Why This Comparison Matters
Both Dify and n8n are powerful automation platforms, but they serve different needs in the AI workflow space. Dify focuses on production-ready agentic workflows and RAG pipelines, while n8n excels as a visual workflow builder with extensive integrations. If you're choosing between these platforms, understanding their strengths and weaknesses is crucial for your project's success.
This comparison cuts through the marketing fluff to give you the real differences that matter for builders and technical teams.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Dify | n8n |
|---|---|---|
| Workflow Builder | Agentic workflow focused | Visual node-based builder |
| Integrations | Marketplace integrations | 400+ pre-built integrations |
| AI/LLM Support | Built-in RAG pipelines | LLM tool nodes |
| Self-hosting | Open source | Self-hostable (fair-code) |
| Code Support | Production-ready deployments | JavaScript/Python nodes |
| Team Collaboration | Built-in collaboration tools | User management (Pro+) |
| Monitoring | Built-in observability | Execution logs & debugging |
| Version Control | Not specified | Git integration |
Pricing Breakdown
Dify Pricing
- Free Plan: $0/month - Community support, basic workflows, limited usage
- Pro Plan: Custom pricing - Advanced workflows, priority support, team collaboration
- Enterprise: Custom pricing - Custom integrations, dedicated support, advanced security
n8n Pricing
- Community (Self-hosted): $0/month - Unlimited workflows and executions, all integrations
- Starter: $24/month - 2,500 executions, 5 active workflows, cloud-hosted
- Pro: $60/month - 10,000 executions, 15 workflows, advanced features
Winner: n8n offers more transparent pricing and a genuinely unlimited self-hosted option.
Use Case Scenarios
Choose Dify When:
- You're building production-ready AI agents and autonomous workflows
- RAG pipeline development is a core requirement
- You need enterprise-grade deployment and monitoring
- Your team has technical expertise and wants a comprehensive AI platform
- Observability and production monitoring are critical
Choose n8n When:
- You need extensive third-party integrations (400+ available)
- Visual workflow building is preferred over code-heavy approaches
- Self-hosting with full data control is important
- You want flexible pricing (especially the free self-hosted option)
- Your workflows involve traditional business automation alongside AI
- Git version control for workflows is required
The Verdict
For AI-First Teams: Dify wins if you're building sophisticated AI agents and RAG systems. Its production-ready focus and built-in observability make it ideal for teams deploying AI at scale.
For Flexible Automation: n8n takes the crown for general workflow automation with AI capabilities. The self-hosted option, transparent pricing, and massive integration library make it the better choice for most technical teams.
Bottom Line: n8n is the more versatile platform that grows with your needs, while Dify is specialized for AI-heavy use cases. Unless you're specifically building autonomous AI agents, n8n's flexibility and cost-effectiveness make it the safer bet.