Which license do I need for my use case?
In this article
In this article group
- Can I have API access while I'm on a trial?
- Troubleshooting Common Login Issues
- Migrating from cloud to self-hosted
- I'm interested in the Enterprise Plan, how can I talk to a sales representative
- I'm looking to become an n8n Ambassador
- Contact the n8n Events Team' or 'Events Sponsorship and Participation Enquiries
- I submitted a node
- Accessing the n8n Assistant
- Request for SOC-2 report
- How to delete a workflow
- I'm interested in a product demo. How can I schedule this?
- How to Retrieve Your n8n Level 1 or Level 2 Course Results
- Becoming an n8n template creator and getting help
- Understanding Workflow Publishing and Unpublishing n8n 2.0
- Work Experience and Internship Requests at n8n
- I have a marketing collaboration, sponsorship, or press inquiry
- How do n8n Academy and Community Forum accounts relate?
- Can I add or reset my Gateway credits?
- Do you have an Affiliate program?
- I want to partner or collaborate with n8n
- My n8n Community account was silenced. What should I do?
Self-hosted n8n: the Sustainable Use License
The free self-hosted Community edition of n8n runs under the Sustainable Use License (SUL). It doesn't apply to n8n Cloud, which has its own subscription terms.
If only you or people in your organization create or edit workflows, you can use the Community edition for free.
This includes building and running workflows for your clients on your own instance, charging them for that work, and letting them connect their own accounts. The condition is that clients can't open the workflow editor or change the workflow logic.
You need a commercial license if people outside your organization can build or configure workflows. That applies whether they do it in the n8n editor, your own interface, the n8n API, MCP, or through an AI agent acting for them.
You also need one to host n8n as a service, to white-label it, or to use features that require a license key.
The License FAQ has worked examples for agencies, SaaS products and workshops.
Common scenarios
You build and run workflows for clients on your own instance: allowed under the SUL, as long as clients only receive the outputs and have no access to n8n itself.
Your product lets customers build or configure their own automations on n8n: needs an Enterprise license, even if your customers never see the n8n interface.
You install and manage n8n on a client's own server: allowed, as long as you don't also host it for them. Your client then chooses the plan or license that fits their own use.
Who to contact
We can't confirm from this help desk whether your specific use case is allowed.
Questions about the SUL, or permission for a specific use case: license@n8n.io
Buying an Enterprise or other commercial license: sales@n8n.io
Article Last Updated At: 2026-10-06T15:11:05.807Z