WRIO vs n8n
Privacy-first, but maintenance-heavy.
WRIO
- ✅ AI-First Automation
- ✅ Visual BPMN Builder
- ✅ Unlimited Workflows
- ✅ Built-in CRM (Sonar)
n8n
- ✓ Source Available
- ✓ Fair-code License
- ✓ Node-based Workflow
The Hidden Cost of "Self-Hosted"
n8n's fair-code model is admirable, allowing you to self-host for free. But "free" software often comes with expensive maintenance. You are responsible for uptime, security patches, database management, and scaling. If your server goes down at 3 AM, that's your problem. For solo developers, this is fine. For businesses, the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) of managing infrastructure often exceeds the cost of a managed service like WRIO, which runs on enterprise-grade Cloudflare infrastructure with zero maintenance.
WRIO is different. We believe automation should be infrastructure, not a luxury tax. Our architecture runs on Cloudflare Workers, making it orders of magnitude cheaper.
Why choose WRIO over n8n?
While n8n is a great tool for Fair execution-based pricing (similar to WRIO), WRIO offers a distinct advantage for teams looking for AI-native automation.
Pros & Cons of n8n
Pros
- • Fair execution-based pricing (similar to WRIO)
- • Can be self-hosted for complete data privacy
- • Developer-friendly (JS support)
Cons
- • Requires technical knowledge (DevOps) to self-host
- • Smaller integration library compared to Zapier
- • Cloud version is actually quite expensive
The Verdict
n8n is the best choice for engineers who want full control and don't mind managing Docker containers. For business users who just want automation to work without becoming a sysadmin, WRIO provides the same power and flexibility but as a fully managed, serverless platform.