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IFTTT vs n8n

A side-by-side look at IFTTT (the paid SaaS) and n8n (the open source alternative). Use this page to decide if the switch fits your team and workflow.

IFTTT n8n
Tagline Consumer-focused automation for smart home and services. Node-based automation tool — self-host or cloud.
License Proprietary SaaS Sustainable Use License (source-available, free for self-host)
Pricing Free tier (2 applets); Pro from $3.49/month. Free to self-host · optional paid hosted plan
Self-host option No Yes — difficulty 2/5
Hosted cloud available Yes (only option) Yes
Desktop apps Varies by product Windows, macOS, Linux
Mobile apps Official apps typically available None official
Ad slot — between tables

Best for

Consumer automations plus room to grow into business flows.

n8n strengths

  • 400+ integrations out of the box.
  • Visual editor plus code nodes for flexibility.
  • Active community building templates.

n8n weaknesses

  • License is "fair-code" — not strict OSI open source.
  • Cloud pricing scales with active executions.
  • Some integrations lag behind Zapier's freshest APIs.

What's the catch with IFTTT?

  • Free tier is now very restricted.
  • Many legacy integrations have been removed.
  • Not suitable for business workflows.

Still unsure?

Check the full list of alternatives to IFTTT: see IFTTT alternatives, or learn more about n8n on its project page.

Other comparisons

IFTTT vs Huginn

The original IFTTT-style self-hosted agent tool.

IFTTT vs Activepieces

A friendlier UI for consumer-style automations.

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Will the open source project you depend on still exist in three years?

Bus factor, maintainer burnout, funding models, and the signals that separate OSS projects that survive from those that quietly decay.

From SaaS to self-hosted: a 30-day migration playbook

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