Kestra vs n8n(2026)
Kestra is better for teams that need strong data engineering use case. n8n is the stronger choice if free to self-host. Kestra is open-source (from $0) and n8n is open-source (from $20/mo).
Full feature breakdown, pricing details, and pros & cons below.
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Kestra
Kestra is a declarative, YAML-based orchestration platform for data pipelines and workflows. Define flows as code, schedule them, and monitor executions — fully open source and self-hostable.
Starting at $0
Visit Kestran8n
n8n is a fair-code automation platform that lets developers build complex workflows with a visual editor, JavaScript/Python expressions, and 400+ integrations — all self-hostable for free.
Starting at $20/mo
Visit n8nHow Do Kestra and n8n Compare on Features?
| Feature | Kestra | n8n |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | open-source | open-source |
| Starting price | $0 | $20/mo |
| YAML-based flows | ✓ | — |
| Open source | ✓ | — |
| 400+ plugins | ✓ | — |
| Kafka/Postgres triggers | ✓ | — |
| Retry strategies | ✓ | — |
| Namespace isolation | ✓ | — |
| Enterprise SSO | ✓ | — |
| Self-hostable | — | ✓ |
| 400+ integrations | — | ✓ |
| Code nodes (JS/Python) | — | ✓ |
| Visual editor | — | ✓ |
| Webhook triggers | — | ✓ |
| AI agent nodes | — | ✓ |
| Custom credentials | — | ✓ |
Kestra Pros and Cons vs n8n
Kestra
n8n
Should You Use Kestra or n8n?
Choose Kestra if…
- •Strong data engineering use case
- •Git-friendly YAML flows
- •Excellent scheduling
Choose n8n if…
- •Free to self-host
- •Full code access
- •Strong developer focus