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n8n Agents vs Relay Agentswhich AI ops agent should you pick in 2026?

Open-source workflow automation with first-class AI agent nodes — self-host or use cloud.

⚙️OpsSemi-autonomousOpen source
Tool useMemoryMulti-agent

Human-in-the-loop workflow agents that connect 100+ apps with approvals.

⚙️OpsSemi-autonomousFreemium · from $18
Tool useMemory

n8n Agents vs Relay Agents — specs

Specn8n AgentsRelay Agents
Agent Rank87 / 100 (S)73 / 100 (A)
AutonomySemi-autonomousSemi-autonomous
PricingFree · OSSFreemium · from $18
Open sourceYesNo
CapabilitiesTool use, Memory, Multi-agentTool use, Memory
Integrations6 apps4 apps
VerifiedVerifiedVerified
ReleasedFeb 2025Mar 2025

Categories: n8n AgentsOps · Relay AgentsOps

Agent Rank breakdown

n8n Agents
Agent Rank
87/ 100
SS-tier
Autonomy
8
Capabilities
6
Integrations
10
Pricing
10
Polish
8
Verifiability
10

Auto-computed from autonomy, capabilities, integrations, pricing, maturity and editorial verification. Updated every deploy. How is this computed?

Relay Agents
Agent Rank
73/ 100
AA-tier
Autonomy
8
Capabilities
4
Integrations
8
Pricing
8
Polish
6
Verifiability
10

Auto-computed from autonomy, capabilities, integrations, pricing, maturity and editorial verification. Updated every deploy. How is this computed?

Pros & cons

n8n Agents
Pros
  • +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
Cons
  • Steeper learning curve than Zapier
  • Cloud pricing is competitive but self-host operational overhead is real
  • Community support primary; commercial SLA is paid tier
Relay Agents
Pros
  • +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
Cons
  • AI features are lighter than purpose-built agent platforms
  • Per-seat pricing scales fast for larger teams
  • No native phone / voice support

Pricing

n8n Agents
Open source
Free
Self-host
  • +Apache-2.0 fair-use license
  • +Unlimited workflows
  • +Full agent node support
Recommended
Cloud Starter
$20/mo
Small teams
  • +Hosted runtime
  • +Active workflows
  • +BYO LLM key supported
Cloud Pro
$50/mo
Heavier use
  • +10K executions/mo
  • +Multi-user
  • +Workflow versioning
Relay Agents
Free
Free
Personal use
  • +200 runs/mo
  • +All app integrations
Recommended
Pro
$18/mo
Solo professionals
  • +2,000 runs/mo
  • +Multi-step approvals
  • +Conditional branching
Team
$38/seat/mo
Small teams
  • +Shared workflows
  • +Audit log
  • +Role-based access

Which one should you pick?

n8n Agents

Pick n8n Agents if cost is the main constraint or if auditability or self-hosting matters.

Try n8n Agents →
Relay Agents

Pick Relay Agents if its specific capabilities (Tool use, Memory) match what you need.

Try Relay Agents →

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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.

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n8n Agents vs Relay Agents (2026): which AI ops agent wins? · AI Agent Rank