Key takeaway: If you want a polished chat assistant inside your product fast, start with AgentKit (includes ChatKit UI, quality checks, and safety right in the OpenAI platform). If you want to connect lots of apps and run reliable background workflows (with schedules, approvals, and retries), start with n8n. Many teams use a hybrid: AgentKit for the chat experience; n8n for the behind-the-scenes automation.
OpenAI: Introducing AgentKit (Oct 6, 2025) · OpenAI: ChatKit docs · OpenAI: Agents & Evals · n8n: 1000+ integrations · n8n: Pricing · n8n: Self-hosting

The Basics First

What’s an “AI agent”? Think ChatGPT that can look up info, use tools or take actions to finish day to day tasks autonomously.
What’s an “automation”? Steps that move data between tools on a timer or trigger.

• AgentKit (OpenAI) → Build agents and customer-ready chat interfaces inside your app/site with ChatKit, then add quality checks (“evals”) and safety (“guardrails”) without extra products. Tools are included with standard API pricing.
  Launch post · ChatKit · Agents/Evals overview · Guardrails (Python)

• n8n → Drag-and-drop automations with 1000+ integrations, webhooks/schedules, error handling & retries, optional self-hosting.
  Integrations · Error handling · Self-hosting

The 60-Second Choice

ChatKit docs · Agents & evals · n8n integrations

What Each Platform Really Is

AgentKit (OpenAI)
Create a branded chat assistant with ChatKit, plug in actions/knowledge, then measure quality with evals and add guardrails for safe behavior. Most features live in the OpenAI platform; no extra license for these tools—just pay normal API usage.
Announcement (Oct 6, 2025) · Agents/Evals · MCP & connectors · Guardrails · Global Admin Console (rolling out)

n8n
A visual automation builder with 500+ integrations, webhooks/schedules, error workflows and retries, RBAC/SSO, and the option to self-host. It also includes AI nodes (e.g., AI Agent and Model Selector) for multi-model logic.
Integrations · Error handling · RBAC/SSO/OIDC · AI Agent node · Model Selector · Self-hosting

Projects You Can Get Started With Today

A simple website chat with AgentKit
1 - Use ChatKit to embed a chat widget on a page.
2 - Add a couple of actions (e.g., fetch FAQ from a doc, create a support ticket).
3 - Turn on basic evals to track correct/incorrect answers; add a guardrail to block unsafe prompts.
Docs: ChatKit · Agents/Evals · Guardrails quickstart

A “when email arrives, do X” automation in n8n
1 - Pick a trigger (Gmail/new row/webhook).
2 - Add steps (look up contact in CRM → draft reply → log to sheet).
3 - Add retry/error workflow so failures alert you, not your customers.
Docs: Integrations · Error handling

Side by Side Comparison

OpenAI connectors · Guardrails · n8n integrations · RBAC/SSO

What It Costs to Start

AgentKit pricing note · n8n pricing · Self-hosting guide

Real-World Scenarios and Which Platform to Choose

1 - Website support concierge

• Use AgentKit: ChatKit widget answers FAQs; add one action (create ticket). Turn on simple evals to track “answered correctly”.

• Upgrade with n8n: Route escalations to Slack/Email; retry API calls; log everything to a sheet.
  Docs: ChatKit · Error workflows

2 - Leads to outreach

• Use n8n: Trigger when a form is submitted, enrich with an API, draft an email, wait for approval, send.

• Add AgentKit later: Surface a “why we reached out” explanation in your app’s chat.
  Docs: n8n integrations · Agents

3 - Internal answers bot

• Use AgentKit: Connect a few sources via connectors/MCP and add guardrails for sensitive data.

• Use n8n: Nightly refresh indexes, notify approvals for restricted topics.
  Docs: MCP/connectors · Guardrails

Risks and How to De-Risk

• Project failure risk: Analysts warn that 40%+ of agentic AI projects could be scrapped by 2027 without clear value and controls. Start tiny, measure one KPI, and expand.
  Source: Reuters on Gartner forecast

• Security & governance:

  • In AgentKit, use guardrails and org admin features as they roll out.
    Guardrails · Global Admin Console

  • In n8n, lean on RBAC/SSO, audit logs, and error workflows to keep automations safe.
    RBAC/SSO · Error handling

The No-Stress Hybrid (How They Work Together)

• Embed ChatKit for an on-brand chat.

• Define 2–3 actions (search doc → create ticket → update CRM).

• When work needs systems access or long runs, call n8n webhook.

• n8n handles approvals/retries and posts the result back to the chat.
  Docs: ChatKit · n8n integrations

Proof Points

• AgentKit stack: Launch notes outline ChatKit, Evals, Guardrails, Agent Builder (beta)—designed to ship customer-ready agents faster.
  OpenAI announcement

• n8n at scale: Teams report real savings and throughput (e.g., Delivery Hero ~200 hours/month saved; StepStone 200+ workflows).
  Delivery Hero case · StepStone case
  Market signal: mainstream coverage of growth and funding.
  Financial Times

30-Day Plan From Zero to First Win

• Days 1–3: Pick one use case + one KPI (“% questions answered w/o escalation”).

• Days 4–10: Ship a thin slice in AgentKit or n8n. Turn on evals (AgentKit) or an error workflow (n8n).

• Days 11–18: Add safety (guardrails in AgentKit; RBAC/approvals in n8n).

• Days 19–30: Pilot with 20–50 real users; keep/kill based on KPI trend; then connect the second tool (hybrid).
  Docs: Agents/Evals · Guardrails · n8n error handling