Ever wondered about n8n? This powerful workflow automation tool connects with over 350 applications and helps teams save countless hours on tasks they repeat daily.
Manual processes consume too much of our workday. n8n solves this problem as an open-source, low-code platform that both technical and non-technical users can utilize. The platform gives you access to more than 600 pre-defined workflows and 1,250 templates, which makes complex process automation more available than ever.
n8n outperforms alternatives like Zapier by offering better flexibility and advanced customization options. You can host it yourself completely free or pick cloud options that start at $20/month for the Starter plan. The visual interface makes workflow building user-friendly - each action shows up as a node. This lets you create sophisticated automation without knowing much code.
This piece will show you what n8n is, how it works, and real examples of tasks you can automate. You'll learn about data syncing, invoice processing, reporting and smart home automation.
What is n8n and how does it work?
n8n (pronounced "n-eight-n") is an open-source workflow automation platform that started in 2019. It works as a powerful connection between your apps and services. The platform functions as an Extract, Transform, Load (ETL) tool. You can access data from multiple sources, modify it and send it where needed.
The platform uses a visual node-based architecture. Each node stands for a specific action or service. These nodes connect to create complete workflows. Data moves between nodes as arrays of JSON objects called "items." Every node performs its action on each item of incoming data.
What does n8n do?
n8n removes repetitive tasks from your digital world. It connects with more than 350 applications and helps you:
Connect cloud apps like Office365, HubSpot, and Asana
Automate data synchronization between different platforms
Process data through custom JavaScript or Python transformations
Create multi-step AI agents that interact with your data
n8n ranks among the most popular workflow automation platforms. It has 97.6k stars on GitHub, placing it in the Top 150 projects. The platform's community has grown to over 200,000 members. This creates a rich ecosystem where knowledge and resources are shared.
Is n8n no code?
n8n has a user-friendly visual editor that makes automation available to everyone. The platform works best as a "low-code" solution. This means you can:
Build workflows without coding if you want
Add custom JavaScript or Python code for advanced needs
Mix code flexibility with no-code solution speed
The interface works well for both technical and non-technical users. The platform suits users with some technical knowledge better. The original setup and troubleshooting need these skills.
n8n shows its true strength in handling simple automation tasks and complex AI-powered processes. This makes it adaptable to any workflow need.
Core Features of the n8n Automation Platform
n8n's powerful features come from its rich architecture that lets users build complex automations easily. Let me walk you through the core components that make this possible.
Workflow editor and visual interface
The standout feature of n8n is its accessible visual workflow editor - your central workspace for designing automations. You can place nodes on a canvas and connect them with lines to show data flow, which creates a visual map of your automation process. This makes workflow creation available to people who don't have extensive coding experience.
The editor works great because of its instant feedback system. You see outputs right next to settings at each step as you build. It also lets you run just the last step instead of the whole workflow, which makes testing and fixes much faster.
Trigger and action nodes
Nodes are the foundations of any n8n workflow, with two main types:
Trigger nodes - These have a bolt icon and start workflows when specific events or conditions happen, like schedule timers, webhooks, or application events
Action nodes - These do specific tasks in the workflow, from handling data to sending information to external services
Each node has helpful controls to run, deactivate, delete, and configure. Node settings give you many options to customize including request parameters, batching capabilities, and error handling priorities.
Custom JavaScript and HTTP requests
n8n gives you robust code integration for advanced customization. The Code node works with both JavaScript and Python transformations, so you can write custom logic right in your workflows. Self-hosted instances let you use npm packages to boost functionality.
The HTTP Request node is one of n8n's most flexible components. It connects to almost any service with a REST API. You can set up requests manually or just import curl commands to quickly create integrations.
Pre-built templates and community nodes
n8n comes with over 400 pre-configured integrations ready to use, plus hundreds of templates to kickstart your automation projects. The platform supports community-created nodes that add more features beyond the core offerings. You can install these community contributions through the nodes panel, GUI, or command line. Remember that unverified community nodes need self-hosting.
Popular Use Cases for n8n Automation
n8n's versatility shows in its practical applications for businesses of all types. Here are some powerful ways organizations use n8n automation to simplify their operations.
Automated notifications and alerts
n8n excels at creating smart alert systems that keep teams informed. You can set up workflows to monitor GitHub releases and send notifications through email and Telegram when new versions come out. n8n also monitors file changes and alerts teams through push notifications, SMS, or voice calls when someone modifies critical documents. This feature becomes valuable to monitor logs, production data, and third-party system integrations.
