Windmill vs n8n: Which Automation Platform to Self-Host?

Quick Verdict Windmill is the better choice for developer teams who want to build internal tools, scripts, and data pipelines with a code-first approach. n8n is better for business workflow automation with its visual editor and 400+ pre-built integrations. They target different audiences despite both being "automation platforms." Updated March 2026: Verified with latest Docker images and configurations. Overview Windmill is an open-source developer platform for building scripts, workflows, and UIs. It's code-first — you write Python, TypeScript, Go, Bash, or SQL scripts, and Windmill handles scheduling, error handling, approval flows, and auto-generated UIs. Think Retool + Temporal + Airflow combined. n8n is a visual workflow automation platform for connecting apps and services. It's UI-first — you drag and drop nodes, configure connections, and build automations without necessarily writing code. Think self-hosted Zapier with code superpowers. Feature Comparison Feature Windmill n8n Pr