# Ballet vs n8n | past the node ceiling

> Canonical: https://ballet.dev/vs/n8n

n8n is great until the graph gets big or the connector doesn’t exist. Ballet writes the integration as code, runs deterministic workflows, and catches breakage with evals.

The workflows n8n caps out on.

n8n is great until the graph gets big or the connector doesn't exist. Ballet writes the integration you need as code, runs deterministic-where-it-matters workflows, and catches breakage with evals. No 100-node ceiling.

## Side by side

| | Ballet | n8n |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Approach | Deterministic workflows + agents, written as code | Visual node graphs |
| New integration | Generated on demand against any API | Connector library or manual HTTP nodes |
| Complex multi-system work | Scales, written as code | Caps out past ~100 nodes |
| Output when it matters | Deterministic, agentic where it helps | Deterministic, brittle on upgrades |
| Breakage | Evals on every step; auto-patched with a diff | Breaks silently when an API changes |
| Review & version control | Generated code, version-controlled | Visual graph / JSON export |
| Time to first workflow | 30 minutes | Hours–days |

## Past the connector library, past the node ceiling.

### Any API, written on demand

No connector? Ballet writes it in seconds against any system with an endpoint: SAP, internal ERPs, legacy tools. You're never blocked waiting for an integration to be added.

### Code, not a canvas

Workflows are generated as reviewable, version-controlled code. Your engineers read the diff; your security team approves the run. No 200-node canvas no one can audit.

### Evals catch drift

Every step is checked. When an upstream API changes or data drifts, Ballet patches it and shows you the diff, instead of failing silently in production.


## Ballet vs n8n, answered.

### Can Ballet do everything n8n does?

For the multi-system, business-critical workflows teams actually get stuck on: yes, and it writes the connectors n8n doesn't have. n8n is fine for simple, well-supported automations.

### We already have n8n workflows. Do we rip them out?

No. Most teams keep n8n for the simple stuff and bring Ballet in for the integrations that hit the node ceiling or don't have a connector.

### Is the output deterministic like n8n?

Yes where it matters. Ballet runs deterministic code on the steps that need 100% accuracy, with agentic reasoning only on the steps that benefit.

### How is it more reviewable than a visual graph?

It generates real code, version-controlled, with evals on each step. You review a diff in your own VCS rather than a sprawling canvas.

## Next step

We'll rebuild your most painful n8n workflow in Ballet, live.

[Book a workflow review](https://ballet.dev/signup)