n8n
★ 208.8k
vs
conductor
★ 12.8k
n8n vs conductor
n8n: n8n is a secure workflow automation platform for technical teams, combining the flexibility of code with the speed of no-code. It offers 400+ integrations, native AI capabilities, and allows full control over data and deployments with its fair-code license.; conductor: Conductor is a Netflix-developed platform designed to orchestrate complex workflows across microservices, supporting creation via JSON and code. However, Netflix discontinued its official OSS maintenance on December 13, 2023, while encouraging community forks and continued development.
01
TL;DR
n8nWorkflow Automation · ★ 208.8k
When to choose:
- You want a visual workflow builder with 1,500+ integrations, 9,000+ templates, and first-class AI agent, tool-calling, and human-approval nodes.
- You want the ability to drop in custom JavaScript or Python code steps inside visual workflows and self-host via Docker.
When to skip:
- You require an OSI-approved open-source license (such as MIT or Apache-2.0); n8n uses the fair-code Sustainable Use License.
- You want code-first durable execution without a visual canvas; Temporal or AutoKitteh are built for code-first workflows.
conductorWorkflow Automation · ★ 12.8k
Coordinating complex business processes involving multiple microservices.
02
Side-by-Side Comparison
Field
n8nconductorCategory
Workflow Automation
Workflow Automation
Stars
★ 208.8k
★ 12.8k
License
Sustainable Use License
Apache-2.0
Install Command
curl -fsSL https://get.n8n.io | sh
git clone https://github.com/Netflix/conductor.git
Updated
1d ago
2y ago
Open Source
Yes
Yes
Tags
Workflow Automation, No-Code, AI Orchestration
Workflow Orchestration, Microservices, Distributed Systems
03
Features
n8n01Flexible Coding Options (JavaScript/Python, npm packages)
02AI-Native Platform (LangChain-based agent workflows)
03Full Data & Deployment Control (Self-hosting, fair-code license)
04Enterprise-Ready Features (Permissions, SSO, air-gapped deployments)
05Extensive Integrations & Templates (400+ integrations, 900+ templates)
conductor01Orchestrates workflows across microservices.
02Supports workflow creation using JSON and SDKs (multiple languages).
03Provides various persistence and indexing options (e.g., Redis, Cassandra, Elasticsearch).
04Offers a Node.js-based UI for management.
05Includes system tasks for HTTP requests and JSON evaluation (jq).
04
Use Cases
n8n↳Automating diverse business and technical workflows.
↳Developing AI agent workflows using LangChain with custom data and models.
↳Integrating over 400 services and applications for seamless data flow.
conductor↳Coordinating complex business processes involving multiple microservices.
↳Building resilient and scalable distributed systems.
↳Automating long-running, multi-step tasks.
05
Best For
n8nMost PopularEssentialTrending
conductor—
FAQ
FAQ
What is the difference between n8n and conductor?
Both n8n and conductor are in the Workflow Automation category. n8n has 208.8k stars, while conductor has 12.8k stars.
Which is better, n8n or conductor?
The best choice depends on your use case. Choose n8n if Automating diverse business and technical workflows., and conductor if Coordinating complex business processes involving multiple microservices..
Is n8n free or open source?
Yes, n8n is open source on GitHub (Sustainable Use License).
Is conductor free or open source?
Yes, conductor is open source on GitHub (Apache-2.0).
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