What is n8n and what can it do?

n8n is a workflow au­toma­tion platform that helps you connect apps, data sources and processes so you can automate repet­i­tive tasks. It uses a visual interface but also lets you add your own code when you need more control.

Where can you use n8n?

You can use n8n anywhere data moves between systems or where recurring steps need to run au­to­mat­i­cal­ly. Common examples include sending form sub­mis­sions to a CRM, trig­ger­ing emails, syncing data between tools or handling webhooks and API requests.

At its core, an n8n workflow is made up of in­di­vid­ual nodes connected in sequence or branches. It usually starts with a trigger, meaning something that starts the workflow. This could be a set time or recurring schedule, a form sub­mis­sion or an event in another app. After that come the actions, which process the data, for example by re­triev­ing, filtering, trans­form­ing or saving it.

You don’t need pro­gram­ming skills to use the platform. n8n is a low-code tool, so you can do most tasks in the visual editor and only use code when needed. For more advanced setups, you can use ex­pres­sions or the Code node. n8n currently supports JavaScript, and Python support is still in progress.

Which apps and services can you connect with n8n?

n8n supports over 400 built-in in­te­gra­tions and more than 1,000 possible con­nec­tions. That includes everyday tools for messaging, pro­duc­tiv­i­ty, marketing, de­vel­op­ment as well as database and AI tools. In practice, you can connect email services, messaging apps, cloud storage, CRM systems, project man­age­ment tools and web forms. This is what makes n8n so useful for au­toma­tion, since it can pull in data, process it and pass it on to other tools.

If an app doesn’t have a ready-made in­te­gra­tion, you’re not stuck. The HTTP Request node lets you connect to virtually any service via a REST API. That means you can still integrate custom or niche systems as long as they offer an API. This makes n8n great for beginners as you can start with pre-built nodes and gradually move to more advanced setups.

If you’re already using au­toma­tion tools like Zapier, you can migrate your workflows to n8n and rebuild them step by step. This gives you more control over how your workflows run.

How does n8n support AI workflows?

n8n is evolving beyond basic au­toma­tion and into a platform for AI-powered workflows and AI agents. Instead of just running fixed sequences, workflows can now react to inputs, make decisions and take actions on their own.

A key de­vel­op­ment is the use of AI agent logic. This means workflows don’t always run in a strict linear sequence anymore. Instead, they can adapt dy­nam­i­cal­ly, choosing the next step based on context or results.

Key AI features in n8n include:

• AI agent nodes to co­or­di­nate LLMs, tools and workflows
• LangChain in­te­gra­tion for more advanced decision logic and tool usage
• Memory and context features to keep track of in­for­ma­tion across multiple steps
• Vector databases and RAG setups to bring in external data

How does n8n compare to Zapier and Make?

Compared to Zapier and Make, n8n is both more technical and more flexible. Zapier is a no-code tool designed for sim­plic­i­ty and supports over 8,000 apps. Make also uses a visual builder and offers more than 3,000 in­te­gra­tions. n8n has fewer built-in in­te­gra­tions than Zapier, but makes up for it with its low-code approach, self-hosting options and flex­i­bil­i­ty through APIs, webhooks and custom code.

For beginners, Zapier is usually the easiest to get started with because of its highly struc­tured workflows. Make offers a visual builder with more control over workflow structure, but it can get complex in larger setups. n8n is a better fit when you need full control over workflow logic, data handling and hosting.

How to host and install n8n

You can run n8n in the cloud or host it yourself. Self-hosting gives you more control over data, in­fra­struc­ture and security. The right option depends on your setup and ex­pe­ri­ence level.

• Docker: A popular option is an n8n Docker in­stal­la­tion. It lets you set up an isolated en­vi­ron­ment that’s easy to manage and maintain. Docker works well for both local testing and real-life scenarios. It’s also one of the easiest ways to get started.
• Ku­ber­netes: For larger setups, an n8n Ku­ber­netes in­stal­la­tion is a good choice. It lets you run n8n in con­tainer­ized en­vi­ron­ments and scale it as your needs grow. This makes it a good option if you’re running many workflows in parallel or handling high workloads.
• Plesk: If you’re using a tra­di­tion­al hosting setup, an n8n Plesk in­stal­la­tion is a solid option. It lets you integrate n8n into your existing en­vi­ron­ment without setting up a separate server.
• CapRover: n8n CapRover makes de­ploy­ment easier and reduces the amount of manual setup and admin work. This is good for smaller teams or in­di­vid­ual users.
• CasaOS: For beginners or personal projects, n8n with CasaOS is a good option. It uses a user-friendly interface, so you can install and run n8n without much technical ex­pe­ri­ence.

The best option for you depends on your technical re­quire­ments, security needs and expertise.

How secure is n8n?

n8n offers solid security options because you can choose between cloud and self-hosted setups. Hosting it yourself gives you the most control over your data and in­fra­struc­ture. That said, using n8n alone doesn’t au­to­mat­i­cal­ly mean your workflows meet data privacy re­quire­ments. Whether they do depends on how you use the tool, what data you process and how you protect it.

In the cloud version, n8n can act as both a con­troller and processor. It also includes a Data Pro­cess­ing Agreement as part of its standard terms. In simple terms, this means n8n may either process data on your behalf or determine how it is processed, depending on how you use it. n8n runs on Microsoft Azure and data is currently stored in EU-based data centers, which may matter for certain data privacy re­quire­ments.

From a technical stand­point, n8n protects cre­den­tials and stored data through en­cryp­tion and other security measures. This includes things like firewalls, mon­i­tor­ing and regular security audits. That said, you still need to handle cre­den­tials carefully. Using OAuth instead of API keys, for example, gives you more control and lets you revoke access at any time.

If you host n8n yourself, you’re re­spon­si­ble for securing your setup. Make sure you use encrypted con­nec­tions (TLS), secure storage and con­trolled execution en­vi­ron­ments. Also be careful with third-party ex­ten­sions, since they may have access to sensitive data.

What are some al­ter­na­tives to n8n?

If n8n isn’t quite right for you, there are several al­ter­na­tives in the low and no-code space. The right choice depends on whether you need sim­plic­i­ty, a wide range of in­te­gra­tions or more control over workflow logic and data handling. If you’re just getting started, it’s worth comparing factors like ease of use, pricing, hosting options and how easily you can extend the platform.

• Zapier: Zapier is beginner-friendly and, with more than 8,000 in­te­gra­tions, a strong choice for quick, standard au­toma­tions. When we compare the two, we see Zapier focuses more on ease of use, while n8n gives you more control over how your workflows run and how they’re set up.
• Microsoft Power Automate: This option works well if you already use Microsoft tools like Microsoft 365, Teams, or Share­Point. It’s a good choice for au­tomat­ing workflows within the Microsoft ecosystem and across Windows-based business processes.
• Make: Make is a good fit if you prefer a visual, modular builder and want to build more complex workflows step by step. It combines no-code ease of use with the ability to visually design and connect workflows in detail. When we compare n8n with Make, we see Make supports sig­nif­i­cant­ly more built-in in­te­gra­tions.
• Pipedream: Pipedream is aimed at more technical users who want to connect APIs, events and developer workflows. It gives you more control over how these workflows are triggered and how data moves between services.
• Node-RED: This flow-based au­toma­tion platform is popular in technical and IoT en­vi­ron­ments. It gives you a great deal of flex­i­bil­i­ty, but can feel quite technical and less intuitive if you want to automate everyday tasks like emails, CRM updates or marketing workflows.