head to head · open source
n8n vs lowdefy
n8n has 209,375 GitHub stars, 61,361 forks, 1,143 open issues and last shipped yesterday. lowdefy has 3,018 stars, 188 forks, 71 open issues and last shipped yesterday. n8n leads on adoption by 6,838% (209,375 vs 3,018 stars). n8n is written in TypeScript under a custom or non-standard licence; lowdefy is written in JavaScript under Apache-2.0. n8n has attracted 29% as many forks as stars, lowdefy 6%. 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 | lowdefy | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 209K | ★ 3.0K |
| License | Custom / other | Apache-2.0 |
| Written in | TypeScript | JavaScript |
| Last push | 2026-11-02 | 2026-11-02 |
| Forks | ⑂ 61K | ⑂ 188 |
| 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 lowdefy if
- You want the lowdefy feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the Apache-2.0 license terms
- Your stack matches JavaScript
- You evaluated both and lowdefy 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 lowdefy
Lowdefy The Config First Web Stack for AI and Humans Build apps that AI can generate, humans can review, and teams can maintain. Config that works between code and natural language. Why config first matters in the age of AI AI writes code fast, but the maintenance doesn't scale. LLMs generate thousands of lines that are hard to review, inconsistent across sessions, and full of hidden vulnerabilities. Lowdefy solves this: 50 lines of config vs 500 lines of code — AI generates concise, reviewable config instead of sprawling React components. Schema validated, no arbitrary code paths — Every property validated…
read the full lowdefy overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is n8n or lowdefy more popular?
n8n has 209,375 GitHub stars and lowdefy has 3,018. n8n has the larger community by that measure.
Are n8n and lowdefy free?
Both are open source. n8n has no licence declared in this registry, and lowdefy is licensed under Apache-2.0. Both are free to self-host.
What is the difference between n8n and lowdefy?
n8n is written in TypeScript and lowdefy in JavaScript. 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 lowdefy?
Choose n8n if you want the larger community (209,375 stars) or its Custom / other licence terms. Choose lowdefy if its feature set, stack or Apache-2.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.