Skip the Self-Hosting Headaches with Managed Automation

Why n8n Isn't the Right Choice for Google Workspace

n8n is an impressive tool for developers who love open-source, but for most businesses, the "free" price tag comes with significant hidden costs in engineering time and infrastructure risk.

The n8n Limitations

1. The hidden 'SRE' cost of self-hosting

n8n requires a server. Whether it's a Docker container on AWS or a droplet on DigitalOcean, someone has to manage it. If the server runs out of memory during a large data sync or the database crashes on a Sunday, your business automations stop. You've essentially hired an unpaid "Site Reliability Engineer" role that your team now has to fill. Custom Apps Script runs on Google's world-class infrastructure with 99.9% uptime guaranteed.

2. Technical debt from unmanaged updates

n8n releases updates frequently. If you don't keep your self-hosted instance patched, you're at risk of security vulnerabilities or broken connectors. However, updating often breaks existing workflows due to breaking changes in node versions. Custom automation is managed by us—we handle the maintenance so you don't have to choose between security and stability.

3. Security and compliance is 100% your liability

When you host n8n, you are responsible for securing the data in transit and at rest. This means managing SSL certificates, firewall rules, and encryption keys. For businesses with SOC2 or HIPAA requirements, this adds massive audit overhead. Native Google automation inherits the security and compliance posture of your existing Google Workspace tenant.

4. Brittle connectivity when Google APIs update

Third-party automation platforms sit between you and the services you're automating. When Google updates their APIs, n8n relies on community-maintained "nodes" to catch up. If a node breaks, you're stuck waiting for a volunteer or the n8n core team to fix it. Custom automation is built directly on the APIs. We update the code immediately, ensuring zero downtime.

5. No dedicated support for troubleshooting

When n8n workflows break (and they will), you're mostly on your own. Documentation is generic, community forums may take days to respond, and no one understands your specific business context. With custom automation, you get dedicated support from the team that built your workflows. We proactively monitor your systems and fix issues before you even notice them.

6. Hidden infrastructure costs (AWS/DigitalOcean bills)

While n8n's code is open-source, the hardware isn't. Between compute costs, database storage, and backup retention, your "free" automation can easily cost $50-$100/month in cloud bills. Apps Script is included in your Google Workspace license, meaning your marginal cost for running automations is zero.

The Custom Automation Alternative

We build custom Google Workspace automation - automation that's purpose-built for your exact workflows, not generic templates.

How Custom Automation Solves These Problems

• Unlimited complexity - Build workflows as sophisticated as your business requires
• No per-task fees - Run automation unlimited times with zero additional cost
• Deep Google Workspace integration - Native access to all Workspace features via Apps Script
• Dedicated support - We maintain, monitor, and update your automation proactively
• Future-proof - Built on Google's platform, not a third-party middleman
• Straightforward migration - We can replicate your n8n workflows and improve them

How Long Until It Pays for Itself?

Let's talk economics. With n8n:

Monthly Costs:

• Base plan: $20-100+/month
• Per-task overages: Often $100-500+/month for active automation
• Total: $150-600+/month = $1,800-7,200/year

Custom Automation Costs:

• One-time development: $5,000-15,000 (depending on complexity)
• Ongoing support: $500-1,000/month (optional, many clients don't need it)
• Total Year 1: $11,000-27,000
• Total Year 2+: $6,000-12,000/year

For moderate to heavy automation users, custom automation pays for itself within 6-12 months while providing:

• Unlimited automation runs
• Customization for your exact workflow
• Dedicated support
• No monthly surprises or overage charges

Why Our Clients Switch from n8n

Our typical n8n migration client:

• Spends $200-500/month on n8n (and still hitting limits)
• Has grown past generic templates (needs custom logic)
• Wastes time working around platform limitations
• Wants dedicated support instead of community forums

After switching to custom automation, they:

• Eliminate monthly platform fees
• Get unlimited automation capacity
• Build workflows that actually match their process
• Have someone to call when something breaks
• Sleep better knowing their automations are actively monitored

The Migration Process

Switching from n8n to custom automation is straightforward:

1. Audit your n8n workflows - We analyze what you've built and identify migration candidates
2. Design better workflows - We propose improvements based on your business logic
3. Build custom solutions - We implement in Google Apps Script with better features, performance, and reliability
4. Parallel testing - Run old and new side-by-side until you're confident
5. Sunset n8n - Switch over completely and cancel your subscription

Most migrations complete in 4-8 weeks depending on workflow complexity.

Why Google Apps Script is Better Than n8n

You already have it. Google Apps Script is included with your Google Workspace account - no additional tools to manage, integrate, or pay for.

It's more powerful. Apps Script has native access to the full Google Workspace API, something n8n can never fully replicate.

It's cheaper to operate. No per-task fees, no subscription limits, no monthly bill creep as your automation grows.

It's maintainable. We write clean, documented code that your team can understand and maintain long-term.

Ready to Leave n8n Behind?

If you're frustrated with n8n's limitations, pricing, or lack of support, let's explore custom automation for your workflow.

Step 1: Workflow Audit (Free)

Send us your n8n workflows and we'll evaluate migration feasibility and ROI.

Schedule your free audit →

Step 2: Custom Proposal

Based on your workflows, we'll propose specific custom automation solutions, timeline, and cost.

Step 3: Development & Migration

We build your custom automation and run parallel testing with n8n until you're confident everything works correctly.

Step 4: Launch & Ongoing Support

We deploy your custom automation and provide ongoing maintenance and support.

Frequently Asked Questions

See the FAQ section below for answers to common questions about migrating from n8n to custom automation.

Ready to reclaim the time and money you're spending on n8n?

Let's talk about your specific workflows and how custom automation can serve you better. Schedule your free workflow audit to get started.