas; AI Workflow Builder drafts from a prompt | Plain-English brief | Depends |
| Code when you need it | JavaScript and Python nodes | No code steps | n8n |
| Self-hosting | Community Edition, free under the Sustainable Use License | Cloud only | n8n |
| Integrations | 2,274 listed on n8n.io | 1,500+ | n8n |
| Infrastructure work | Yours when self-hosted | None | DeskFerry |
| AI agents | AI Agent node inside a workflow you design | The agent plans the steps from the brief | Depends |
| Human approval | Add approval steps to the workflow | Approve in Slack before the agent acts | Depends |
| Trial | 14-day Cloud trial | 7-day free trial | Depends |
Sources: n8n.io/pricing · n8n.io/integrations · Sustainable Use License · checked 28 Sept 2026
Straight talk
When to stay on n8n
Data residency rules
If policy says the automation layer runs on your own hardware, self-hosted n8n does that and DeskFerry does not.
Engineers own automation
When developers build the workflows anyway, code nodes and Git version control fit how they already work.
Very high volume on your own boxes
Self-hosting has no per-execution bill. At large volume, a server you already pay for can be the cheapest option.
FAQ
n8n questions
Is n8n open source?
n8n calls itself fair-code. The Community Edition is published under the Sustainable Use License: free to self-host and modify for internal use, but you may not resell it or offer it as a hosted service. It is source-available rather than OSI-approved open source.
What does n8n Cloud cost?
Starter is €20 a month for 2,500 executions and Pro is €50 a month for 10,000, both billed yearly; monthly billing costs about 17% more. Business is €667 a month and self-hosted only. An execution is one full workflow run, however many steps it has.
Can n8n build workflows from a prompt?
Yes, the AI Workflow Builder drafts a workflow on the canvas from a description. You still review and maintain the nodes it produces. In DeskFerry the brief is the thing you maintain.
Do I need a developer for DeskFerry?
No. You connect apps with OAuth and write the brief. There are no nodes, expressions or servers.
Can I use both?
Yes. Some teams keep n8n for engineering-owned pipelines and give ops and sales teams DeskFerry agents for their own work.
Get the workflow without the server
Brief an agent for the job your n8n instance was going to run, and let us handle the infrastructure.