head to head · open source
n8n vs HTTP-Shortcuts
n8n has 209,375 GitHub stars, 61,361 forks, 1,143 open issues and last shipped yesterday. HTTP-Shortcuts has 1,859 stars, 158 forks, 16 open issues and last shipped yesterday. n8n leads on adoption by 11,163% (209,375 vs 1,859 stars). n8n is written in TypeScript under a custom or non-standard licence; HTTP-Shortcuts is written in Kotlin under MIT. n8n has attracted 29% as many forks as stars, HTTP-Shortcuts 8%. HTTP-Shortcuts was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee.
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 | HTTP-Shortcuts | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 209K | ★ 1.9K |
| License | Custom / other | MIT |
| Written in | TypeScript | Kotlin |
| Last push | 2026-11-02 | 2026-11-02 |
| Forks | ⑂ 61K | ⑂ 158 |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick n8n if
- You weight community size — 209K 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 HTTP-Shortcuts if
- You want the HTTP-Shortcuts feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the MIT license terms
- Your stack matches Kotlin
- You evaluated both and HTTP-Shortcuts fits your workflow better
About n8n
n8n – The Platform for AI Agents and Workflow Automation Fair code platform to build and deploy AI agents and workflows. Combine a visual canvas with custom code, run it self hosted or in the cloud, and connect to 1500+ integrations. AI automation you can trust with real work, from prototype to production. Key Capabilities AI Native Automation Platform : Build and operationalize AI workflows and multi step agents using your own data, models, and tools Model Flexibility, No Lock In : Connect to OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, or open source models and switch providers without changing your architecture From Prototype…
About HTTP-Shortcuts
HTTP Shortcuts for Android An Android app that lets you to create shortcuts that can be placed on your home screen. Each shortcut, when clicked, triggers an HTTP request, with the possibility to process and display the response in various ways. Plus a whole lot of other (non HTTP) stuff. or download the latest APK directly. Find more information and documentation on the official website, or check out the (still very new and sparsely populated) official subreddit. Support this app by helping me translate it or by becoming a Beta Tester! Features No ads, no enshitification (I try) and completely free and open…
read the full HTTP-Shortcuts overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is n8n or HTTP-Shortcuts more popular?
n8n has 209,375 GitHub stars and HTTP-Shortcuts has 1,859. n8n has the larger community by that measure.
Are n8n and HTTP-Shortcuts free?
Both are open source. n8n has no licence declared in this registry, and HTTP-Shortcuts is licensed under MIT. Both are free to self-host.
What is the difference between n8n and HTTP-Shortcuts?
n8n is written in TypeScript and HTTP-Shortcuts in Kotlin. 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 HTTP-Shortcuts?
Choose n8n if you want the larger community (209,375 stars) or its Custom / other licence terms. Choose HTTP-Shortcuts if its feature set, stack or MIT licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.