Keywords AI

n8n vs Trigger.dev

Compare n8n and Trigger.dev side by side. Both are tools in the Workflow Automation category.

Quick Comparison

	n8n	Trigger.dev
Category	Workflow Automation	Workflow Automation
Pricing	Open Source	—
Best For	Technical teams who want a self-hostable, open-source automation platform with native AI capabilities	—
Website	n8n.io	trigger.dev
Key Features	Open-source workflow automation 400+ integrations Self-hosted option Built-in AI capabilities Code and no-code modes	—
Use Cases	AI-enhanced data pipelines Internal tool automation Data synchronization between apps Self-hosted workflow automation Complex multi-step business processes	—

When to Choose n8n vs Trigger.dev

Choose n8n if you need

AI-enhanced data pipelines
Internal tool automation
Data synchronization between apps

Pricing: Open Source

How to Choose a Workflow Automation Tool

Key criteria to evaluate when comparing Workflow Automation solutions:

Integration catalogNumber of pre-built app connectors and API integrations available.

AI capabilitiesNative LLM integration for intelligent processing steps within workflows.

Complexity supportAbility to handle branching logic, error handling, loops, and conditional flows.

Self-hosting optionWhether you can run the platform on your own infrastructure for data control.

Pricing modelPer-execution, per-workflow, or flat-rate pricing and how it scales with usage.

About n8n

n8n is an open-source workflow automation platform with deep AI capabilities. Its visual editor connects 400+ app integrations with AI nodes for LLM calls, vector search, document processing, and agent workflows. n8n supports self-hosting for full data control and is popular with technical teams building AI-enhanced business automations that combine traditional integrations with LLM-powered steps.

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About Trigger.dev

Trigger.dev is an open-source background jobs platform for TypeScript/JavaScript. It provides durable execution, automatic retries, and long-running task support — making it the developer favorite for running AI agent workflows, LLM pipelines, and async processing in production. Its code-first approach appeals to engineers who prefer writing workflows in TypeScript over visual builders.

View Trigger.dev profile →Visit website

What is Workflow Automation?

Platforms for building multi-step AI-powered automations that connect apps, APIs, and agents into repeatable business workflows.

Browse all Workflow Automation tools →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is AI workflow automation?▾

AI workflow automation platforms let you build multi-step processes that connect apps, APIs, and AI models into repeatable business workflows. They combine traditional automation with AI capabilities in visual builders.

What is the difference between n8n, Zapier, and Make?▾

Zapier is the easiest to use with the most integrations but limited AI features and higher pricing at scale. Make offers more complex logic at lower cost. n8n is open-source and self-hostable with strong AI integration, best for technical teams who want full control.