n8n

Automation

AutomationGitHubLevel: IntermediateFree plan

n8n

5.0/52dm rating

Powerful automation that can be self-hosted to keep your data; note the fair-code license.

An open-source, self-hostable workflow automation platform with built-in AI connection nodes.

Official site How to use it

Overview

n8n is a platform for workflow automation and building AI agents. You drag and drop blocks (nodes) on a visual canvas to connect apps together, and insert code when needed.

What sets it apart is that you can install n8n on your own server (self-host) or use the cloud version run by n8n. The integration catalogue has more than 1,500 services and thousands of sample workflows for a quick start.

On licensing, n8n is not MIT: the project follows a fair-code model, released under the Sustainable Use License together with an n8n Enterprise License for enterprise features. The source code is public and can be self-hosted, but there are specific terms of use that you should read carefully.

Highlights

Drag-and-drop canvas combined with code

Build flows in a visual interface, and when you need complex logic write JavaScript or Python and use extra npm packages.

More than 1,500 integrations

Ready-made connections to a large number of popular apps, plus a library of sample workflows to copy and adjust.

Not locked into one AI provider

Connect to OpenAI, Anthropic, Google or open-source models and switch between them without rebuilding the flow.

Multi-step AI agents

Design agents with branching logic, tool calls and human-approval wait steps, with every run traceable.

Self-host or cloud

Run on your own server to keep internal data, or use the cloud version if you don't want to operate it yourself.

Enterprise features

Supports role-based permissions and audit logs for environments that need tight control.

What it's for

Gather leads in one place

Take data from forms on your website, fan page and landing pages, push it into Google Sheets or a CRM and notify the sales staff right away.

Automated customer care

When a new order arrives, automatically send a confirmation email, a payment reminder and a follow-up after delivery.

AI assistant for messages

Use an AI model to classify customer questions, answer common ones and hand difficult ones to a real person.

Recurring reports

Every morning, automatically gather sales and ad spend from several sources and send a summary to the business owner.

Syncing data between software

Keep customer and order information consistent between sales software, accounting and spreadsheets.

How to use it

1
Install Docker
n8n recommends running with Docker, so you need to install Docker on your machine or VPS first.
2
Create a data volume
The volume keeps workflows and credentials when the container restarts.
$docker volume create n8n_data
3
Run n8n
This command opens n8n on port 5678 and mounts the volume just created.
$docker run -it --rm --name n8n -p 5678:5678 -v n8n_data:/home/node/.n8n docker.n8n.io/n8nio/n8n
4
Open the editor
Go to http://localhost:5678 in your browser and create an admin account for your installation.
5
Build your first workflow
Choose a trigger (for example a webhook or a schedule), add processing nodes, and click test run to check the data at each step.
6
Activate and monitor
Turn the workflow on to run for real, then check the execution history to catch errors early.

Video guides

n8n Course for Beginners – Build Complex Workflows & Master AI Integration
freeCodeCamp.org

Hướng dẫn N8N cơ bản cho người mới bắt đầu (chi tiết nhất)
FIKY TECH

[Free course] Hướng dẫn N8n từ A - Z cho người mới bắt đầu Hướng dẫn cho dân No-code, No-Technical
Vincent Do AI & Automation

Real-world example

Illustrative scenario

An online cosmetics shop receives orders from its website and fan page messages. The owner builds an n8n workflow: whenever a new order arrives, the data is written to Google Sheets, an AI node reads the customer's note to tag it (price inquiry, return, urgent delivery), then a notification with the order link is sent to the staff chat group. At the end of the day, another workflow automatically tallies orders by tag and sends them to the owner.

Tips & notes

Read the license carefully
The Sustainable Use License limits commercial use, especially if you plan to resell n8n as a service; read the LICENSE file before deploying for customers.
Always mount a volume when running Docker
Without a volume, workflows and credentials may be lost when the container is deleted.
Start from sample workflows
The template library saves time; just replace the connected accounts and adjust the steps to fit.
Split into small flows
Divide large processes into several short workflows for easier debugging and reuse.

FAQ

Is n8n MIT-licensed open-source software?

No. n8n positions itself as fair-code, released under the Sustainable Use License and the n8n Enterprise License. The source code can be viewed and self-hosted, but specific terms of use apply.

Do I need to know programming?

Most things can be done by drag and drop. Knowing some JavaScript or Python makes complex data handling easier.

Should I self-host or use the cloud?

Self-hosting suits you if you want to keep internal data and have someone to administer the server. The cloud version suits you if you want to start right away; see the pricing page on the official site.

Which port does n8n run on?

Per the official guide, the editor opens at http://localhost:5678.