n8n vs Pipedream: Choosing the Right Automation Platform

Where these platforms fit in modern B2B stacks

Automation now streamlines interactions between your CRM, support desk, data warehouse, and delivery teams, improving efficiency and communication. n8n and Pipedream offer different approaches to this challenge: n8n provides flexible deployment options, while Pipedream focuses on delivering a fully managed, developer-centric platform. The best platform for your needs will depend on factors like data residency, regulatory requirements, and your team’s preferred development approach.

Sales leaders investigating automated revenue workflows can take inspiration from these common B2B sales automation use cases. Use these as benchmarks when trialing either platform.

Side-by-side summary

Notes: Pricing and plan names referenced from vendor pages on September 19, 2025. Figures and regions come from public docs.

Pricing and total cost of ownership

The ability to predict costs can significantly impact project approvals, as it enables evaluation of ROI and budgeting. It also influences the extent to which teams are willing to adopt automation, since unclear or volatile costs can be a deterrent. Consider not just the monthly or annual subscription fees, but also actual usage-based costs, add-ons, and the ongoing resource investment of infrastructure management.

n8n: predictable executions, optional self-host savings

n8n Cloud offers clear, execution-based pricing tiers: the Starter plan includes around 2,500 executions per month, and the Pro plan extends this to about 10,000. Business and Enterprise tiers provide further scalability and control. Opting to self-host can lower the vendor fee, but shifts spending toward your own infrastructure and administration, including monitoring, backup, and upgrades.

• Pros: Transparent execution limits; self-hosting may lower vendor fees.

• Cons: Cloud pricing in Euros may complicate US budgeting; self-host involves extra operational overhead.

• Advice: Estimate workflow execution volume using a one-month test run to accurately model costs.

Pipedream: credits, free tier, and developer features

Pipedream provides a credit-based pricing structure with tiers ranging from Free to Business. Basic ($29) and Advanced ($49) offer monthly credits and increased limits, while Connect provides additional credits and tools for integration specialists. Business plans are customizable. Since workflow actions consume credits, keep an eye on high-frequency automations.

• Pros: Substantial free tier; predictable entry pricing; GitHub Sync on Advanced plan.

• Cons: Credit usage requires monitoring during activity spikes; access to premium apps may necessitate higher plans.

• Advice: Tag and organize workflows by business unit, and monitor credit usage on a weekly basis.

See current n8n Cloud and self-host options - See current Pipedream plans

Deployment and data residency

Data geography and hosting control shape your compliance posture, especially when handling sensitive customer data or analytics flowing through automations.

n8n: cloud in Germany or self-host anywhere

n8n Cloud operates on Azure in Germany West Central, guaranteeing EU data residency by default. The self-hosted option enables deployment in any region or on-premises. Organizations with rigorous data control and compliance needs often select self-hosting.

• Pros: Total control via self-hosting; default EU data residency on Cloud.

• Cons: Self-hosting introduces responsibilities for security, updates, and data backups.

• Advice: For self-host setups, automate snapshot backups and schedule regular upgrades as part of standard ops.

Pipedream: managed on AWS us-east-1

Pipedream runs fully managed on AWS us-east-1. Its VPC feature provides network isolation and dedicated egress IPs, supporting scenarios where partner systems require allowlisting.

• Pros: Fully managed service eliminates the need for self-hosting; offers VPC for network isolation.

• Cons: No self-hosting options; restrictions on data region choices.

• Advice: Map out data flows for workflows that process regulated records before broad deployment.

Integrations and extensibility

Connector breadth influences how easily you can automate processes without custom development, while extensibility determines whether you can support unique or edge cases across your tech stack.

n8n: 1,100+ integrations and community nodes

n8n supports a broad base of integrations, with 1,100 listed on its platform. HTTP Request and credential-only nodes allow custom calls, and for even more complex needs, you can develop and share custom nodes. n8n Cloud now also offers a curated set of community-contributed nodes.

