N8N

What is N8N?

N8n.io is a flexible workflow automation tool designed especially for technical teams. It lets you build complex automations without managing APIs directly. You can install it on your own servers (on-premises), use the cloud service, or download a desktop app.

With n8n, you can create workflows that connect data, use templates, and automate tasks — either visually with a no-code approach or with JavaScript for more intricate data handling. If you host it yourself, you keep full control over your data. The tool scales with your business and offers features like external storage, debugging tools, security integrations, team collaboration, and dedicated support with Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for enterprise clients. Pricing includes a free Community Edition plus plans for startups and larger companies.

Who created N8N?

N8N was created by Aurélien Aubert, a Lead Growth Engineer at Spendesk. He designed it for technical teams who want to build complex automations without the overhead of dealing with APIs directly.

What is N8N used for?

Common use cases include:

• Onboarding: Automatically onboard new team members and set up their accounts.
• Security: Enrich security incident tickets with additional information.
• Code Analysis: Analyze GitHub Pull Requests for vulnerabilities using AI.
• CRM Enrichment: Enrich HubSpot company data by analyzing a company’s website with AI.
• Agent Building: Create autonomous, multi-step agents that perform complex tasks.
• Data Interaction: Chat with your own data or tools.
• Product Integration: Connect n8n to your own products.
• Model Flexibility: Use any AI model, including ones you host yourself.

Who is N8N for?

N8N suits a range of roles and teams:

• IT Operations (IT Ops)
• Security Operations (SecOps)
• DevOps
• Sales teams
• Software engineers
• Any technical teams looking for powerful automation

Key capabilities

• Coding options: Write automation steps in JavaScript or Python, and use external npm or Python libraries to extend functionality.
• No-code API connections: Automate simple tasks or handle complex data manipulation without coding.
• Iterative workflows: Run, tweak, and repeat your workflows as needed.
• Mission-critical uptime: Keep important automations running reliably using different environments.
• Version control: Manage workflows with synced environments via Git.
• Secure access: Implement Single Sign-On and LDAP.

Getting started

Choose your deployment option — self-hosted, desktop app, or cloud — then use the built-in templates to create your first workflows. From there, you can extend automations with custom code steps or AI models as needed.