n8n Agents vs Relay Agents: 2026 comparison
Open-source workflow automation with first-class AI agent nodes — self-host or use cloud.
Human-in-the-loop workflow agents that connect 100+ apps with approvals.
n8n Agents vs Relay Agents — specs
| Spec | n8n Agents | Relay Agents |
|---|---|---|
| Agent Rank | 85 / 100 (S) | 72 / 100 (A) |
| Autonomy | Semi-autonomous | Semi-autonomous |
| Pricing | Free · OSS | Freemium · from $18 |
| Open source | Yes | No |
| Capabilities | Tool use, Memory, Multi-agent | Tool use, Memory |
| Integrations | 6 apps | 4 apps |
| Verified | Verified | Verified |
| Released | Feb 2025 | Mar 2025 |
Agent Rank breakdown
- Autonomy fit
- 8
- Capabilities
- 6
- Integrations
- 10
- Pricing value
- 10
- Polish & maturity
- 7
- Verifiability
- 10
Auto-computed from autonomy, capabilities, integrations, pricing, maturity and editorial verification. Updated every deploy. How is this computed?
- Autonomy fit
- 8
- Capabilities
- 4
- Integrations
- 8
- Pricing value
- 8
- Polish & maturity
- 5
- 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
- +Strongest human-in-the-loop pattern of any no-code agent
- +Connects 100+ apps with conditional logic and approval gates
- +Free tier is real — not a trial in disguise
- −AI features are lighter than purpose-built agent platforms
- −Per-seat pricing scales fast for larger teams
- −No native phone / voice support
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
- +200 runs/mo
- +All app integrations
- +2,000 runs/mo
- +Multi-step approvals
- +Conditional branching
- +Shared workflows
- +Audit log
- +Role-based access
Which one should you pick?
Pick n8n Agents if cost is the main constraint or if auditability or self-hosting matters.
Try n8n Agents →Pick Relay Agents if its specific capabilities (Tool use, Memory) match what you need.
Try Relay Agents →Affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Frequently asked
Should I pick n8n Agents or Relay Agents in 2026?+
Pick n8n Agents if cost is the main constraint or if auditability or self-hosting matters. Pick Relay Agents if its specific capabilities (Tool use, Memory) match what you need. Most working teams running both can use n8n Agents for primary work and Relay Agents for the workflows where its specific strengths matter.
What's the price difference between n8n Agents and Relay Agents?+
n8n Agents starts at Free · OSS; Relay Agents starts at Freemium · from $18. n8n Agents is the cheaper entry option. For team deployments the TCO can differ — use the AI Agent Rank TCO calculator for your specific volume.
Which is more autonomous, n8n Agents or Relay Agents?+
Both n8n Agents and Relay Agents are Semi-autonomous agents — neither has a meaningful autonomy advantage over the other. The decision should hinge on capabilities and pricing instead.