ToolRankBest self-hosted and open-source AI automation tools
Updated 16 Oct 2026 · Prices from vendor pages only · How we rank →
The short answer
Each of these AI automation tools can run on your own machine or servers, or is open source. n8n comes first: developer-friendly automation with unlimited steps per execution and a self-host option. The cheapest verified paid plan here is Flowise Starter ($35/month). 5 of the 6 have a free plan we could confirm. Every price below is from the vendor’s own page, checked 16 Oct 2026.
Ranked shortlist
- n8n: Developer-friendly automation with unlimited steps per execution and a self-host option. Plan: Not yet verified
- Mastra: Open-source TypeScript agent framework. Plan: Starter: $0/month
100K observability events - Dify: Open-source platform for building LLM apps and agent workflows visually. Plan: Sandbox: Free
200 message credits - Flowise: Open-source drag-and-drop builder for LLM agents. Plan: Free: $0/month
2 flows & assistants - Langflow: Open-source visual builder for agents and RAG. Plan: Free and open source, plus a free cloud account
- Agno: Open-source Python framework and runtime for multi-agent systems. Plan: Free: $0/month
Order follows ToolRank’s editorial ranking in Automation & Agents, filtered to tools that fit this page. Anything we couldn’t confirm on a vendor page says “Not yet verified”.
Side by side
| Rank | Tool | Relevant plan | Starting price | Free plan | Best for | Main limitation | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | n8n | Not yet verified | €20/month (Starter, billed annually) | ✕ None listed | Technical teams building complex workflows and AI agents | Cloud plans count workflow executions (2.5K/month on Starter); steeper learning curve. | 16 Oct 2026 |
| #2 | Mastra | Starter: $0/month 100K observability events | $250/month (Teams) | Starter: free for everyone; self-hosted open-source framework | TypeScript developers building agents | Cloud Teams plan starts high | 16 Oct 2026 |
| #3 | Dify | Sandbox: Free 200 message credits | $590/workspace/year (Professional) | Sandbox: free, 200 message credits; open-source Community edition free to self-host | Teams building LLM apps with a visual builder | Cloud plans are billed per workspace per year | 16 Oct 2026 |
| #4 | Flowise | Free: $0/month 2 flows & assistants | $35/month (Starter) | Free: $0/month, 2 flows and assistants | Visual LLM flow building | Free cloud plan is limited to 2 flows | 16 Oct 2026 |
| #5 | Langflow | Free and open source, plus a free cloud account | Not yet verified | Free and open source, plus a free cloud account | Building and deploying agents and MCP servers visually | Cloud limits are not published on the homepage | 16 Oct 2026 |
| #6 | Agno | Free: $0/month | $150/month (Pro) | Free: $0/month runtime, you host it | Python developers running agents on their own infrastructure | Control plane needs Pro | 16 Oct 2026 |
Prices as listed by each vendor on the last-checked date, USD, before tax. Plans and limits change, so follow the sources below.
Who should pick which
Pick n8n for technical teams building complex workflows and AI agents (€20/month (Starter, billed annually)); think twice if you want the simplest no-code setup. Pick Mastra for TypeScript developers building agents (Starter: $0/month). Watch out: cloud Teams plan starts high. Pick Dify for teams building LLM apps with a visual builder (Sandbox: Free). Watch out: cloud plans are billed per workspace per year. Pick Flowise for visual LLM flow building (Free: $0/month). Watch out: free cloud plan is limited to 2 flows. Pick Langflow for building and deploying agents and MCP servers visually (free plan: Free and open source, plus a free cloud account). Watch out: cloud limits are not published on the homepage. Pick Agno for python developers running agents on their own infrastructure (Free: $0/month). Watch out: control plane needs Pro.
FAQ
Which of these is cheapest?
Flowise Starter ($35/month) is the lowest paid price we verified on this list (https://flowiseai.com, checked 16 Oct 2026). Check the vendor page for tax, billing period and usage limits.
Which of these have a free plan?
Mastra: Starter: free for everyone; self-hosted open-source framework; Dify: Sandbox: free, 200 message credits; open-source Community edition free to self-host; Flowise: Free: $0/month, 2 flows and assistants; Langflow: Free and open source, plus a free cloud account; Agno: Free: $0/month runtime, you host it.
How were these tools chosen?
They are the tools in ToolRank's rankings with self-hosting, local use or an open-source licence stated by the vendor, confirmed on the vendor's own website on 16 Oct 2026. Tools we could not verify are left out rather than guessed, and anything unconfirmed is marked Not yet verified.
Sources
- n8n: n8n pricing checked 16 Oct 2026
- Mastra: Mastra pricing checked 16 Oct 2026
- Dify: Dify pricing checked 16 Oct 2026
- Flowise: Flowise pricing checked 16 Oct 2026
- Langflow: Langflow pricing checked 16 Oct 2026
- Agno: Agno pricing checked 16 Oct 2026
Related comparisons
Profiles: n8n · Mastra · Dify · Flowise · Langflow · Agno
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