I've been using n8n for a while now, and it's one of those tools that just makes sense once you get into it.
It's a workflow automation platform, kind of like Zapier or Make, but with some differences that actually matter.
What n8n Actually Does
The name is a bit weird - it's pronounced "n-eight-n" because if you count the letters between 'n' and 'n' in "automation," there are eight. Anyway, it lets you connect different apps and automate tasks between them. Pretty standard stuff on the surface.
The interesting part is that it's open-source (technically "fair-code"), which means you can run it on your own server if you want. No one's forcing you to, but the option's there.
Why People Like It
You can host it yourself. This matters more to some people than others. If you're dealing with customer data or anything sensitive, keeping everything on your own infrastructure is kind of nice. Plus you're not worrying about some SaaS company changing their pricing or getting acquired.
The pricing makes sense. Most automation tools charge you per "task" or "operation," and those costs add up fast. With n8n, if you self-host, it's free. Their cloud version is reasonably priced too, and they don't nickel-and-dime you with weird limits.
It's actually flexible. You get a visual interface for building workflows, which is great. But when you need to do something custom, you can write JavaScript right in there. Or connect to any API. Or build your own integrations. It doesn't box you in.
How It Works
The interface is node-based. You drag boxes (nodes) onto a canvas, connect them with lines, and each box does something - pull data from a spreadsheet, send a message, process information, whatever.
It's visual enough to understand what's happening but powerful enough to do complex stuff.
One thing I appreciate is that you can test each step as you build. You're not just hoping it works when you hit "save" - you can see exactly what data is flowing through at each point.
What People Build With It
Some common patterns I've seen:
Content teams use it to publish once and distribute everywhere. Write a blog post, and it automatically creates social media posts, adds it to the newsletter, updates various platforms. Saves a ton of time.
Support teams build smart ticket routing. New support request comes in, it checks if they're an important customer, looks for relevant help docs, sends an initial response, and notifies the right person. Response times improve significantly.
Developers connect all their tools together. When code gets merged, it deploys to staging. When errors happen, it creates detailed tickets. When builds fail, it notifies the team. It's the glue between different systems.
Marketing folks seem to love it. They build lead scoring systems, automated follow-ups based on user behavior, social listening tools, and reporting dashboards that pull from multiple ad platforms.
Getting It Running
Three ways to go about it:
Use their cloud version - easiest option, works immediately, they handle everything.
Run it with Docker - takes maybe 15 minutes if you're comfortable with that kind of thing. Good middle ground.
Full custom setup - deploy it however you want, integrate with whatever infrastructure you have.
Most people either start with the cloud version to try it out, or jump straight to Docker if they're technical.
The Integration Situation
They've got 400+ integrations built in. All the usual suspects - Google services, Slack, databases, cloud platforms, CRM tools, e-commerce stuff, AI services.
If what you need isn't there, you can still connect to it using their HTTP request node. Basically anything with an API works. And the community keeps building new integrations.
Some Handy Features
Sub-workflows let you build reusable pieces. Make something once, use it in multiple workflows. Keeps things organized.
Error handling means your workflows don't just break and fail silently. You can set up retries, fallbacks, notifications.
Scheduling is built in. Run things hourly, daily, weekly, whatever schedule you need.
Database connections let you query and update databases directly. Sometimes you just need to work with data where it lives.
Things to Know
If you want to self-host, you need some technical comfort. Not expert-level, but you should know your way around Docker and servers at least a bit.
The interface is really made for desktop. Using it on a phone would be awkward.
Some integrations are more polished than others. Popular services have everything you'd want. Niche ones might need you to use the HTTP node for certain features.
You can build really complex workflows, which is great until you need to debug them six months later. Good documentation habits help.
When It Makes Sense
N8n works well if you want control over your automation setup, if you're hitting pricing limits elsewhere, or if you need to keep data in-house. It's also good if you like having the option to customize things when needed.
If you just need super basic automation and don't care about cost or control, something simpler might be fine. But if you're reading a comprehensive guide about automation tools, you're probably past that point.
The Community
There's an active community around it. People share workflow templates, help each other out in forums and Discord, contribute code. The company (they're based in Berlin) does a good job maintaining it and being transparent about what they're working on.
Worth Trying?
If you're doing any serious automation work, it's at least worth a look. The cloud version is easy to try out, and you can always move to self-hosting later if you want.
It's one of those tools that grows with you. Start simple, add complexity when you need it. That's kind of the sweet spot for this type of software.
The workflow automation space has a lot of options, but n8n hits a good balance between being accessible and being powerful. Plus the whole open-source angle means you're not locked into someone's ecosystem if things change down the road.
Anyway, that's n8n. It does what it says it does, and does it pretty well.
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