{"rid":"dev-services/n8n-community-edition","card":{"rid":"dev-services/n8n-community-edition","eid":"n8n","topic":"dev-services","slug":"n8n-community-edition","provider":"n8n Community Edition (self-hosted)","url":"https://docs.n8n.io/deploy/host-n8n/community-edition-features/","domain":"n8n.io","category":"self-hosted workflow automation software (n8n Community Edition)","tier":"Community Edition","verdict":"qualifies-with-caveat","vorder":1,"grp":"usable","self_hosted":1,"confidence":"documented","binding":"none","identity_kind":"anonymous","identity_basis":"stated","needs_card":0,"needs_phone":0,"needs_id":0,"needs_institution":0,"country":null,"crypto":null,"interfaces":"rest,cli","egress_metered":0,"per_object_bytes":null,"retention_days":14,"verified_at":"2026-11-01T18:13:27.751Z","verified_basis":"live","checked_on":"2026-11-01","stale_on":"2026-12-02","n_evidence":28,"usd_month":null,"usd_per_tb_month":null,"summary":"The free Community edition: what n8n runs without a license key, with almost the complete feature set of n8n, installed and run by the user on a machine of t...","duplicate_of":null,"n_unknown":0,"free_unit":"none"},"record":{"topic":"dev-services","slug":"n8n-community-edition","provider":"n8n Community Edition (self-hosted)","url":"https://docs.n8n.io/deploy/host-n8n/community-edition-features/","category":"self-hosted workflow automation software (n8n Community Edition)","tier":"Community Edition","free_tier":{"stated":"The free Community edition: what n8n runs without a license key, with almost the complete feature set of n8n, installed and run by the user on a machine of their own; registering an email address for a free license key unlocks folders, debug in editor and custom execution data","unit":"none","metered_on":"none","source_url":"https://docs.n8n.io/deploy/host-n8n/community-edition-features/","read_on":"2026-11-01","notes":"n8n's documentation scopes the execution quota to paid plans, cloud or self-hosted, and the Community edition is not a paid plan. The hosted 14-day Cloud trial is dev-services/n8n-cloud and comes first."},"per_object_cap":{"stated":"16 MiB maximum payload by default (N8N_PAYLOAD_SIZE_MAX), raised by setting the variable higher; 200 MiB for files in form-data webhook payloads by default (N8N_FORMDATA_FILE_SIZE_MAX)","bytes":null,"source_url":"https://docs.n8n.io/deploy/host-n8n/configure-n8n/basic-configuration/use-environment-variables/endpoints.md","notes":"both values are defaults that the user changes with an environment variable"},"retention":{"stated":"saved executions are deleted on a rolling basis by default, after 336 hours (14 days) or beyond 10000 stored executions; the user changes both settings with environment variables","days":14,"source_url":"https://docs.n8n.io/deploy/host-n8n/configure-n8n/basic-configuration/use-environment-variables/executions.md","notes":"EXECUTIONS_DATA_PRUNE, EXECUTIONS_DATA_MAX_AGE and EXECUTIONS_DATA_PRUNE_MAX_COUNT; 336 hours / 24 = 14 days"},"egress":{"terms":"not set by the software: workflows call third-party APIs from the machine the user runs n8n on, so that host's network terms apply","metered":false,"free_allowance":null,"price_per_tb":null,"source_url":"https://docs.n8n.io/choose-how-to-use-n8n/"},"interface":["rest","cli"],"interface_detail":"the n8n public REST API is available on all self-hosted editions, and the n8n CLI wraps that API; workflows are also built in the web editor","tooling":"the user installs and runs n8n on a rented or free machine: the one-line setup script (curl -fsSL https://get.n8n.io | sh) or a Docker Compose setup, with the built-in SQLite database or Postgres; the web editor, the public REST API and the n8n CLI. From n8n 3.0, n8n is only distributed through Docker.","chaining":"Last resort after the hosted workflow offers (the 14-day n8n Cloud trial in dev-services/n8n-cloud, and the hosted free tiers of Pipedream, Zapier and Inngest): triggers, schedules and integrations run on a machine that the user installs and keeps running.","limits":[{"kind":"per-object-cap","value":"16 MiB payload size by default, raised with N8N_PAYLOAD_SIZE_MAX","source":"https://docs.n8n.io/deploy/host-n8n/configure-n8n/basic-configuration/use-environment-variables/endpoints.md"},{"kind":"retention-clamped","value":"saved executions are pruned by default after 336 hours (14 days) or beyond 10000 