What is n8n? A Comprehensive Guide to the Open Source Workflow Automation Tool

Estimated reading time: 12 minutes

Key Takeaways

• n8n is an open source workflow automation tool enabling users to automate repetitive tasks by connecting various apps and services.
• It offers flexibility and deep customization through visual drag-and-drop workflows and code support (JavaScript/Python).
• Being open source means full control over your automation with no vendor lock-in and the power of a strong, active community.
• Use cases range from data synchronization, marketing automation, CRM workflows, to AI integrations.
• Comparing n8n vs Zapier highlights key differences in cost, customization, hosting, and integrations.

Understanding n8n: What is n8n and How Does It Work?

At its core, n8n empowers users to automate workflows by connecting multiple apps and services in a sequence called a workflow.

What is a Workflow?

A workflow is a series of connected steps or tasks that carry out an automated process. For example:

• Copying an email attachment and saving it to cloud storage.
• Syncing customer data from a CRM to a spreadsheet.
• Running multi-step procedures involving databases, marketing tools, and AI services.

Workflows can be simple, involving just a few tasks, or complex, branded with conditional logic and multiple integrations.

n8n’s Open-Source Foundation

One of the key things to understand is that n8n is open source, meaning its source code is freely available for anyone to view, modify, and host on their own servers. In plain words, open-source means:

• You have full control over how the software works.
• You can customize it to fit your specific needs.
• There’s no vendor lock-in, so you’re not locked into one company’s ecosystem.
• You can benefit from a large, active community that continuously builds new features and integrations.

This open nature makes n8n unlike many proprietary automation tools that restrict customization and control. For a more detailed explanation about what is n8n and its open-source nature, see this comprehensive post.

Advantages of Open-Source Workflow Automation with n8n

Using an open-source workflow automation tool like n8n offers several important benefits:

• Full control over your data and hosting – Choose where and how your data is stored.
• Custom feature development – Add integrations and functions unique to your needs.
• No dependency on vendor policies – Avoid costly subscription fees or service shutdowns.
• Community-driven improvements – Access shared nodes, workflows, and support from other users.

For more on n8n’s open-source benefits and functionality, refer to the official n8n site, the Hostinger tutorial here, and Automake’s guide here.

How n8n Works: Visual Builders, Nodes, and Automation Examples

Understanding how n8n works will help you see why it’s a powerful tool that blends visual simplicity with deep technical capability.

Visual Workflow Builder: Drag-and-Drop Interface

n8n offers a visual workflow builder that lets users design automation processes through a simple drag-and-drop interface. This visual approach means you don’t need to be a coder to get started. Instead, you add and connect building blocks visually to define how data flows from one app or task to another.

Nodes: The Building Blocks of Workflows

Each workflow consists of nodes, which are individual units representing a task or action. Examples of nodes include:

• Sending an email.
• Making an API call to a third-party service.
• Querying or updating a database.
• Transforming data formats.

Nodes can be connected sequentially, meaning one runs after another, or conditionally, where certain branches trigger based on specific rules or data inputs.

Advanced Customization Through Code

For users with coding knowledge, n8n allows embedding JavaScript or Python scripts within workflows. You can also leverage external libraries for highly specialized tasks. This feature bridges the no-code user with developers who require complete control and advanced logic in their automations.

Examples of Tasks You Can Automate with n8n

• Data synchronization between cloud apps like Google Drive and Dropbox.
• Launching and managing marketing campaigns, connecting email providers, social media platforms, and analytics tools.
• Automating CRM workflows such as new lead notifications, data enrichment, and updates.
• Extracting, transforming, and reporting data from multiple sources.
• Integrating AI services like chatbots or sentiment analysis in business processes.

For more detailed features and examples of how n8n works, visit the official features page here, the Hostinger tutorial here, this detailed explanation: https://n8native.com/what-is-n8n-automation-tool, and Automake’s guide here.

n8n Automation Tool Explained: Flexibility, Community, and Use Cases

What sets the n8n automation tool apart is its unique combination of flexibility, customization, and community-driven growth.

