head to head · open source
OpenClaw vs n8n
OpenClaw has 390,029 GitHub stars, 81,995 forks, 6,671 open issues and last shipped today. n8n has 205,086 stars, 60,753 forks, 1,143 open issues and last shipped today. OpenClaw leads on adoption by 90% (390,029 vs 205,086 stars). OpenClaw is written in TypeScript under a custom or non-standard licence; n8n is written in TypeScript under a custom or non-standard licence. OpenClaw has attracted 21% as many forks as stars, n8n 30%. OpenClaw was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee. The two share 1 topic tag (ai), so they are genuine substitutes rather than adjacent tools.
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
| OpenClaw | n8n | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 390K | ★ 205K |
| License | Custom / other | Custom / other |
| Written in | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Last push | 2026-09-18 | 2026-09-18 |
| Forks | ⑂ 82K | ⑂ 61K |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick OpenClaw if
- You weight community size — 390K 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 n8n if
- You want the n8n feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the Custom / other license terms
- Your stack matches TypeScript
- You evaluated both and n8n fits your workflow better
About OpenClaw
OpenClaw is an open source, self hosted AI assistant in the AI & Machine Learning / AI Interaction & Interfaces category that runs on hardware the user controls and meets them inside the messaging channels they already use, for individuals who want a personal assistant on a laptop and teams that want a shared deployment.
read the full OpenClaw overview →
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.
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Frequently asked questions
Is OpenClaw or n8n more popular?
OpenClaw has 390,029 GitHub stars and n8n has 205,086. OpenClaw has the larger community by that measure.
Are OpenClaw and n8n free?
Neither OpenClaw nor n8n declares a licence in this registry, so check each project's own repository before relying on either for a commercial use. Both are free to self-host.
What is the difference between OpenClaw and n8n?
OpenClaw is written in TypeScript and n8n 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, OpenClaw or n8n?
Choose OpenClaw if you want the larger community (390,029 stars) or its Custom / other licence terms. Choose n8n if its feature set, stack or Custom / other licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.