n8n vs Kestra(2026)
n8n is better for teams that need free to self-host. Kestra is the stronger choice if strong data engineering use case. n8n is open-source (from $20/mo) and Kestra is open-source (from $0).
Full feature breakdown, pricing details, and pros & cons below.
Affiliate disclosure: Some “Visit” links on this page are affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you sign up — at no extra cost to you. It does not affect our rankings or editorial coverage. Learn more.
n8n
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 n8nKestra
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 KestraHow Do n8n and Kestra Compare on Features?
| Feature | n8n | Kestra |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | open-source | open-source |
| Starting price | $20/mo | $0 |
| Self-hostable | ✓ | — |
| 400+ integrations | ✓ | — |
| Code nodes (JS/Python) | ✓ | — |
| Visual editor | ✓ | — |
| Webhook triggers | ✓ | — |
| AI agent nodes | ✓ | — |
| Custom credentials | ✓ | — |
| YAML-based flows | — | ✓ |
| Open source | — | ✓ |
| 400+ plugins | — | ✓ |
| Kafka/Postgres triggers | — | ✓ |
| Retry strategies | — | ✓ |
| Namespace isolation | — | ✓ |
| Enterprise SSO | — | ✓ |
n8n Pros and Cons vs Kestra
n8n
Kestra
Should You Use n8n or Kestra?
Choose n8n if…
- •Free to self-host
- •Full code access
- •Strong developer focus
Choose Kestra if…
- •Strong data engineering use case
- •Git-friendly YAML flows
- •Excellent scheduling