n8n vs Trigger.dev
Short answer
n8n: Workflow automation with 1,500+ integrations and built-in AI agent nodes. Trigger.dev: Platform for background jobs, scheduled tasks and long-running AI agent workflows written in TypeScript. Both are in our Workflow automation with AI category.
Choose n8n if you want: larger community (210k vs 16.7k GitHub stars) and simpler deploy (one container vs a multi-container stack).
Choose Trigger.dev if you want: fewer license conditions (Permissive vs Source-available).
n8n publishes no official RAM figure, so we cannot compare hosting cost directly.
Last updated · computed from each project's official docs and live GitHub data · sources
n8n vs Trigger.dev side by side
| n8n | Trigger.dev | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Workflow automation with AI | Workflow automation with AI |
| What it is | Workflow automation with 1,500+ integrations and built-in AI agent nodes. | Platform for background jobs, scheduled tasks and long-running AI agent workflows written in TypeScript. |
| License | Sustainable Use License (fair-code) + n8n Enterprise License for .ee files | Apache-2.0 |
| License type | Source-available | Permissive |
| License conditions | You may use or modify n8n for your own internal business purposes or for non-commercial use. You may not sell it or offer it to others as a paid service. Files with ".ee" in the name need an n8n Enterprise License. | Permissive. Internal and commercial use allowed; keep license and notices. |
| Status | Active | Active |
| GitHub stars | 210k | 16.7k |
| Last commit | Nov 4, 2026 | Oct 31, 2026 |
| Latest release | [email protected] | v4.8.3 |
| Minimum hardware | Not published | 3 vCPU · 6 GB RAM |
| Recommended hardware | Not published | Not published |
| RAM measured by us | 412 MiB idle, 607 MiB working (our test, v2.44.6, Oct 22, 2026) | Not tested yet |
| GPU | Not required / not stated | Not required / not stated |
| Est. server cost | from €11.99/mo (based on our test, not official) | from €35.99/mo |
| Deploy method | Docker | Docker Compose |
| Known gotchas | 2 listed | 4 listed |
| Telemetry | On by default | Not documented |
| Calls home by default | Yes, by default | Not documented |
| SSO (OIDC / SAML / LDAP) | Paid / enterprise only (OIDC paid · SAML paid · LDAP paid) | Not documented |
| Audit log | Paid / enterprise only | Not documented |
| RBAC | Paid / enterprise only | Not documented |
| Details | Full n8n guide → | Full Trigger.dev guide → |
Key differences
- License: n8n: Sustainable Use License (fair-code) + n8n Enterprise License for .ee files (Source-available). Trigger.dev: Apache-2.0 (Permissive).
- Official hardware: n8n: not published. Trigger.dev: minimum 3 vCPU · 6 GB RAM.
- Est. server cost: n8n: not estimated (no official RAM figure). Trigger.dev: from €35.99/mo.
- Deploy: n8n: Docker · single container. Trigger.dev: Docker Compose · multi-container stack.
- GitHub stars: n8n: 210k. Trigger.dev: 16.7k.
- Last commit: n8n: Nov 4, 2026. Trigger.dev: Oct 31, 2026.
- Latest release: n8n: [email protected] (Nov 2, 2026). Trigger.dev: v4.8.3 (Oct 30, 2026).
Same for both: Category: Workflow automation with AI; GPU: not required or not stated; Status: Active.
n8n vs Trigger.dev: FAQ
n8n or Trigger.dev: which should a small business choose?
Choose n8n if you want: larger community (210k vs 16.7k GitHub stars) and simpler deploy (one container vs a multi-container stack). Choose Trigger.dev if you want: fewer license conditions (Permissive vs Source-available). n8n publishes no official RAM figure, so we cannot compare hosting cost directly.
Which is cheaper to self-host, n8n or Trigger.dev?
n8n: not estimated (no official RAM figure). Trigger.dev: from €35.99/mo. Our estimate is the cheapest Hetzner Cloud plan that meets each project's official RAM and vCPU figure; it covers the server only.
How much hardware do n8n and Trigger.dev need?
n8n: not published. Trigger.dev: minimum 3 vCPU · 6 GB RAM.
What is the license difference between n8n and Trigger.dev?
n8n: Sustainable Use License (fair-code) + n8n Enterprise License for .ee files (Source-available). You may use or modify n8n for your own internal business purposes or for non-commercial use. You may not sell it or offer it to others as a paid service. Files with ".ee" in the name need an n8n Enterprise License. Trigger.dev: Apache-2.0 (Permissive). Permissive. Internal and commercial use allowed; keep license and notices. This is a summary, not legal advice.
Is n8n or Trigger.dev more actively maintained?
n8n: Active, last commit Nov 4, 2026. Trigger.dev: Active, last commit Oct 31, 2026. GitHub data refreshed Nov 4, 2026.
Which is easier to deploy, n8n or Trigger.dev?
n8n installs via Docker (single container); Trigger.dev via Docker Compose (multi-container stack). n8n lists 2 known gotchas and Trigger.dev lists 4; see each app page.
Related
- n8n self-hosting guide · Trigger.dev self-hosting guide
- All n8n alternatives, ranked
- All Trigger.dev alternatives, ranked
- Activepieces vs n8n
- Activepieces vs Trigger.dev
- Dify vs n8n
- Langflow vs n8n
- n8n vs Sim
- n8n vs Skyvern
- n8n vs Windmill
- Skyvern vs Trigger.dev
- Trigger.dev vs Windmill
- Add a third app in the interactive comparison
Sources
- n8n GitHub repository: github.com/n8n-io/n8n
- n8n documentation, n8n deploy instructions: docs.n8n.io/deploy/host-n8n/install-options/install-with-docker
- n8n license: github.com/n8n-io/n8n/blob/master/LICENSE.md
- n8n hardware requirements: docs.n8n.io/deploy/host-n8n/configure-n8n/scaling/fix-memory-issues
- Trigger.dev GitHub repository: github.com/triggerdotdev/trigger.dev
- Trigger.dev documentation: trigger.dev/docs/self-hosting/overview
- Trigger.dev license: github.com/triggerdotdev/trigger.dev/blob/main/LICENSE
- Trigger.dev hardware requirements, Trigger.dev deploy instructions: trigger.dev/docs/self-hosting/docker
- Hetzner Cloud pricing used for cost estimates (read 2026-11-01): www.hetzner.com/cloud/regular-performance
- GitHub REST API (stars, commits, releases): docs.github.com/en/rest
Every value is generated from the same verified data as the app pages. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.