compare / n8n
GoRunner vs n8n
n8n earned its place: flexible, self-hostable, with code when you want it. GoRunner trades the embedded code runtime for an engine that is dramatically faster and pricing that stays flat as flows get thorough.
| Capability | GoRunner | n8n |
|---|---|---|
| Execution engine | Compiled Go engine; steps scheduled in-process, no broker round-trips | Node.js workers coordinated through a queue (Redis in scaled mode) |
| 1,000-step flow, end to end | 0.9s (illustrative, internal testing) | 4.1s (illustrative, same harness) |
| Building flows | Visual canvas plus GoRunner AI: describe the flow, it builds and edits by chat | Visual canvas with expressions and code nodes; AI assistant for suggestions |
| Custom logic | Branch, loop, approval, and AI steps; arbitrary HTTP; no embedded code runtime | JavaScript and Python code nodes in-flow, a real strength for developer-heavy teams |
| Pricing model | Per run: one flow execution is one unit, however many steps | Cloud plans meter executions with plan caps; self-host community edition is free |
| Open source | No. Commercial software, stated plainly | Fair-code (source available); a genuine reason to choose n8n |
| Self-hosting | Enterprise plan: static Go binaries, Docker images, offline license keys for air-gap | Free community edition; scaled mode needs Redis and workers |
| Integrations | 600+ first-party pieces, contract-tested nightly | hundreds of first-party nodes plus a large community library, quality varies by author |
| Observability | Step-level logs, replay against latest or as-it-ran, re-run from any step | Execution logs and retries; no as-it-ran version replay |
Performance rows are illustrative from internal testing; public benchmarks ship with methodology. Competitor details reflect public documentation at the time of writing.
When n8n is the right call
If your automations are mostly custom JavaScript glue, or open source is a hard requirement of your procurement process, n8n is a fine tool and you should use it. GoRunner wins when execution speed, predictable per-run pricing, operational simplicity, and describe-it-build-it AI matter more than reading the source.
Rebuild one flow. Time it.
Migrating a single n8n workflow takes minutes with GoRunner AI: paste in what it does.
Free plan · 1,000 runs a month · self-host or cloud