head to head · open source
n8n vs shesha-framework
n8n has 205,086 GitHub stars, 60,753 forks, 1,143 open issues and last shipped today. shesha-framework has 509 stars, 143 forks, 430 open issues and last shipped yesterday. n8n leads on adoption by 40,192% (205,086 vs 509 stars). n8n is written in TypeScript under a custom or non-standard licence; shesha-framework is written in TypeScript under Apache-2.0. n8n has attracted 30% as many forks as stars, shesha-framework 28%. 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 | shesha-framework | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 205K | ★ 509 |
| License | Custom / other | Apache-2.0 |
| Written in | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Last push | 2026-09-18 | 2026-09-17 |
| Forks | ⑂ 61K | ⑂ 143 |
| 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 shesha-framework if
- You want the shesha-framework feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the Apache-2.0 license terms
- Your stack matches TypeScript
- You evaluated both and shesha-framework 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 shesha-framework
What is Shesha? Shesha is an open source Low Code development framework specifically for .NET developers. You can build anything from simple CRUD apps, admin panels to complex business applications super quickly. Shesha builds on top of other excellent frameworks and libraries (most notably ASP\.NET Core, Abp\.io, React, NextJs), layers on Low Code capabilities (think drag & drop form builder and app themer), and incorporates standard admin functionality (e.g. User and security management) to drastically reduce the time and effort required to build applications. In fact, in our experience, you will likely need 80…
read the full shesha-framework overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is n8n or shesha-framework more popular?
n8n has 205,086 GitHub stars and shesha-framework has 509. n8n has the larger community by that measure.
Are n8n and shesha-framework free?
Both are open source. n8n has no licence declared in this registry, and shesha-framework is licensed under Apache-2.0. Both are free to self-host.
What is the difference between n8n and shesha-framework?
n8n is written in TypeScript and shesha-framework in TypeScript. 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 shesha-framework?
Choose n8n if you want the larger community (205,086 stars) or its Custom / other licence terms. Choose shesha-framework if its feature set, stack or Apache-2.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.