n8n vs phantombuster
n8n vs PhantomBuster — features, pricing, and which to choose for your SEO workflow in 2026.
Quick Verdict
n8n and PhantomBuster represent two fundamentally different approaches to SEO automation. n8n is an open-source workflow builder that gives you complete control over your automation infrastructure, while PhantomBuster is a plug-and-play cloud service focused specifically on social media and web scraping for outreach campaigns.
The choice comes down to whether you need maximum flexibility and customization (n8n) or prefer ready-made templates for common growth hacking tasks (PhantomBuster). Most serious SEO operations will find n8n's approach more scalable, but PhantomBuster gets you running faster if your needs align with their pre-built automations.
Feature Comparison
n8n offers 400+ integrations and a visual workflow editor where you build custom automation pipelines from scratch. You can connect APIs, databases, AI models, and any web service through HTTP requests. For SEO teams, this means building sophisticated data pipelines that pull from GSC, process through OpenAI, update Airtable databases, and send Slack notifications — all in one workflow. PhantomBuster focuses on 100+ pre-built "phantoms" (automations) designed for social media scraping, email finding, and outreach automation. Their LinkedIn phantoms can extract prospect lists, send connection requests, and message sequences. For link building, they offer website scraping phantoms that find contact information and social profiles. The fundamental difference: n8n is a development platform where you build exactly what you need, while PhantomBuster provides finished solutions for common growth hacking scenarios. n8n requires more technical setup but offers unlimited customization. PhantomBuster's phantoms work immediately but you're limited to their pre-defined capabilities.
Pricing Comparison
n8n starts at $20/month for cloud hosting with 2,500 workflow executions, or you can self-host the open-source version for free. Their Pro plan ($50/month) includes 10,000 executions and advanced features like environment variables and webhook authentication. Enterprise plans offer unlimited executions and dedicated support. PhantomBuster starts at $56/month for 2,000 phantom executions, with their most popular plan at $144/month for 10,000 executions. Their pricing scales based on usage, and heavy automation users often hit $400+ monthly bills. There's a free tier with 14-day trials for each phantom. n8n delivers significantly better value per execution, especially if you self-host. PhantomBuster's higher pricing reflects their ready-made phantoms and managed infrastructure, but you'll pay 2-3x more for similar execution volumes.
Best For
n8n excels when you need custom SEO data pipelines, want to integrate multiple APIs in complex workflows, or require self-hosting for data security. It's perfect for agencies building repeatable processes, enterprise teams with specific integration needs, or anyone who wants to own their automation infrastructure without vendor lock-in. PhantomBuster works best for quick social media outreach campaigns, simple web scraping tasks, or teams that prefer clicking "activate" over building workflows. If you need LinkedIn lead generation, Twitter follower scraping, or basic email finding without technical setup, PhantomBuster gets you results immediately.
The Verdict
n8n wins for most SEO professionals who want scalable, cost-effective automation. Its open-source nature, lower pricing, and unlimited customization make it the better long-term choice for building serious SEO operations. PhantomBuster serves a specific niche well, but its limited scope and higher costs make it less suitable for comprehensive SEO automation strategies.