n8n – A Flexible AI Workflow Automation Tool for Technical Teams

n8n is an open source tool that helps connect your apps and APIs to handle tasks automatically. In this article, we introduce n8n’s core features and capabilities – from its no-code interface to its powerful integrations.

What is n8n and why is it a powerful workflow automation platform?

n8n is a workflow automation platform that lets you connect different applications and create automations with little or no coding. In other words, n8n can save you time by handling repetitive tasks for you. One reason n8n stands out is its unique licensing model. The project was founded by Jan Oberhauser. Its source code is available on GitHub under a “fair-code license” (a fair-code distribution model). This means you can use and modify n8n freely – and even host it yourself on your own server – as long as it’s for internal use. You’re not locked into a vendor’s platform, so you have full control over your data and deployments.

• Open-source & self-hosted: You can run n8n on your own machine or server. You aren’t tied to a specific cloud service, and you can extend or customize it as needed.
• Hundreds of integrations: It comes with 400+ pre-built nodes for popular apps and services (databases, SaaS products, etc.). If an app isn’t included, you can connect via its API.
• No-code interface, code flexibility: You design your automation with a visual editor using drag and drop, so no programming is required for most tasks. If you do need more, you can add custom scripts when needed (n8n supports JavaScript).

How do you build workflows in n8n without coding?

Building workflows is straightforward. The n8n dashboard (web interface) lets you drag and drop nodes to create a workflow. Each node represents an action or a service (for example, one node might read from a Google Sheet, another might send an email). Connect the nodes in the order you want data to flow. Typically, you start with a trigger node (like a webhook waiting for an event, or a timer on a schedule) and then add action nodes for what you want to happen. You can also include nodes for logic (if/else branches, loops, etc.), which means you can combine logic and apps in the same workflow. Once your workflow is set up, you execute the workflow to test it and then activate it to run automatically. It’s all done with a visual interface – you don’t need to be a programmer to create useful automations.

What can you automate with n8n?

It can be used in both personal and professional scenarios. Here are a few common use cases:

• Sync data between apps: Keep information consistent across different tools. For example, if a new order comes in, n8n could add the details to your accounting software and update a spreadsheet.
• Notifications and alerts: It can watch for events and send out messages. You might use it to get an email or Slack alert when a condition is met. It could even post updates on social media, like making a LinkedIn post automatically.
• Personal tasks and home automation: It isn’t just for work. You could set up a workflow to send yourself routine reminders. If you have smart home devices, n8n can link them – for instance, turning on lights or logging thermostat data based on triggers.
• Business process automation: Companies use it to streamline processes like order processing or lead management. An incoming lead could trigger n8n to enrich the data from another service. Then it can notify your team (say via Slack), and create a follow-up task – all without manual effort.

Can n8n act as an AI agent with OpenAI and custom code?

Yes, n8n has native AI capabilities. This means you can integrate AI services into your workflows (combining AI with your automations). For example, you can use an AI service like ChatGPT to analyze text, generate a summary, or make a decision within a workflow. n8n even provides a special AI Agent node (a built-in agent framework) that can send prompts to an AI model and decide the next steps based on the AI’s response. It also lets you insert your own code when you need it. If the built-in nodes don’t cover something, you can add a Code node to run your own logic (it runs JavaScript, since n8n is built on Node.js and TypeScript). If you need to execute some Python code or call an external script, you can trigger it via an API request. (The n8n team even offers an AI Starter Kit – a Docker Compose template to help you try out n8n with AI locally.)

How is n8n different from Zapier and Make.com?

n8n might remind you of platforms like Zapier or Make.com, but here are some key differences:

• Hosting and control: Zapier is a cloud-only service, whereas n8n (its community edition) can be self-hosted. Hosting it yourself gives you privacy and control over your setup.
• Open and extensible: It is open source and highly extensible. You can create custom nodes and add new integrations. In contrast, Zapier/Make are closed platforms – you can only use the features they provide. For a technical team that needs specific flexibility, n8n offers much more freedom.
• Cost and usage limits: Many cloud services charge based on the number of tasks or have strict limits. With n8n’s self-hosted setup, you can run as many workflows as you want – no artificial limits. This is great for heavy users or businesses, because you won’t hit a cap or incur extra fees as your automations grow.

Should you host n8n yourself or use n8n Cloud?

Running it on your own server (for example, in a Docker container) is straightforward to set up. It is essentially free (you just pay for your hardware or hosting). If you don’t want to manage any infrastructure, the hosted service takes care of everything for you at a subscription cost. Either way, you get the same features. Many people start by running it locally (there’s an n8n tutorial for that) and later switch to the hosted option if needed.