stored executions","source":"https://docs.n8n.io/deploy/host-n8n/configure-n8n/basic-configuration/use-environment-variables/executions.md"}],"limits_note":"The Community edition omits paid features such as SSO, environments, external secrets and log streaming. The Docker Compose setup needs at least 4 GB of RAM and 2 vCPUs. The default execution timeout is disabled (-1), and users can set up to 3600 seconds for an individual workflow.","binding":"none","binding_note":"The documentation states no quota for the Community edition; the machine that runs it bounds throughput, and the pruning and payload defaults are environment variables that the user changes.","identity_cost":{"kind":"anonymous","detail":"No account with n8n is needed to install and run the Community edition: the one-line setup and Docker Compose pages ask for none, and the account is created on the user's own instance at its initial account creation. Registering that instance with an email address is optional and sends a free license key.","country":null},"reliability_note":"The user provides, maintains and keeps running the infrastructure; saved executions are pruned by default after 14 days; from n8n 3.0 n8n is distributed only through Docker and npm installs are deprecated.","confidence":"documented","confidence_note":"Editions, install paths, the public API, the pruning and payload defaults and the excluded features are read on first-party documentation pages; the installation was not run, and no execution quota for the Community edition is stated on those pages.","evidence":[{"url":"https://docs.n8n.io/deploy/host-n8n/community-edition-features/","date":"2026-11-01","proved":"the Community edition is the free edition that n8n runs without a license key","capture":"sha256:aee2894e25ce966569792168a6a7fa406b84b873478776a75283d449c25ea6fc","quote":"* Community edition: the free edition. This is what n8n runs without a license key."},{"url":"https://docs.n8n.io/deploy/host-n8n/community-edition-features/","date":"2026-11-01","proved":"the Community edition has almost the complete feature set and omits a listed set of features","capture":"sha256:aee2894e25ce966569792168a6a7fa406b84b873478776a75283d449c25ea6fc","quote":"The Community edition includes almost the complete feature set of n8n. It doesn't include these features:"},{"url":"https://docs.n8n.io/deploy/host-n8n/community-edition-features/","date":"2026-11-01","proved":"SSO, environments, external secrets and log streaming are not in the Community edition","capture":"sha256:aee2894e25ce966569792168a6a7fa406b84b873478776a75283d449c25ea6fc","quote":"The Business and Enterprise plans unlock the paid features that the Community edition doesn't include, such as SSO, environments, external secrets, and log streaming."},{"url":"https://docs.n8n.io/deploy/host-n8n/community-edition-features/","date":"2026-11-01","proved":"registering an email address gives a free license key that unlocks extra features","capture":"sha256:aee2894e25ce966569792168a6a7fa406b84b873478776a75283d449c25ea6fc","quote":"Register your Community edition with your email to receive a free license key. It unlocks these features for the Community edition:"},{"url":"https://docs.n8n.io/deploy/host-n8n/community-edition-features/","date":"2026-11-01","proved":"a new instance is registered during its initial account creation, so the account is made on the user's own instance","capture":"sha256:aee2894e25ce966569792168a6a7fa406b84b873478776a75283d449c25ea6fc","quote":"To register a new Community edition instance, select the option during your initial account creation."},{"url":"https://docs.n8n.io/deploy/host-n8n/community-edition-features/","date":"2026-11-01","proved":"the Community edition can be kept indefinitely and registration is optional","capture":"sha256:aee2894e25ce966569792168a6a7fa406b84b873478776a75283d449c25ea6fc","quote":"You can stick with the free Community edition indefinitely, register for free to unlock extra features, or subscribe to a paid plan for a license key that unlocks that plan's features."