Microsoft's open-source multi-agent framework — orchestrate conversations between specialised agents.
CrewAI vs n8n Agentswhich AI ops agent should you pick in 2026?
Open-source framework for orchestrating role-playing autonomous AI agents in collaborative crews.
Open-source workflow automation with first-class AI agent nodes — self-host or use cloud.
CrewAI vs n8n Agents — specs
| Spec | CrewAI | n8n Agents |
|---|---|---|
| Agent Rank | 70 / 100 (B) | 87 / 100 (S) |
| Autonomy | Autonomous | Semi-autonomous |
| Pricing | Free · OSS | Free · OSS |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Capabilities | Multi-agent, Tool use, Memory | Tool use, Memory, Multi-agent |
| Integrations | 4 apps | 6 apps |
| Verified | Verified | Verified |
| Released | Jan 2024 | Feb 2025 |
Agent Rank breakdown
- Autonomy fit
- 9
- Capabilities
- 6
- Integrations
- 2
- Pricing value
- 10
- Polish & maturity
- 8
- Verifiability
- 7
Auto-computed from autonomy, capabilities, integrations, pricing, maturity and editorial verification. Updated every deploy. How is this computed?
- Autonomy fit
- 8
- Capabilities
- 6
- Integrations
- 10
- Pricing value
- 10
- Polish & maturity
- 8
- Verifiability
- 10
Auto-computed from autonomy, capabilities, integrations, pricing, maturity and editorial verification. Updated every deploy. How is this computed?
Pros & cons
- +Strongest OSS workflow automation in 2026 — production-ready at any scale
- +Self-host keeps proprietary data on your infra
- +Multi-agent + AI agent nodes are first-class, not bolted on
- −Steeper learning curve than Zapier
- −Cloud pricing is competitive but self-host operational overhead is real
- −Community support primary; commercial SLA is paid tier
Pricing
- +Apache-2.0 fair-use license
- +Unlimited workflows
- +Full agent node support
- +Hosted runtime
- +Active workflows
- +BYO LLM key supported
- +10K executions/mo
- +Multi-user
- +Workflow versioning
Which one should you pick?
Pick CrewAI if you want the highest autonomy and the verification loop is in place.
Try CrewAI →Pick n8n Agents if its specific capabilities (Tool use, Memory) match what you need.
Try n8n Agents →Affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Frequently asked
Should I pick CrewAI or n8n Agents in 2026?+
Pick CrewAI if you want the highest autonomy and the verification loop is in place. Pick n8n Agents if its specific capabilities (Tool use, Memory) match what you need. Most working teams running both can use CrewAI for primary work and n8n Agents for the workflows where its specific strengths matter.
What's the price difference between CrewAI and n8n Agents?+
Both CrewAI and n8n Agents start in the same pricing range (Free · OSS vs Free · OSS). Total cost of ownership depends on your team size and volume — see the TCO calculator for your specific math.
Which is more autonomous, CrewAI or n8n Agents?+
CrewAI is the more autonomous of the two (Autonomous vs Semi-autonomous). Higher autonomy ships throughput faster but requires verification loops in place — see our autonomous-vs-copilot framing for when each tier wins.
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