n8n vs Temporal
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?
n8n
Workflow automation with a node-based editor
VS
Temporal
Durable execution platform for reliable distributed workflows
| Feature | n8n | Temporal |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Automation & Workflows | Automation & Workflows |
| License | Sustainable Use License | MIT |
| Language | TypeScript | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 2,048 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker, kubernetes, helm |
| GitHub stars | ★ 199,764 | ★ 22,173 |
| First released | 2019 | 2019 |
| Replaces | Zapier, Make | AWS Step Functions, Azure Logic Apps |
Why pick each one
Choose Temporal if…
- Extremely reliable for long workflows
- Strong multi-language support
Frequently asked questions
Is n8n or Temporal better?
n8n is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider Temporal if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are n8n and Temporal free and open-source?
Yes. n8n is licensed under Sustainable Use License and Temporal under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run n8n and Temporal with Docker?
n8n: yes. Temporal: yes.