• Pros: Visual nodes streamline integration with popular SaaS platforms; curated community nodes close feature gaps.

• Cons: Community node access on Cloud is not all-encompassing.

• Advice: For less common APIs, begin by using the HTTP Request node and scale up to custom nodes as needed.

Pipedream: 2,800+ apps and code steps

Pipedream delivers integration with over 2,800 apps, all with ready-to-use actions. Additionally, developers can write custom workflow steps using Node.js or Python, leveraging both npm and PyPI packages for complex data handling.

• Pros: Extensive app catalog; direct code steps eliminate connector limitations.

• Cons: May require more developer involvement for custom, non-standard automation needs.

• Advice: Create reusable workflow actions across your organization and manage them via GitHub Sync.

Security, compliance, and governance

Security controls and independent attestations determine where you can securely process customer data. Governance features, such as user management and access controls, play a crucial role in determining how your automation solutions can be scaled across various teams.

n8n: SOC program, SSO, and audit history

n8n follows SOC 2 standards and publishes a SOC 3 report, with detailed SOC 2 documentation for enterprise clients. Enterprise subscriptions offer SSO via SAML or OIDC and retain audit logs for a minimum of 12 months.

• Pros: Comprehensive audit trail; SSO provides unified access management.

• Cons: Advanced governance tools are limited to Enterprise plans.

• Advice: Align audit log retention settings with your organization’s security policy before going live.

Pipedream: SOC 2 Type II, HIPAA option, and VPC

Pipedream maintains a SOC 2 Type II certification and conducts annual penetration tests. For Business plan customers, it can support HIPAA use cases via a formal BAA, and its VPC features enable dedicated, isolated networking.

• Pros: Strong compliance stance; HIPAA pathway for protected health information workflows.

• Cons: HIPAA support is tied to the Business plan and applicable services.

• Advice: Verify which specific Pipedream services are covered for HIPAA support before migrating protected health data.

Developer experience and workflow design

Your team’s preferred building style, visual or code-centric, directly affects the pace and sustainability of automation delivery.

n8n: visual-first with room for custom logic

n8n’s user-friendly interface, known as a node canvas, facilitates the quick and easy creation of automation workflows, even for non-developers. HTTP Request and credential-only nodes extend coverage for more complex integrations, and teams can further extend capabilities by creating custom nodes.

• Pros: Low barrier to entry for operations and analyst teams; robust HTTP and visual building tools.

• Cons: Handling advanced data transformations may require building custom nodes or scripts.

• Advice: Develop and standardize workflow templates for frequently used processes such as CRM syncs and ticket escalations.

Pipedream: code-native with rich packages

Developers leveraging Pipedream can write automation steps directly in Node.js or Python and incorporate packages, fitting scenarios that demand precise control (such as event-driven pipelines or advanced CRM routines).

• Pros: Supports full programming languages; streamlines action reuse; GitHub Sync for versioning.

• Cons: Higher dependency on engineering resources for non-technical use cases.

• Advice: Package your most common workflow components as shared actions for consistency and easy re-use.

Licensing and usage rights

Platform licensing determines whether you can redistribute, white-label, or bundle automation in customer-facing products or internal tools.

n8n: source-available under the Sustainable Use License

n8n is published under its Sustainable Use License (SUL). This license allows internal business use and modification but restricts offering n8n as a commercial service. Alternative commercial terms are available for extended usage.

• Pros: Source code access; freedom for internal extensions; contributions welcomed.

• Cons: Restrictions on resale or integrating into hosted products.

• Advice: Consult your legal team on SUL terms if client-facing features are in your roadmap.

Pipedream: proprietary SaaS terms

Pipedream is delivered as a fully managed hosted service, governed by standard SaaS terms and publicly documented privacy and security commitments, including SOC 2 details. Redistribution isn’t applicable because all infrastructure is managed by Pipedream.

• Pros: Straightforward hosted model; no infrastructure to distribute or manage.

