head to head · open source
n8n vs ODS
n8n has 209,375 GitHub stars, 61,361 forks, 1,143 open issues and last shipped yesterday. ODS has 7,745 stars, 1,102 forks, 2,618 open issues and last shipped yesterday. n8n leads on adoption by 2,603% (209,375 vs 7,745 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 29% as many forks as stars, ODS 14%. ODS 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 | ★ 209K | ★ 7.7K |
| License | Custom / other | Apache-2.0 |
| Written in | TypeScript | Python |
| Last push | 2026-11-02 | 2026-11-02 |
| Forks | ⑂ 61K | ⑂ 1.1K |
| 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 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 – 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 ODS
ODS Osmantic Deployment System Turn your PC, Mac, or Linux box into a private AI server. AI server and homelab setup is rapidly becoming a solved problem. It should feel that way for everyone. ODS installs and wires together everything you need to run AI locally, so you do not have to assemble Ollama, Open WebUI, n8n, ComfyUI, and privacy tools by hand: Local model inference — run open models on your own hardware ChatGPT style web UI — talk to your models from any browser Control dashboard — manage models, services, setup, GPU status, and extensions from one place Voice, agents, and workflows — build automations…
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Frequently asked questions
Is n8n or ODS more popular?
n8n has 209,375 GitHub stars and ODS has 7,745. 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 (209,375 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.