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If you've been hunting for a way to automate repetitive business tasks without paying hundreds of dollars a month for Zapier, you've probably come across n8n. It's the open-source automation tool that has quietly become the go-to choice for developers, agencies, and small businesses who want the power of enterprise automation at a fraction of the cost.
This guide explains exactly what n8n is, how it works under the hood, how it stacks up against the major alternatives, and how you can get your first workflow running today — no DevOps experience required.
What is n8n?
n8n (pronounced n-eight-n, short for "nodemation") is a free, open-source workflow automation platform. It was created in 2019 by Jan Oberhauser and has grown into one of the most popular self-hosted automation tools in the world, with over 50,000 GitHub stars and a thriving community.
At its core, n8n lets you connect different apps and services together so they can share data and trigger actions automatically — without writing code. Think of it like a visual programming environment where each "block" (called a node) represents an app, an action, or a data transformation step.
Unlike proprietary tools like Zapier or Make.com, n8n is fully open-source under the Sustainable Use License, which means you can run it on your own server, inspect the source code, and customise it however you like. The self-hosted version has no execution limits, no workflow caps, and no per-task fees.
The name n8n comes from "nodemation" — a blend of "node" (the building block of every workflow) and "automation". The "8" represents the eight letters between the first "n" and the last "n". It's a naming pattern similar to i18n (internationalisation) or k8s (Kubernetes).
How Does n8n Work?
n8n uses a node-based visual workflow editor. You build automations by dragging nodes onto a canvas and connecting them with lines that represent the flow of data. There are three main types of nodes:
- Trigger nodes — these start a workflow. Examples include a webhook receiving data, a scheduled time trigger (cron), a new email arriving in Gmail, or a new row appearing in Airtable.
- Action nodes — these do something with the data. Examples include sending a Slack message, creating a HubSpot contact, posting to a REST API, or writing to a Google Sheet.
- Transformation nodes — these reshape data as it flows between steps. The built-in Code node lets you write JavaScript or Python; the Set node remaps fields; the IF and Switch nodes add conditional logic.
n8n ships with over 400 built-in integrations, covering the most popular business tools: Slack, Gmail, Notion, Stripe, Airtable, HubSpot, GitHub, Shopify, Postgres, MySQL, and hundreds more. There's also an HTTP Request node that lets you connect to any REST API that doesn't have a dedicated node, and a community marketplace where developers share additional nodes.
Workflows can run on a schedule, be triggered by webhooks in real time, or be executed manually for testing. Every execution is logged with full input and output data at each step, making debugging straightforward.
n8n vs Zapier vs Make
The three tools most people compare are n8n, Zapier, and Make.com (formerly Integromat). Here's how they differ:
| Feature | n8n (self-hosted) | Zapier | Make.com |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | From $2.99/mo (managed) or free DIY | From $19.99/mo | From $9/mo |
| Execution limits | Unlimited | Capped (tasks/month) | Capped (ops/month) |
| Data ownership | 100% yours | Stored by Zapier | Stored by Make |
| Custom code | Yes (JS + Python) | Limited (Code step) | Limited |
| Open source | Yes | No | No |
| Self-hostable | Yes | No | No |
| Community nodes | Yes | No | No |
n8n vs Zapier: Zapier is the most widely-used automation platform, but it's also one of the most expensive. Its Starter plan at $19.99/month caps you at 750 tasks — enough for light usage but quickly exhausted by any serious business workflow. n8n vs Zapier is not a close race on price: a self-hosted n8n instance handles unlimited executions for $2.99/month on OpenHosst.
n8n vs Make.com: Make uses a "scenarios and operations" model that is more visual than Zapier's linear Zaps. Its free plan is generous, but paid plans start at $9/month for just 10,000 operations. n8n's node-based editor is more powerful for complex multi-branch logic, and the self-hosted version has no operation caps whatsoever.
For teams that handle sensitive data — customer records, financial transactions, healthcare information — n8n's self-hosted model also wins on compliance. Your data never leaves your own infrastructure.
Self-Hosted vs n8n Cloud
n8n itself offers a cloud-hosted version called n8n Cloud. It's convenient, but it comes with significant limitations compared to self-hosting:
- n8n Cloud Starter ($24/month): 2,500 workflow executions/month, 5 active workflows, limited to 2 users.
- n8n Cloud Pro ($60/month): 10,000 executions/month, 15 active workflows.
- Self-hosted (Community Edition): Unlimited executions, unlimited workflows, unlimited users — for the cost of a server.
For a detailed breakdown of what you get on each plan, see our n8n Cloud pricing guide. The short version: if you run more than a few hundred automations per month, self-hosting saves you significant money. At OpenHosst, managed n8n hosting starts at $2.99/month — that's roughly 8x cheaper than n8n Cloud Starter, with no execution caps.
The main advantage of n8n Cloud is zero setup — but if you use a managed hosting provider, you get that same zero-setup experience without the limits or the price premium.
Try n8n free for 7 days — no DevOps needed, from $2.99/month
Managed n8n hosting with unlimited executions. No card payment required to start.
How to Get Started with n8n
There are two ways to get n8n running. Choose the one that fits your technical comfort level:
Option 1: Managed Hosting (Recommended for beginners)
OpenHosst managed n8n hosting gets you a fully configured n8n instance in minutes, with no server management required. SSL, backups, and updates are all handled for you.
- Go to portal.openhosst.com/apps and select n8n
- Start your 7-day free trial — no card payment required
- Connect your domain (or use the provided subdomain)
- Log in and start building workflows immediately
The Starter plan at $2.99/month covers solo founders and small teams. You get unlimited workflow executions, automatic updates, and 24/7 monitoring.
Option 2: Self-Install with Docker
If you're comfortable with the command line, you can run n8n on any Linux VPS in about 60–90 minutes using Docker. You'll need a server with at least 2 GB RAM, a domain name, and about an hour of setup time. For the full walkthrough, see our guide on how to self-host n8n.
The quickest way to run n8n locally for testing is:
docker run -it --rm \
-p 5678:5678 \
-v ~/.n8n:/home/node/.n8n \
n8nio/n8nThis starts n8n on http://localhost:5678. It's perfect for experimenting, but not suitable for production use — you'll need SSL and a persistent setup for webhooks to work with external services.
n8n's visual editor runs entirely in your browser. There's nothing to install on your laptop — you just access it via a URL once the server is running. This also means you can manage your automations from any device.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is n8n really free?
The n8n Community Edition (self-hosted) is free to run. You only pay for the server it runs on — which can be as little as $2.99/month with a managed provider like OpenHosst, or ~$6/month if you set up your own VPS. n8n Cloud (the SaaS version) starts at $24/month and has execution limits.
Do I need to know how to code to use n8n?
No. Most n8n workflows are built entirely with the visual drag-and-drop editor — no code required. However, n8n also has a powerful Code node that lets you write JavaScript or Python if you need custom logic that goes beyond what built-in nodes offer. It's a tool that grows with your skills.
How many integrations does n8n have?
n8n ships with over 400 built-in integrations covering all major SaaS tools, databases, and communication platforms. In addition, the HTTP Request node connects to any REST API, and the community marketplace offers hundreds of additional community-built nodes for more specialised services.
Can I use n8n for AI automations?
Yes. n8n has dedicated nodes for OpenAI, Anthropic (Claude), Google Gemini, and other AI providers. You can build AI agents, summarise emails, classify content, generate text, and chain multiple AI calls together — all without code. AI-powered automations are one of the fastest-growing use cases for n8n in 2026.