Flexibility and Customization

• Unlike typical automation platforms that rely mostly on fixed templates, n8n enables deep customization:
• Write your own JavaScript or Python scripts inside workflows.
• Extend automation with npm packages or Python libraries.
• Create custom nodes tailored to very specific business requirements.

This capability means you can build automation that exactly fits your business process, rather than adapting your processes to the tool’s limitations.

Community and Ecosystem

• Community nodes and integrations that cover a wide range of apps.
• Publicly shared workflow templates you can import and customize.
• Extensive documentation and tutorials.
• Discussion forums and GitHub repositories where users support each other.

This ecosystem helps users overcome challenges faster and find creative use cases.

Real-World Success Stories

• Delivery Hero saved approximately 200 hours per month by automating IT operations workflows with n8n.
• StepStone cut a manual task from two weeks down to two hours by implementing n8n automations.
• Many organizations automate HR onboarding, customer support, and IT operations efficiently using n8n.

These examples highlight the practical power and cost-saving potential n8n brings.

For more on the n8n automation tool explained, including success stories, see the official n8n site, Automake’s detailed post here, and the in-depth explanation: https://n8native.com/what-is-n8n-automation-tool.

n8n vs Zapier: Which Automation Tool Fits Your Needs?

When considering workflow automation tools, many users compare n8n vs Zapier to understand which suits their needs best.

Feature	n8n	Zapier
Pricing	Free self-hosted version; paid cloud plans	Subscription-based with limited free tier
Accessibility	Open-source, self-hosted, customizable	Cloud-only, no self-host option
Workflow Flexibility	Highly customizable, supports code and visual builder	Mostly template-driven, limited coding
Integrations	1700+ templates; add custom nodes	6,000+ official app integrations
Data Ownership	Full control via self-hosting	Data stored and managed on Zapier’s cloud
Security	On-prem deployment options; advanced permissions	Standard cloud security

Choosing Between n8n and Zapier

• Choose n8n if:
• You need deep customization and control.
• Data ownership and self-hosting are important.
• Your team has some technical skills or developer support.
• You want to avoid vendor lock-in.
• Choose Zapier if:
• You want a quick, no-code setup.
• You need access to a vast app ecosystem with minimal configuration.
• You don’t require advanced customization or self-hosting.
• You prefer cloud-based automation with ready-made templates.

This comparison will help guide your selection based on your technical capacity, control preferences, and integration needs.

For detailed comparisons and decision guidance, see official n8n resources here, Hostinger’s tutorial here, Automake’s guide here, and this detailed post: https://n8native.com/what-is-n8n-automation-tool.

Conclusion: Why n8n is a Powerful Open Source Workflow Automation Tool

To summarize, what is n8n? It is a powerful, open-source workflow automation tool that merges simple visual design with advanced customization options.

Key benefits include:

• Flexibility to create customized automations via code and visual tools.
• Open-source model providing control, no vendor lock-in, and transparency.
• Strong community support with shared resources and ongoing development.
• Data ownership through self-hosting, reinforcing security and privacy.

Whether you’re an individual automator, a small business, or a large corporation, n8n offers scalable workflow automation tailored to your exact needs.

Explore n8n as a viable, innovative tool to optimize repetitive tasks and connect disparate systems smoothly.

For further reading and documentation, visit the official n8n site here, Automake’s comprehensive guide here, and this in-depth explanation: https://n8native.com/what-is-n8n-automation-tool.

Call to Action: Get Started with n8n Today!

Have you used n8n, or are you curious about how it can improve your automation workflows? Share your thoughts, experiences, or questions in the comments below!

To dive deeper and start experimenting:

• Visit the official n8n website: https://n8n.io
• Explore tutorials and documentation: https://n8n.io/features/
• Join the community forums and browse GitHub to connect with power users and contributors.

Give n8n a try and discover the full possibilities that workflow automation offers with an open-source, customizable tool.

Frequently Asked Questions

References:

• Hostinger tutorial
• Automake guide
• Official n8n site and documentation
• In-depth explanation of n8n automation tool