head to head · open source
n8n vs ODS
n8n has 204,887 GitHub stars, 60,739 forks, 1,143 open issues and last shipped yesterday. ODS has 6,553 stars, 943 forks, 2,618 open issues and last shipped yesterday. n8n leads on adoption by 3,027% (204,887 vs 6,553 stars). n8n is written in TypeScript under a custom or non-standard licence; ODS is written in Python under Apache-2.0. n8n has attracted 30% as many forks as stars, ODS 14%. 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 | ODS | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 205K | ★ 6.6K |
| License | Custom / other | Apache-2.0 |
| Written in | TypeScript | Python |
| Last push | 2026-09-17 | 2026-09-17 |
| Forks | ⑂ 61K | ⑂ 943 |
| 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 ODS if
- You want the ODS feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the Apache-2.0 license terms
- Your stack matches Python
- You evaluated both and ODS 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 ODS
ODS (Osmantic Deployment System) is a Python based, Apache 2.0 licensed installer and runtime that turns a personal computer running Linux, macOS, or Windows into a private AI server. It lives in the self hosted local AI ecosystem alongside the components it wires together: Ollama, Open WebUI, n8n, ComfyUI, and a set of privacy tools. Rather than asking an operator to assemble those projects by hand, ODS installs the stack, selects a model suited to the detected hardware, starts the services, and exposes a local web interface. The repository root holds the public README, installers, security policy, and coordinat…
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Frequently asked questions
Is n8n or ODS more popular?
n8n has 204,887 GitHub stars and ODS has 6,553. n8n has the larger community by that measure.
Are n8n and ODS free?
Both are open source. n8n has no licence declared in this registry, and ODS is licensed under Apache-2.0. Both are free to self-host.
What is the difference between n8n and ODS?
n8n is written in TypeScript and ODS in Python. 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 ODS?
Choose n8n if you want the larger community (204,887 stars) or its Custom / other licence terms. Choose ODS if its feature set, stack or Apache-2.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.