• Cons: No option to fork or implement as a self-hosted product.

• Advice: Clarify data retention and export processes for audit or compliance reviews.

Team operations and collaboration

As automation efforts scale, features like version control, access permissions, and environment management become just as important as integration support.

n8n: enterprise SSO and long audit windows

n8n’s Enterprise edition enables SAML or OIDC-based SSO while storing audit logs for up to 12 months (with three months directly accessible). Planning team structures and project roles before scaling helps streamline operations.

• Pros: Centralized identity management; strong traceability for workflow changes.

• Cons: Some collaboration and access controls require the Enterprise plan.

• Advice: Safeguard critical credentials by restricting access to SSO-protected user groups.

Pipedream: GitHub Sync and access controls

Pipedream’s Advanced plan and above include GitHub Sync for workflow code, supporting familiar code review practices. Comprehensive documentation for access control over projects and accounts makes multi-team collaboration easier.

• Pros: Code review fits established developer workflows; granular credential sharing across projects.

• Cons: Advanced governance features vary according to plan.

• Advice: Apply code management principles by using pull requests, peer reviews, and continuous integration checks for workflow deployment.

Pros and cons summary

n8n

• Pros: Cloud or self-host options; default EU data residency; intuitive visual builder; extensive integration library.

• Cons: Advanced SSO and governance require Enterprise plan; licensing restricts commercial redistribution.

Pipedream

• Pros: Over 2,800 app integrations; native code steps in Node.js/Python; SOC 2 Type II; HIPAA compliance path for healthcare.

• Cons: Hosted solution only; fixed region; manual credit management required.

Conclusion

Choose n8n if you require self-hosting, EU data residency, and a visual automation builder that your operations team can confidently manage. It is well-suited to CRM syncs, analytics, and project workflows where data sovereignty is a top priority.

Opt for Pipedream if your developers seek a fully managed, scalable platform designed for deep coding and integration with a vast app catalog. It excels at event-driven integrations, technical CRM automations, and complex support routines under strong compliance frameworks such as SOC 2 or HIPAA.

Still deciding? Run a pilot sales or support workflow on each platform. Measure execution usage, developer and reviewer effort, and overall productivity over four weeks to make an informed choice.

FAQ

What are the main differences between n8n and Pipedream?

n8n offers both cloud and self-hosted options, catering to those who require data sovereignty and flexibility. Pipedream, on the other hand, is a fully managed SaaS solution focused on deep coding capabilities, which may limit control for developers looking to self-host or require specific data residency.

How do pricing models for n8n and Pipedream differ?

n8n uses an execution-based pricing model, which can lead to predictable costs if you monitor executions carefully. Pipedream uses a credit-based model, which may initially appear flexible but requires diligent monitoring to avoid unexpected costs during activity spikes.

Is self-hosting always a beneficial choice?

While self-hosting provides maximum control over data and compliance, it shifts the burden of infrastructure maintenance, security updates, and backups onto your team, demanding significant internal resources and management.

Which platform is more suitable for non-technical teams?

n8n's visual-first automation builder is more suitable for non-technical teams, allowing operations and analytics personnel to design workflows without deep coding expertise. Conversely, Pipedream demands a higher level of technical skill, favoring developer-led teams.

Can Pipedream be self-hosted for more control?

No, Pipedream is strictly a managed service with no self-hosting option, limiting data control to what the platform offers. This could be a dealbreaker for teams needing tailored data locality or compliance requirements.

What should be considered when deciding between the two platforms?

Consider factors like data residency, governance needs, the technical skill of your team, and specific project requirements. Each platform has its trade-offs; the wrong choice could lead to increased overheads or unfulfilled compliance needs.

Are security features the same on both platforms?

n8n and Pipedream both adhere to robust security standards like SOC 2, but their offerings differ, particularly around HIPAA capabilities and the depth of governance tools. Ensure alignment with your organization's compliance requirements before committing.