n8n: Open-Source Workflow Automation Platform for Integration and Automation

What is n8n?

n8n is an open-source workflow automation platform that enables users to automate business processes by connecting different applications and services without coding. Built with focus on ease of use and flexibility, n8n provides visual workflow builder enabling anyone to create complex automations. Over 100,000 developers use n8n to automate workflows, integrate systems, and reduce manual work.

Unlike Zapier ($19-99+/month) or Make (formerly Integromat) ($9.99-299/month) where workflows are hosted on commercial servers with per-action pricing, n8n can be self-hosted for complete data control and unlimited automations. Organizations deploy n8n on-premises enabling unrestricted automation.

n8n serves as the workflow automation platform. Marketing teams automate email campaigns and lead nurturing. HR teams automate onboarding and offboarding. Finance teams automate invoice processing. Sales teams automate CRM updates.

Key Features and Capabilities

Workflow Building

Visual Editor: Drag-and-drop workflow builder without coding
600+ Integrations: Pre-built connectors for popular applications
Conditional Logic: Branch workflows based on conditions
Loops: Repeat actions for multiple items
Error Handling: Handle errors gracefully in workflows
Scheduling: Schedule workflows to run automatically

Data Processing

Data Transformation: Transform data between different formats
Filtering: Filter data based on conditions
Aggregation: Combine and aggregate data
Mapping: Map fields between different systems
Code Execution: Execute custom JavaScript code in workflows

Advanced Features

Webhooks: Trigger workflows from external events
HTTP Requests: Make API calls to any service
Database Access: Query and update databases directly
File Processing: Process files and documents
Email Integration: Send emails and process inbound emails
Error Notifications: Get notified of workflow failures

System Requirements and Technical Specifications

Server Requirements

Operating System: Linux (Ubuntu 18.04+, Debian 10+, CentOS 7+) or Docker
Node.js: 16+ for application runtime
Database: SQLite (default) or PostgreSQL/MySQL
RAM: 1GB minimum, 2GB+ recommended
Storage: 5GB+ for workflow data

Installation

Docker Installation

docker run -d 
  --name n8n 
  -p 5678:5678 
  -v n8n_data:/home/node/.n8n 
  -e N8N_HOST=localhost 
  n8nio/n8n

# Access at http://localhost:5678

Use Cases

Marketing Automation

Marketing teams automate email campaigns and lead scoring. Customer data syncs across tools automatically. Campaign performance is tracked and reported.

System Integration

IT teams connect disparate systems without building custom integrations. Data syncs automatically between applications. Manual work decreases significantly.