Cup vs n8n
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted automation & workflows options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
Cup
Fast checker for available Docker image updates
VS
n8n
Workflow automation with a node-based editor
| Feature | Cup | n8n |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Automation & Workflows | Automation & Workflows |
| License | MIT | Sustainable Use License |
| Language | Rust | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,337 | ★ 199,764 |
| First released | 2024 | 2019 |
| Replaces | Watchtower | Zapier, Make |
Why pick each one
Choose Cup if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (1.3k GitHub stars)
Frequently asked questions
Is Cup or n8n better?
Neither is universally better. n8n has the larger community, while Cup is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Cup and n8n free and open-source?
Yes. Cup is licensed under MIT and n8n under Sustainable Use License. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Cup and n8n with Docker?
Cup: yes. n8n: yes.