n8n

Overview

n8n is a flexible AI workflow automation platform designed specifically for technical teams. It offers a unique 'fair-code' approach that combines the speed of a drag-and-drop interface with the precision of custom code. With over 168,000 stars on GitHub, it has become a leading choice for developers and operations teams who need to build complex, multi-step automations without the limitations of traditional no-code tools.

Key Features

• Hybrid Building: Switch seamlessly between a visual UI and custom JavaScript or Python code nodes.
• AI & Agentic Workflows: Build multi-step AI agents, implement Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), and integrate any LLM into your business processes.
• Extensive Integrations: Connect with over 500 native integrations including Slack, GitHub, Salesforce, and various databases.
• Self-Hosting & Privacy: Deploy n8n on-premise using Docker to keep sensitive data within your own infrastructure, or use the managed cloud version.
• Advanced Debugging: Re-run single steps, mock data, and view inline logs to troubleshoot workflows quickly.

Use Cases

• IT & Security Operations: Automate employee onboarding, enrich security incident tickets, and manage user permissions across platforms.
• AI Agents: Create custom AI assistants that can call specific tools, query your internal data, and perform tasks across different apps.
• DevOps: Convert natural language prompts into API calls or automate backend prototyping and data transformations.
• Customer Management: Sync data between CRMs, generate insights from customer reviews, and automate lead management.

Pricing

n8n offers several tiers to suit different needs, including a free self-hosted version, managed Cloud plans for individuals and teams, and an Enterprise tier for organizations requiring SSO, advanced RBAC, and audit logs.

FAQ

Can I self-host n8n? Yes, n8n is designed to be self-hostable via Docker or npm, giving you full control over your data and infrastructure.

Does n8n support custom code? Absolutely. You can write custom JavaScript or Python within your workflows and even import libraries from npm or Python for advanced functionality.

How does n8n compare to Zapier or Make? n8n is more developer-centric, offering deeper customization through code, self-hosting options, and a more flexible pricing model based on workflow execution rather than just simple tasks.

What AI capabilities does it have? n8n includes dedicated nodes for AI agents, chains, memory, and vector stores, allowing you to build sophisticated AI-driven applications and RAG systems.

Is the source code available? Yes, n8n follows a fair-code license, and the entire source code is accessible on GitHub for transparency and community contribution.