Clarification on License: Using n8n for Internal WhatsApp AI Chatbot (Non-Resale Use)

Questions
1

Hi team,

We’ve built a WhatsApp-based AI chatbot for our business using n8n, and I’d like to clarify whether our setup requires a commercial license or is covered under the Sustainable Use License.

How it works:

  • A customer sends a message on WhatsApp (trigger)

  • n8n captures the message via WhatsApp workflow

  • n8n connects to our custom AI agent (hosted separately)

  • The AI agent generates a response

  • n8n sends the response back to the customer via WhatsApp

Key points:

  • The chatbot is used internally for our own business (sales and customer support)

  • Customers interact only with WhatsApp — they never see or use n8n

  • n8n serves purely as a backend integration layer between WhatsApp and our AI agent

  • We’re not reselling n8n or letting customers build workflows

Question:
Given this setup, do we need a commercial license, or does this qualify as permitted internal business use under the Sustainable Use License?

Appreciate your clarification!

1 Like
3

this is actually a licensing/legal question that’s outside my area - i mostly help with the technical workflow stuff. you’ll want to reach out to n8n directly about licensing since it depends on how they interpret “internal use” vs customer-facing automation.

that said, from what i understand of the sustainable use license, using n8n as backend infrastructure for your own business *should* be fine since you’re not reselling n8n itself or exposing it as a service. but dont take my word on legal stuff - email [email protected] or check their licensing page to be sure.