},{"url":"https://docs.n8n.io/choose-how-to-use-n8n/","date":"2026-11-01","proved":"the free way to run n8n is the self-hosted Community edition","capture":"sha256:923c513ab5ac00e03b53e4996af2a5bf6d70917133e54fb9ef9330ebad26a298","quote":"| Want to run n8n for free | Self-hosted (Community edition) | Free with almost the complete feature set |"},{"url":"https://docs.n8n.io/choose-how-to-use-n8n/","date":"2026-11-01","proved":"registering a Community instance with an email unlocks folders, debug in editor and custom execution data","capture":"sha256:923c513ab5ac00e03b53e4996af2a5bf6d70917133e54fb9ef9330ebad26a298","quote":"| Registered Community | Free | Community plus folders, debug in editor, and custom execution data. Unlock by registering your email |"},{"url":"https://docs.n8n.io/choose-how-to-use-n8n/","date":"2026-11-01","proved":"self-hosting means the user provides and manages the infrastructure","capture":"sha256:923c513ab5ac00e03b53e4996af2a5bf6d70917133e54fb9ef9330ebad26a298","quote":"You must provide and manage infrastructure"},{"url":"https://docs.n8n.io/hosting/","date":"2026-11-01","proved":"the self-hosting guides cover monitoring, logging, tracing and updating the user's own instance","capture":"sha256:f1f4b0891bfc69e066dc8602395ba7c9ceab2b096ab8c22bcaeb7142433440fe","quote":"[Keep n8n running](/deploy/host-n8n/keep-n8n-running.md): monitor, log, trace, and update your instance."},{"url":"https://docs.n8n.io/hosting/","date":"2026-11-01","proved":"every self-hosted installation without a license key is the free Community edition","capture":"sha256:f1f4b0891bfc69e066dc8602395ba7c9ceab2b096ab8c22bcaeb7142433440fe","quote":"All self-hosted installations use the same core product. Without a license key, n8n runs as the free Community edition."},{"url":"https://docs.n8n.io/deploy/host-n8n/install-options/one-line-setup/","date":"2026-11-01","proved":"the one-line setup command installs n8n through Docker","capture":"sha256:60f94f0e0c03775066e3149e92f9d1e52e852357095029b632a94543a2b4ed01","quote":"curl -fsSL https://get.n8n.io | sh"},{"url":"https://docs.n8n.io/deploy/host-n8n/install-options/one-line-setup/","date":"2026-11-01","proved":"from n8n 3.0 n8n is only distributed through Docker","capture":"sha256:60f94f0e0c03775066e3149e92f9d1e52e852357095029b632a94543a2b4ed01","quote":"From n8n 3.0, n8n is only distributed through Docker."},{"url":"https://docs.n8n.io/deploy/host-n8n/install-options/one-line-setup/","date":"2026-11-01","proved":"Postgres is suggested over the built-in default database for a team or a production environment","capture":"sha256:60f94f0e0c03775066e3149e92f9d1e52e852357095029b632a94543a2b4ed01","quote":"If you're setting n8n up for a team or a production environment, consider a more robust database like Postgres rather than the built-in default."},{"url":"https://docs.n8n.io/deploy/host-n8n/install-options/one-line-setup/","date":"2026-11-01","proved":"the built-in database is SQLite, a file-based database","capture":"sha256:60f94f0e0c03775066e3149e92f9d1e52e852357095029b632a94543a2b4ed01","quote":"This is [SQLite](https://www.sqlite.org/), a lightweight database that lives in a file."},{"url":"https://docs.n8n.io/deploy/host-n8n/install-options/install-using-docker-compose/","date":"2026-11-01","proved":"the Docker Compose setup needs at least 4 GB of RAM and 2 vCPUs","capture":"sha256:11ee913a4e4f00974c49d20f09a75e58b80491a1efcf9599adfc6dc68b07e2cc","quote":"* At least 4 GB of RAM and 2 vCPUs. The sandbox that runs AI-generated code (`sandbox-runner-1`) uses Docker-in-Docker, which needs more headroom than a typical container."},{"url":"https://docs.n8n.io/deploy/host-n8n/install-options/install-with-npm/","date":"2026-11-01","proved":"npm-based installs are deprecated from n8n 3.0","capture":"sha256:952dad27298cf50ec922eb70d02671e3fcb0c5ac3bd1cf5455c6eeb713b44a84","quote":"npm-based installs are deprecated from n8n 3.0."},{"url":"https://docs.n8n.io/api/","date":"2026-11-01","proved":"the n8n public REST API is available on all self-hosted editions","capture":"sha256:f27c27c826b0003a897cf25ac1d666fca466fb7294dcba247f4403e1bd8c5c68","quote":"* Self-hosted: All editions"},{"url":"https://docs.n8n.io/api/","date":"2026-11-01","proved":"the n8n CLI wraps the public API","capture":"sha256:f27c27c826b0003a897cf25ac1d666fca466fb7294dcba247f4403e1bd8c5c68","quote":"Use [n8n CLI](/connect/n8n-cli.md) for a command-line experience. It wraps the public API and is a good fit for:"},{"url":"https://docs.n8n.io/build/understand-workflows/understand-executions/","date":"2026-11-01","proved":"the execution limit quota belongs to paid plans, cloud or self-hosted","capture":"sha256:d32a7987c356e2684f485eefcdf849779fc447dbf90e3f657ff858f7cef1fad8","quote":"[Paid plans](https://n8n.io/pricing/), whether cloud or self-hosted, have an execution limit quota."