FluidGrids vs n8n
Source-available automation for technical teams. See how FluidGrids compares on builder, embedding, versioning, recovery, and pricing.
What n8n is
n8n is a source-available workflow platform with a node-based canvas, a free self-hosted Community Edition, the deepest AI/agent node library in the category, and per-execution (not per-step) billing. It is the strongest technical rival on this list — its weak spots are operational burden and multi-tenancy.
Founded: 2019 · Berlin, Germany · n8n.io
Strengths
- Free self-hosted Community Edition with unlimited executions
- Large node ecosystem: 400+ native and 1,500+ community nodes
- 70+ AI nodes with LangChain, vector stores, memory and local models
- AI Workflow Builder with generous 2026 credit allowances
- Per-execution billing — step count does not change the price
- Git-based version control and environments on Business+
Weaknesses
- Self-hosting requires DevOps, scaling, and security maintenance
- Not natively multi-tenant SaaS
- Enterprise features (SSO, Git, environments, log streaming) need paid tiers
- No native dashboard ETL sink
Feature comparison
Head-to-head across the dimensions that matter for visual workflow automation.
| Dimension | FluidGrids | Competitor |
|---|---|---|
Builder paradigm | Free-form React Flow canvas — branching, loops, parallel paths, drop-on-edge insert, inline quick-config, sticky notes | Node-based visual canvas |
Connector catalog Competitor | 30 store nodes live in the builder (21 third-party connectors) plus 21 built-in flow-control nodes, and growing | 400+ native and 1,500+ community nodes |
Triggers Competitor | Manual/API, webhook, cron schedule, hosted form, and error triggers (a run can start when another workflow fails) | Webhook, schedule, polling, app-event and chat triggers |
Workflow versioning | Immutable version on every save; runs pin to their exact version; restore any version into a fresh draft | Git-based source control and environments on Business and Enterprise |
Run recovery | Cancel, pause, resume, terminate — plus retry a single failed node with its original inputs | Retry an execution, optionally from the failed node; error workflows |
Observability & logs | Live per-node state plus a streaming run log, including whatever your own Code nodes print | Execution list with per-node data; log streaming on Enterprise |
Dashboard ETL FluidGrids | A single data sink node streams any workflow’s output into a live BigConsole dashboard feed | No native dashboard sink — you build the ETL yourself |
Embeddable builder FluidGrids | React SDK at three integration depths — no iframe, offered under the FluidGrids name — plus a public read-only embed viewer | Embed/OEM licence for the n8n canvas |
AI agents & LLM nodes Competitor | AI Agent node with chat-model, memory and tool sub-nodes; any workflow can be bound as an agent tool | 70+ AI nodes, LangChain, vector stores, memory, local models |
AI-assisted generation Competitor | Describe a workflow in the assistant and get a builder-ready draft; a second mode builds a whole connector node from a prompt | AI Workflow Builder — 2,300 credits/mo on Starter, 13,700 on Pro |
Multi-tenancy FluidGrids | Workspace-native isolation with gateway-enforced RBAC, audit and metering inherited from the Burdenoff platform | Projects and roles; not natively multi-tenant SaaS |
Deployment Competitor | Fully managed cloud; no self-hosted edition | Cloud or free self-hosted Community Edition |
Enterprise compliance | Encrypted credentials, RBAC, audit trail, SSO; formal SOC 2 / HIPAA attestations not yet in hand | SSO/SAML, audit log and log streaming on Enterprise tiers |
Pricing model | Usage-based runs; features ungated across tiers | Per full workflow execution — step count does not change the price |
Pricing comparison
How FluidGrids' run-based model stacks up against n8n's billing.
| Plan | FluidGrids | n8n |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | $0 · 1,000 runs/mo | Self-hosted CE: unlimited · Cloud: trial only |
| Entry paid | $19/user/month · 10,000 runs | Starter ~€24/mo · 2,500 executions |
| Mid tier | $49/user/month · unlimited runs | Pro ~€60/mo · 10,000 executions |
| Enterprise | Custom | Business ~€800/mo · 40,000 executions · SSO + Git |
n8n and FluidGrids both meter per workflow execution rather than per step, so neither penalises you for adding nodes. n8n’s self-hosted Community Edition is free but you provide infrastructure, scaling, and maintenance; FluidGrids is managed-only. FluidGrids list prices are published at fluidgrids.ai/pricing.
Why FluidGrids wins
Specific advantages for teams comparing n8n and FluidGrids.
No DevOps required (shipped)
n8n self-hosting saves licence cost but adds infrastructure, scaling, and security work. FluidGrids is fully managed in the cloud, so your team builds workflows instead of running clusters.
Native React embedding, fully managed (shipped)
FluidGrids embeds as React components inside your app — under your router and sign-in, with no iframe — and the engine behind them is managed for you, so there is no automation server to host next to your product.
Native multi-tenancy (shipped)
FluidGrids inherits workspace isolation, platform RBAC, and audit from the Burdenoff platform. n8n requires custom work to deliver true tenant separation.
Dashboard-native output (shipped)
The native data sink node turns any FluidGrids workflow into a live dashboard feed with a single node on the canvas. n8n has no equivalent native sink — you build the ETL yourself.
Skip the infrastructure work
Start free on FluidGrids for managed, embeddable workflow automation with built-in multi-tenancy and version safety.