Reviewers largely see n8n as a strong middle ground: easier to launch than building custom services, but more flexible than Zapier or Make for complex, multi-step workflows, API-heavy setups, and AI or internal automation. Self-hosting, privacy control, customization with JavaScript, and readable visual flows come up often. Several say it scales well for client work and internal operations. The main drawback is a real learning curve, especially for non-coders, and a few reviewers want better version control, multi-user collaboration, or broader built-in support.