Data syncing between platforms
Many organizations face the challenge of keeping information consistent between multiple systems. n8n solves this with its one-way and two-way synchronization features. You can create workflows to maintain data consistency between two CRMs (like Pipedrive and HubSpot), sync qualified leads from a Postgres database to Google Sheets, or keep customer profiles updated across platforms. n8n acts as a bridge to eliminate data silos.
Invoice and payment processing
n8n automation brings major benefits to financial workflows. The platform helps create customers and invoices in systems like QuickBooks automatically and sends those invoices to customers. On top of that, it can process vendor invoices by pulling data from XML attachments and organizing it into spreadsheets. Some users create AI-powered agents to handle invoice tracking, payment reconciliation, and smart reminders. This reduces manual financial tasks by several hours each week.
Web scraping and reporting
n8n offers strong tools to gather and process web data. The HTTP Request and HTML Extract nodes help scrape information from websites, create CSV files, and send reports via email or store them in spreadsheets. Advanced workflows use AI to summarize scraped content automatically. This feature helps with price monitoring, competitive intelligence, and automated reporting.
Smart home automation
n8n goes beyond business uses into smart homes. Users combine n8n with platforms like Home Assistant and Samsung SmartThings to create sophisticated automation systems. These workflows manage lighting schedules based on occupancy, adjust temperature settings, trigger security alerts, and control irrigation systems based on weather conditions. This ended up enhancing home convenience and security.
How much does n8n cost?
n8n has flexible pricing options that work for automation needs of all sizes, from solo experimenters to large enterprises. Their pricing structure stands out with a unique execution-based billing model.
The Community Edition is completely free for self-hosting. You get unlimited workflows and community support, which works great if you have small teams starting their automation trip.
Cloud solution users can pick the Starter Plan at €20 per month with annual billing or €24 monthly. This plan has 2,500 workflow executions, 5 active workflows, and unlimited test workflows. Each workflow can have unlimited steps.
The Pro Plan costs €50 per month (annually) or €60 monthly. Users get 10,000 workflow executions, 15 active workflows, and better features like 3 shared projects and 20 concurrent executions.
The Enterprise Plan comes with custom pricing that fits organizations with strict requirements. Users get unlimited workflows, advanced security features, and dedicated support. This tier has SSO, SAML, LDAP integration, and Git version control.
n8n's pricing model stands out in how it counts usage. Other tools charge per operation, but n8n only bills for complete workflow executions whatever the complexity. A workflow that processes 1,000 rows through 10 nodes counts as 1 execution in n8n. Competitor platforms might count this as 10,000 operations.
Conclusion
This piece has shown how n8n serves as a versatile and powerful workflow automation platform. The visual node-based architecture helps both technical and non-technical users make automation available to everyone.
N8n's execution-based pricing model sets it apart by providing economical solutions compared to competitors who charge per operation. The platform connects with over 350 applications and creates endless possibilities to improve operations in businesses of all sizes.
Recent AI capabilities have expanded n8n's reach, particularly in data science workflows. Teams can now create sophisticated, intelligent automations through AskAI and LangChain integration without deep coding expertise.
Teams can choose between self-hosting and cloud options to implement n8n based on their resources and needs. Organizations that want to improve their operational efficiency through automation can reach out to our team to find the right implementation strategy.
FAQ
Is n8n better than Zapier?
Your specific needs will determine the best choice. Zapier works great for non-technical users who need simple automations between many third-party apps. Its accessible interface makes it perfect for beginners who want quick solutions without diving into technical details.
n8n shines when users have technical knowledge. The open-source platform lets you customize and control your workflows better. n8n stands out with several advanced features:
You can self-host to keep your data private
Complex workflows with conditional logic are easy to build
Custom nodes and integrations can be added
The pricing is predictable and based on executions instead of operations
Companies that want to manage their own servers usually pick n8n. Teams that need simplicity tend to go with Zapier.
Is n8n free to use?
n8n becomes completely free when you self-host it. You can get the free on-premises version from GitHub and run unlimited workflows with community support. This option needs your own server setup and technical expertise.
The platform also has cloud options if you want a managed solution:
n8n Cloud costs €20/month when billed yearly
Self-hosting only costs what you pay for servers (around €5-10 monthly)
The Sustainable Use License lets you customize the platform and keep core features without extra costs.
Is n8n a Chinese company?
n8n started in Berlin, Germany in 2019 by Jan Oberhauser. The company runs its operations from Europe and has grown into a trusted workflow automation tool worldwide. The platform now has more than 200,000 community members and ranks in GitHub's Top 150 projects with 97.6k stars.