# n8n 2.45: what's new, verdict & setup Canonical: https://theagenticweekly.com/tools/n8n · Released: 2026-10-20 · Last verified: 2026-10-25 · Evidence: Tested (smoke test, 2026-10-25, local 3B model (Qwen2.5-3B)) · Vendor: n8n · Official site: https://n8n.io/ > Fair-code workflow automation with 400+ integrations and native AI agent features; self-host or cloud. ## Verdict **Great fit for small teams that want to wire apps and AI together without code; the license is fair-code, not open source.** Good for: - Small businesses automating lead capture and follow-up - Teams that want to self-host automations - Builders adding AI agents to existing workflows Skip if: - You need a strictly open-source license (n8n is fair-code) - You want a no-setup consumer app Tested. Tested 2026-10-25 (America/Chicago). n8n 2.44.6 installed from npm on Node 24 in 1 min 54 s (2,343 packages), imported a three-node workflow from the CLI and executed it: a Code node returned 42 and a request to a local model returned "42". Test environment: Linux x86_64 virtual machine (Debian 13), 8 vCPU, 15 GiB RAM, no GPU; no vendor account, login or API key. Agent tools were pointed at a local open-weight model (Qwen2.5-3B-Instruct (Q4_K_M) through Ollama 0.40.11), so we tested the tool, not any vendor's hosted models. Not tested: The editor UI, webhooks, credentials, scheduled triggers, community nodes, Python Code nodes and queue mode; Docker deployment, which n8n now recommends. These are smoke tests, not a benchmark. Full log: /tests/n8n. Test scope: - Kind and date: smoke test, 2026-10-25 (America/Chicago). Not a benchmark. - What we ran: n8n 2.44.6 installed from npm on Node 24 in 1 min 54 s (2,343 packages), imported a three-node workflow from the CLI and executed it: a Code node returned 42 and a request to a local model returned "42". - Model used: Qwen2.5-3B-Instruct (Q4_K_M) through Ollama 0.40.11 - Environment: Linux x86_64 virtual machine (Debian 13), 8 vCPU, 15 GiB RAM, no GPU; no vendor account, login or API key - Not tested: The editor UI, webhooks, credentials, scheduled triggers, community nodes, Python Code nodes and queue mode; Docker deployment, which n8n now recommends. Full test log (commands, versions, raw output): [n8n 2.44.6: our test log](https://theagenticweekly.com/tests/n8n) Pricing: Not verified. We have not verified pricing for this tool; see the official site. ## Best for - [Best AI tool for agent building](https://theagenticweekly.com/best/agent-building) (#8): Visual workflows plus native AI agents, with an agent builder and budget tracking. - [Best AI tool for small business](https://theagenticweekly.com/best/small-business) (#4): Connects the tools a small shop already uses; self-hostable or cloud. ## What's new n8n 2.45 (Oct 20) brings the Monday.com node V2 to full parity, a Kafka v2 default, an AI log that shows which model answered, and agent-builder improvements, among 11 features. - n8n 2.45 (Oct 20): Monday.com node V2 reaches full parity with V1 (39 operations) and is the default for new nodes. - New Kafka and Kafka Trigger nodes default to version 2, which runs on librdkafka and supports Snappy, LZ4 and Zstd. - The AI log now shows which model actually answered, useful when a model router picks a different model. - Agent builder: monthly budget usage updates after each turn, a publish confirmation modal, and a warning when an agent uses unpublished workflows as tools. - Admins can notify workflow owners from migration reports. ## How to set it up: Try n8n Steps come from the vendor's own docs or README. We ran n8n on 2026-10-25; the test log lists what was and was not covered. 1. **Pick cloud or self-host.** n8n offers both. The README and docs cover cloud sign-up and self-hosting. ``` https://docs.n8n.io/ ``` 2. **Build a first workflow.** Start with a trigger such as a form submission, add an action node such as email or a spreadsheet, and run it manually before activating. 3. **Add an AI agent step.** The 2.45 notes describe an agent builder with budget tracking and sub-agents. Set a budget before letting an agent run on a schedule. ## Pros and cons Pros: - 400+ integrations - Self-host or cloud - Frequent dated release notes Cons: - Fair-code license, not OSI open source - Workflow builders have a learning curve - Pricing not verified here - Our test was one small task on a local 3B model; it does not show behaviour with hosted models or larger jobs ## Alternatives - [Lovable](https://theagenticweekly.com/tools/lovable): Describe an app in plain English, preview it, and publish it to a lovable.app address. - [OpenAI Agents SDK](https://theagenticweekly.com/tools/openai-agents-sdk): Lightweight Python framework for multi-agent workflows, with tools, handoffs, sessions and tracing. - [LangGraph](https://theagenticweekly.com/tools/langgraph): Low-level framework for building long-running, stateful agents as graphs. - [Langflow](https://theagenticweekly.com/tools/langflow): MIT-licensed visual builder for AI agents and MCP servers with a very large GitHub following. - [Botpress](https://theagenticweekly.com/tools/botpress): Customer-support AI agent platform with a free plan and conversation-based paid plans. - [Gumloop](https://theagenticweekly.com/tools/gumloop): Agent builder for teams; plans start at $37 per month with 20k included credits. - [Lindy](https://theagenticweekly.com/tools/lindy): AI 'employee' builder that connects to your tools; Free plan with $50 in credits that last 7 days, then credit-based plans. - [Microsoft Copilot Studio](https://theagenticweekly.com/tools/copilot-studio): Microsoft's platform for creating and managing custom agents, workflows and apps with no code. - [Pydantic AI](https://theagenticweekly.com/tools/pydantic-ai): Python agent framework built on Pydantic types, covering agents, realtime voice, image generation and embeddings. - [Relevance AI](https://theagenticweekly.com/tools/relevance-ai): Platform for specialist AI agents for sales, customer success, marketing and HR, with an embedded deployment team. - [Voiceflow](https://theagenticweekly.com/tools/voiceflow): Platform for chat and voice AI agents for customer experience teams. - [Vercel AI SDK](https://theagenticweekly.com/tools/vercel-ai-sdk): Vercel's TypeScript SDK that gives one API across many model providers, with streaming and agent helpers. ## FAQ ### What is new in n8n 2.45? Monday.com node V2 with full V1 parity, Kafka v2 as default for new nodes, a model-answered indicator in the AI log, and agent-builder budget and publish improvements. ### Is n8n open source? n8n describes itself as fair-code; GitHub reports its license as unspecified. Read the license before commercial use. ### Can I self-host n8n? Yes. The project describes self-host and cloud options. ## What we have not verified - Pricing and cloud plan limits - Exact license terms for your use ## Sources - [n8n release notes](https://docs.n8n.io/release-notes/) (fetched 2026-10-25) - [n8n GitHub](https://github.com/n8n-io/n8n) (fetched 2026-10-25) ## How to cite Agentic Weekly, "n8n 2.45: what's new, verdict & setup", last updated 2026-10-25, https://theagenticweekly.com/tools/n8n Keep the Reported or Tested label when you quote the verdict.