Head-to-head · profiles checked Oct 1, 2026
Pick OpenClaw for a self-run chat assistant and n8n for workflow automation. OpenClaw is free, open source and has no hosted tier; you supply your own AI models. n8n has a free self-hosted Community Edition, cloud Starter at 20€/mo billed annually (2,500 executions) and Pro at 50€/mo (10,000). USD prices for n8n are not confirmed.
We based this comparison on our OpenClaw and n8n profiles, both verified 2026-10-01 from official vendor pages; it uses no third-party benchmarks and no vendor paid for placement.
OpenClaw is an open-source assistant you run yourself and talk to through chat apps such as Telegram and WhatsApp. n8n is a workflow automation platform with a visual editor, code steps and AI agent nodes, available in the cloud or self-hosted. Both have a free self-run option, but they solve different jobs. Pick OpenClaw for a personal assistant on your own machine, and n8n for automations that connect apps and run on triggers.
Based on our OpenClaw and n8n profiles, both verified 2026-10-01 from official vendor pages; no benchmark was run.
Our own captures of each vendor's public pages. Click a frame for the full-size image.
If you only want the answer, this is the table. Everything below is the evidence from the two documented profiles.
| You want to | Use | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Control an assistant from a chat app | OpenClaw | OpenClaw works through WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, Slack and more; n8n lists no chat assistant |
| Organize an email inbox | OpenClaw | OpenClaw lists inbox organizing as a use case; you connect mail access yourself |
| Manage a calendar | OpenClaw | OpenClaw lists calendar management; it needs a model and tool setup |
| Build multi-step workflows between apps | n8n | n8n has a visual editor with 1000+ integrations; OpenClaw lists no workflow editor |
| Run a workflow on a webhook or schedule | n8n | n8n supports webhook and queue triggers and scheduled runs |
| Write custom code inside an automation | n8n | n8n has JavaScript and Python code steps |
| Build AI agents and RAG pipelines | n8n | n8n lists AI agent nodes and MCP support; OpenClaw lists no agent builder |
| Run software on your own server | Either | OpenClaw is self-run; n8n offers a free self-hosted Community Edition |
| Use a hosted cloud service | n8n | n8n has cloud plans; OpenClaw states no hosted option |
| Give a team SSO and Git version control | n8n | n8n lists SSO, SAML, LDAP and Git on Business; OpenClaw lists none |
| Plan | Tool | Price | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| OpenClaw Open source (self-run) | OpenClaw | Free | No hosted tier; model and API costs are separate |
| n8n Community Edition | n8n | Free (self-hosted) | Unlimited executions, users and workflows |
| n8n Starter | n8n | 20€/mo billed annually (USD not confirmed) | 2,500 executions per month, 5 concurrent, 1 shared project |
| n8n Pro | n8n | 50€/mo billed annually (USD not confirmed) | 10,000 executions per month, up to 50 concurrent, 3 shared projects |
| n8n Business | n8n | 667€/mo billed annually (USD not confirmed) | Self-hosted only; 40,000 executions per month, 200+ concurrent, 6 shared projects |
| n8n Enterprise | n8n | Custom (sales) | Custom executions, 200+ concurrent, unlimited shared projects |
USD as published on each vendor's pricing page, checked Oct 1, 2026. n8n pricing in full
| OpenClaw | n8n | |
|---|---|---|
| Messages / rate limits | Not stated | Cloud: 2,500 executions per month on Starter, 10,000 on Pro; Community Edition unlimited |
| Concurrency | Not stated | 5 on Starter, up to 50 on Pro, 200+ on Business and Enterprise |
| Seats / team | Share an assistant with a team is listed as a use case; seat limits not stated | Unlimited users and workflows on all plans |
| Feature | OpenClaw | n8n |
|---|---|---|
| Chat app interface | Yes (WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, Slack, Signal, iMessage) | Not stated |
| Visual workflow editor | No | Yes |
| Code steps | Not stated | Yes (JavaScript, Python) |
| Webhook triggers | Not stated | Yes |
| AI agents | Not stated | Yes (AI agent nodes, MCP) |
| Self-hosting | Yes (installer, npm, Docker, Nix, source) | Yes (Docker, npm, binary) |
| Cloud hosting | No | Yes |
| API | No hosted API | Yes |
| Mobile apps | Mobile apps for voice and camera input are mentioned; platform details not stated | Not stated |
| OpenClaw | n8n | |
|---|---|---|
| Training on your data | Not applicable to the app; depends on your AI provider | Data not used to train n8n or third-party ML models |
| Retention | Depends on your gateway; the policy does not cover it | Execution history 7 to 365+ days by plan |
| Business controls | Permission-based access; no ad or analytics SDKs in mobile or extension builds | Encrypted credential store, audit logging, DPAs, enforced 2FA on Enterprise |
Taken from each vendor's published policy pages at the time of our check. Policies change; the source links are at the bottom.
Open-source personal AI assistant that runs on your own machine and is reached through chat apps like WhatsApp and Telegram.
Free stops at: No hosted tier or subscription per the site, Model and API costs are separate
Pricing US price unconfirmed
Workflow automation platform for technical teams to build AI agents and integrations, cloud-hosted or self-hosted.
Free stops at: Unlimited workflow executions, Unlimited concurrent executions (depends on server hardware)
Pricing US price unconfirmed
The OpenClaw software is free and open source, and the site states no subscription and no hosted tier. Your AI model access is a separate cost. n8n also has a free self-hosted Community Edition, while its cloud plans start at 20€/mo billed annually.
Yes. n8n offers a free Community Edition you can run with Docker or npm, and a Business plan that is self-hosted only. OpenClaw is always self-run. Both need some technical setup, and neither profile lists a managed option for OpenClaw.
They do different jobs. OpenClaw is an assistant you message from chat apps. n8n connects apps through workflows with triggers, code steps and AI agent nodes. Our profiles do not document OpenClaw building trigger-based workflows, so we cannot say it replaces n8n.
OpenClaw says data stays on your own machines, but training and retention depend on your AI provider and gateway. n8n states it does not use data to train n8n or third-party ML models and offers an encrypted credential store and DPAs. Review both policies first.
Only official vendor pages. No third-party benchmarks, forum threads or press were used. How we review.
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