n8n: Open-Source Automation Platform

What is n8n?

An open-source, fair-code automation tool that enables you to connect anything to everything. Provides a visual interface for creating powerful multi-step workflows.

• 400+ Native Integrations — Connect to your favorite services
• Visual Workflow Builder — Drag-and-drop interface
• Code When Needed — Custom JavaScript / Python
• Self-Hosted — Control over data & infrastructure
• Fair-Code — Sustainable development model
• API-First — Everything can be automated

Core Components

Visual Workflow Builder

• No Boilerplate
• 400+ pre-configured integrations
• Fast Iteration — immediate feedback at every step
• Code When Needed — custom JavaScript / Python nodes
• Data Operations — merge, loop, filter, transform
• Diverse Triggers — webhooks, schedules, events
• AI Nodes — built-in AI capabilities

Integration Capabilities

Connect to 400+ services out of the box:

• Communication: Slack, Gmail, Discord, Telegram
• Development: GitHub, GitLab, Jira, CircleCI
• Cybersecurity: Okta, Bitwarden, Cloudflare, Microsoft Entra
• AI: OpenAI, Anthropic, Google Gemini, Mistral AI
• Data & Storage: Google Sheets, Airtable, Notion, MySQL
• Marketing: HubSpot, Mailchimp, ConvertKit, Google Ads

If you can’t find your service, use the HTTP Request node to connect to any REST API or even import curl commands.

AI Capabilities

• Built-in AI Nodes: chat, document processing
• Multi-step Agents: build complex AI workflows
• LangChain Integration: modular AI applications
• Multiple AI Models: OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini & more
• Local LLM Support: full control over your data

Use cases include chatbots, content generation, summarization, and complex AI agents. n8n enables building AI agents that can chat, analyze, and respond intelligently.

Deployment Options

Licensing Model

n8n follows a **Sustainable Use License (fair-code)** — combining open-source benefits with sustainable development. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

What’s Allowed

• Free use under SUL for individuals and small companies
• Full access to source code and self-hosting
• Consulting services allowed

Commercial License Required

• Large companies (>10 employees)
• High revenue companies (> $1M annually)
• SaaS providers reselling n8n services
• Direct access to n8n interface for paying users

Use Cases

Some popular workflow examples:

• Email to Spreadsheet: email trigger → filter → extract → send to Google Sheets
• API Data Sync: schedule trigger → HTTP request → transform → insert into database
• Slack + Alerts: webhook trigger → conditional logic → send Slack message or email

Installing n8n Locally — Step by Step

1. Install Node.js (version 18+)
2. Install n8n globally: npm install n8n -g
3. Start n8n service: n8n
4. Open your browser at http://localhost:5678
5. Create your first workflow and start automating

Pro Tip: For production, prefer Docker or n8n Cloud for better scalability and maintenance.

Docker Setup (Production Ready)

1. Pull the official image:

   docker pull n8nio/n8n

2. Run container with persistent storage:

   
   docker run -it --rm \
     -p 5678:5678 \
     -v ~/.n8n:/home/node/.n8n \
     n8nio/n8n
             

3. Access your instance at http://localhost:5678

Which to Choose?

Docker: gives you full control, self-hosted setup, and custom configurations. n8n Cloud: managed, scalable, no maintenance required.

Docker keeps your data within your infrastructure. n8n Cloud offers support, uptime SLAs, and ease of use.