# n8n vs openpencil

> Two self-hosted projects, compared on the numbers selfhost.directory tracks live: score, popularity, release cadence and setup effort.

| | n8n | openpencil |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 92/100 ✓ | 73/100 |
| Rank in category | #1 of 32 in Workflow Automation | #2 of 7 in Design |
| GitHub stars | 208 995 ✓ | 9 430 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +3 104 ✓ | +829 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 208 ✓ | 14 |
| Latest release | n8n@1.123.90 · 29 Oct 2026 ✓ | v0.16.0 · 14 Oct 2026 |
| Setup | Moderate | Easy ✓ |
| Official Docker image | Yes ✓ | No |
| License | Other | MIT |
| Main language | Typescript | Typescript |

## Which one should you pick?

n8n scores 92/100 against 73/100 for openpencil, so it is the safer default.

n8n ships more often: 208 stable releases in the past year, against 14 for openpencil.

If you want the quickest setup, openpencil is easier to run; n8n needs more configuration.

n8n is growing faster right now (+3 104 stars in 30 days).

## Details

- [n8n](https://selfhost.directory/project/n8n) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/n8n.md)
- [openpencil](https://selfhost.directory/project/openpencil) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/openpencil.md)

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Source: https://selfhost.directory/compare/n8n-vs-openpencil