n8n Agents vs Tines AI: 2026 comparison
Open-source workflow automation with first-class AI agent nodes — self-host or use cloud.
n8n Agents vs Tines AI — specs
| Spec | n8n Agents | Tines AI |
|---|---|---|
| Agent Rank | 85 / 100 (S) | 73 / 100 (A) |
| Autonomy | Semi-autonomous | Semi-autonomous |
| Pricing | Free · OSS | Subscription · Free tier |
| Open source | Yes | No |
| Capabilities | Tool use, Memory, Multi-agent | Tool use, Memory |
| Integrations | 6 apps | 4 apps |
| Verified | Verified | Verified |
| Released | Feb 2025 | Apr 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
- 9
- 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 story for security and IT workflows
- +Generous free tier (Community) is genuinely usable in production
- +Story-based composer is easier to read than YAML/JSON IaC alternatives
- −Narrower scope than Zapier / n8n — built for SecOps + ITOps, less for marketing
- −Sales-led above Community tier; pricing not transparent
- −AI agent features are newer than the core automation product
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
- +Unlimited workflows
- +Community connectors
- +Public-cloud only
- +Production support
- +Custom connectors
- +On-prem option
- +Multi-region
- +SSO + audit
- +Premium support SLA
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 Tines AI if its specific capabilities (Tool use, Memory) match what you need.
Try Tines AI →Affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Frequently asked
Should I pick n8n Agents or Tines AI in 2026?+
Pick n8n Agents if cost is the main constraint or if auditability or self-hosting matters. Pick Tines AI if its specific capabilities (Tool use, Memory) match what you need. Most working teams running both can use n8n Agents for primary work and Tines AI for the workflows where its specific strengths matter.
What's the price difference between n8n Agents and Tines AI?+
n8n Agents starts at Free · OSS; Tines AI starts at Subscription · Free tier. 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 Tines AI?+
Both n8n Agents and Tines AI are Semi-autonomous agents — neither has a meaningful autonomy advantage over the other. The decision should hinge on capabilities and pricing instead.