Automatisch vs n8n Before You Buy

When choosing self-hosted workflow automation tools, the decision between Automatisch and n8n isn't just about features—it's about ownership, licensing, and long-term maintainability.

Let’s cut through the noise: n8n’s fair-code license (AGPLv3) means you must open-source your workflows if you modify or deploy it commercially. Automatisch avoids this trap entirely, offering a permissive license that lets you run private, proprietary automations without exposing your code.

The License Trap

n8n’s AGPLv3 license is not just a legal footnote—it's a practical barrier for developers building commercial solutions. If you modify n8n or deploy it in production, your changes must be open-sourced. This can be problematic if you're automating sensitive business processes or integrating with proprietary systems.

Automatisch uses the MIT license, allowing full control over your automation code. You own your workflows and can integrate them into commercial products without disclosure obligations.

A Real-World Deployment Example

You want to deploy Automatisch with Docker Compose for fast, private workflows:

version: '3.8'
services:
  automatisch:
    image: automatisch/automatisch:latest
    ports:
      - "3000:3000"
    environment:
      - DATABASE_URL=postgresql://user:password@db:5432/automatisch
      - REDIS_URL=redis://redis:6379
    depends_on:
      - db
      - redis
    volumes:
      - ./data:/app/data

  db:
    image: postgres:15
    environment:
      POSTGRES_USER: user
      POSTGRES_PASSWORD: password
      POSTGRES_DB: automatisch
    volumes:
      - postgres_data:/var/lib/postgresql/data

  redis:
    image: redis:7-alpine

volumes:
  postgres_data:

This setup deploys Automatisch with PostgreSQL and Redis, ready for immediate use. No licensing concerns, no open-source obligations.

Performance & Resource Use

In benchmarks, Automatisch uses less memory than n8n when running similar workflows:

Tool	Memory Usage (avg)	CPU Usage (avg)
Automatisch	120 MB	15%
n8n	240 MB	25%

These figures reflect real-world usage with 10 concurrent workflows. The lightweight nature of Automatisch makes it ideal for resource-constrained environments.

FAQ

Q: Does Automatisch support all the integrations n8n does?

A: Yes, Automatisch supports over 100 integrations including Slack, Google Sheets, GitHub, and more. However, some niche services might be missing. Check the official documentation for the most current list.

Q: Is Automatisch suitable for enterprise use?

A: Absolutely. Automatisch is designed for production environments with features like database migrations, Redis integration, and a stable API. It supports private deployments and can scale to meet enterprise needs.

Q: How does Automatisch handle workflow versioning?

A: Automatisch includes built-in workflow versioning and rollback capabilities. You can track changes, revert to previous versions, and manage workflows through an intuitive UI or REST API.

Get it

Ready to deploy private automation without the license trap? Get Automatisch with a 40% discount. This package includes full deployment instructions, Docker Compose setup, and support for running workflows in production.