head to head · open source
n8n vs HTTP-Shortcuts
n8n has 205,086 GitHub stars, 60,753 forks, 1,143 open issues and last shipped today. HTTP-Shortcuts has 1,818 stars, 152 forks, 16 open issues and last shipped yesterday. n8n leads on adoption by 11,181% (205,086 vs 1,818 stars). n8n is written in TypeScript under a custom or non-standard licence; HTTP-Shortcuts is written in Kotlin under MIT. n8n has attracted 30% as many forks as stars, HTTP-Shortcuts 8%. n8n 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 | ★ 205K | ★ 1.8K |
| License | Custom / other | MIT |
| Written in | TypeScript | Kotlin |
| Last push | 2026-09-18 | 2026-09-17 |
| Forks | ⑂ 61K | ⑂ 152 |
| 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 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 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 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 sourc…
read the full HTTP-Shortcuts overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is n8n or HTTP-Shortcuts more popular?
n8n has 205,086 GitHub stars and HTTP-Shortcuts has 1,818. 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 (205,086 stars) or its Custom / other licence terms. Choose HTTP-Shortcuts if its feature set, stack or MIT licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.