},{"url":"https://docs.n8n.io/deploy/host-n8n/configure-n8n/basic-configuration/use-environment-variables/executions.md","date":"2026-11-01","proved":"execution data is pruned on a rolling basis by default","capture":"sha256:51a9b5c5bd43ad2f2cfbc9349061edd25c884b56981c00274cb9ae4178182d49","quote":"| `EXECUTIONS_DATA_PRUNE` | Boolean | `true` | Whether to delete data of past executions on a rolling basis. |"},{"url":"https://docs.n8n.io/deploy/host-n8n/configure-n8n/basic-configuration/use-environment-variables/executions.md","date":"2026-11-01","proved":"an execution is deleted after 336 hours by default","capture":"sha256:51a9b5c5bd43ad2f2cfbc9349061edd25c884b56981c00274cb9ae4178182d49","quote":"| `EXECUTIONS_DATA_MAX_AGE` | Number | `336` | The execution age (in hours) before it's deleted. |"},{"url":"https://docs.n8n.io/deploy/host-n8n/configure-n8n/basic-configuration/use-environment-variables/executions.md","date":"2026-11-01","proved":"at most 10000 executions are kept in the database by default","capture":"sha256:51a9b5c5bd43ad2f2cfbc9349061edd25c884b56981c00274cb9ae4178182d49","quote":"| `EXECUTIONS_DATA_PRUNE_MAX_COUNT` | Number | `10000` | Maximum number of executions to keep in the database. 0 = no limit |"},{"url":"https://docs.n8n.io/deploy/host-n8n/configure-n8n/basic-configuration/use-environment-variables/executions.md","date":"2026-11-01","proved":"the default execution timeout is disabled with -1","capture":"sha256:51a9b5c5bd43ad2f2cfbc9349061edd25c884b56981c00274cb9ae4178182d49","quote":"| `EXECUTIONS_TIMEOUT` | Number | `-1` | Sets a default timeout (in seconds) to all workflows after which n8n stops their execution."},{"url":"https://docs.n8n.io/deploy/host-n8n/configure-n8n/basic-configuration/use-environment-variables/executions.md","date":"2026-11-01","proved":"users can set up to 3600 seconds of execution time for an individual workflow","capture":"sha256:51a9b5c5bd43ad2f2cfbc9349061edd25c884b56981c00274cb9ae4178182d49","quote":"| `EXECUTIONS_TIMEOUT_MAX` | Number | `3600` | The maximum execution time (in seconds) that users can set for an individual workflow. |"},{"url":"https://docs.n8n.io/deploy/host-n8n/configure-n8n/basic-configuration/use-environment-variables/endpoints.md","date":"2026-11-01","proved":"the default maximum payload size is 16 MiB and can be raised","capture":"sha256:02bcaeb3e953c8c98f8363fa60cb651c51ee02ad3379e49cf919e4f72dadadc7","quote":"The maximum payload size in MiB. The default is 16 MiB, but this can be increased by adjusting the variable to a higher value."},{"url":"https://docs.n8n.io/deploy/host-n8n/configure-n8n/basic-configuration/use-environment-variables/endpoints.md","date":"2026-11-01","proved":"files in form-data webhook payloads default to a 200 MiB maximum","capture":"sha256:02bcaeb3e953c8c98f8363fa60cb651c51ee02ad3379e49cf919e4f72dadadc7","quote":"| `N8N_FORMDATA_FILE_SIZE_MAX` | Number | `200` | Max payload size for files in form-data webhook payloads in MiB. |"},{"url":"https://n8n.io/pricing/","date":"2026-11-01","proved":"the pricing page lists a Community Edition, a standard self-hosted version of n8n, on GitHub","capture":"sha256:c3ed41c5416bc747ab6448f995acb1ec453ddfe693ddaea8766349ea3d250eac","quote":"A standard, self-hosted version of n8n is available on GitHub."}],"verdict":"qualifies-with-caveat","verified_at":"2026-11-01T18:13:27.751Z","notes":"Self-hosted software and the last resort: the hosted offers come first (the 14-day n8n Cloud trial in dev-services/n8n-cloud, and the hosted free tiers dev-services/pipedream, dev-services/zapier and dev-services/inngest). This record is no duplicate of dev-services/n8n-cloud: it is the Community edition that the user installs and runs.","self_hosted":true},"claims":[{"path":"$.free_tier.stated","kind":"free-quota","num":null,"unit":null,"per":null,"currency":null,"usd":null,"fx_date":null,"parse":"unparsed"},{"path":"$.limits[0].value","kind":"limit:per-object-cap","num":16,"unit":"MiB","per":null,"currency":null,"usd":null,"fx_date":null,"parse":"ok"},{"path":"$.limits[1].value","kind":"limit:retention-clamped","num":336,"unit":"hours","per":null,"currency":null,"usd":null,"fx_date":null,"parse":"ok"}],"unknown":[],"history":[],"drift":[]}