head to head · open source
n8n vs DBAPI
n8n has 205,086 GitHub stars, 60,753 forks, 1,143 open issues and last shipped today. DBAPI has 800 stars, 239 forks, 16 open issues and last shipped 3 months ago. n8n leads on adoption by 25,536% (205,086 vs 800 stars). n8n is written in TypeScript under a custom or non-standard licence; DBAPI is written in Vue under AGPL-3.0. n8n has attracted 30% as many forks as stars, DBAPI 30%. n8n was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee. The two share 1 topic tag (low-code), so they are genuine substitutes rather than adjacent tools.
Two open source projects, one decision. Both are free and self-hostable — the differences are community size, license terms, language stack and release pace.
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Side by side
| n8n | DBAPI | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 205K | ★ 800 |
| License | Custom / other | AGPL-3.0 |
| Written in | TypeScript | Vue |
| Last push | 2026-09-18 | 2026-06-13 |
| Forks | ⑂ 61K | ⑂ 239 |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick n8n if
- You weight community size — 205K stars and counting
- You want the Custom / other license terms
- Your stack matches TypeScript
- You value the larger contributor base for long-term maintenance
pick DBAPI if
- You want the DBAPI feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the AGPL-3.0 license terms
- Your stack matches Vue
- You evaluated both and DBAPI fits your workflow better
About n8n
n8n is a visual workflow automation platform built in TypeScript that combines a drag and drop editor with custom code execution. It lives in the integration and automation ecosystem, positioned as an open alternative to proprietary services like Zapier. Users design multi step workflows—called “n8n flows”—that connect apps, services, and custom logic to automate repetitive tasks.
About DBAPI
DBAPI SQL is API — Low code data service tool for data warehouse developers Just write SQL, auto generate HTTP APIs 🎬 Website 📖 Docs · 🚀 Live Demo · 📥 Download · What is DBAPI? DBAPI is a low code data service platform for data warehouse developers . Write SQL and configure parameters on the page, and it automatically generates production grade HTTP API endpoints —告别 repetitive CRUD coding forever. 🎯 Positioning : Enterprise data service management center — centrally manage, publish, monitor, and govern all data APIs 💡 Scenarios : BI reports, data dashboards, rapid frontend prototyping, AI application data …
read the full DBAPI overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is n8n or DBAPI more popular?
n8n has 205,086 GitHub stars and DBAPI has 800. n8n has the larger community by that measure.
Are n8n and DBAPI free?
Both are open source. n8n has no licence declared in this registry, and DBAPI is licensed under AGPL-3.0. Both are free to self-host.
What is the difference between n8n and DBAPI?
n8n is written in TypeScript and DBAPI in Vue. The practical differences are community size, licence terms, language stack and release cadence — all compared in the table above.
Which should I choose, n8n or DBAPI?
Choose n8n if you want the larger community (205,086 stars) or its Custom / other licence terms. Choose DBAPI if its feature set, stack or AGPL-3.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.