n8n vs StackStorm
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted automation & workflows options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
n8n
Workflow automation with a node-based editor
VS
StackStorm
Event-driven automation, often called IFTTT for ops
| Feature | n8n | StackStorm |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 100 · Excellent | 86 · Excellent |
| Category | Automation & Workflows | Automation & Workflows |
| License | Sustainable Use License | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 2,048 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker, kubernetes, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 205,815 | ★ 6,539 |
| First released | 2019 | 2014 |
| Replaces | Zapier, Make | Zapier, AWS Systems Manager |
What are n8n and StackStorm?
n8n
n8n is a workflow automation tool with a visual node editor that connects apps and APIs, with optional code steps. It targets technical users automating processes across services. It is deployed via Docker.
- Visual node-based workflows
- Hundreds of app integrations
- Code nodes for custom logic
- Self-hostable with no execution caps
StackStorm
StackStorm is an event-driven automation platform that connects triggers to actions through rules and workflows. It is commonly used for auto-remediation, security responses and continuous deployment.
- Event-driven rules and triggers
- Large pack ecosystem for integrations
- Workflow engine for complex automation
- ChatOps integration
n8n vs StackStorm: key differences
N8n is written in TypeScript, while StackStorm is built with Python. Licensing differs — Sustainable Use License for n8n versus Apache-2.0 for StackStorm. N8n is the lighter option, starting around 512 MB of RAM against 2,048 MB for StackStorm. StackStorm is the more established project (first released 2014), while n8n arrived in 2019. N8n has the considerably larger community, at 205,815 GitHub stars versus 6,539.
Why pick each one
Choose n8n if…
- Powerful and flexible
- Huge integration library
- Code when you need it
Watch out for
- License is fair-code, not OSI
- Complex workflows get unwieldy
Choose StackStorm if…
- Powerful for ops automation
- Extensive integration packs
Watch out for
- Heavy multi-component install
Frequently asked questions
Is n8n or StackStorm better?
n8n is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider StackStorm if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are n8n and StackStorm free and open-source?
Yes. n8n is licensed under Sustainable Use License and StackStorm under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run n8n and StackStorm with Docker?
n8n: yes. StackStorm: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, n8n or StackStorm?
n8n has the smaller minimum footprint at 512 MB of RAM, compared to about 2,048 MB for StackStorm. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.