n8n
Workflow automation for technical people.
Overview
n8n is a free and source-available workflow automation tool. It allows you to connect various applications and services through a visual, node-based editor. A key differentiator is its flexibility: you can run it on your own infrastructure for free (self-hosted) or use their paid cloud service. It's designed for more technical users who need greater control, custom code execution, and the ability to build complex, branching workflows.
✨ Key Features
- Visual node-based workflow editor
- Source-available and self-hostable
- Custom JavaScript code nodes
- Advanced data transformation and manipulation
- Error handling and retry logic
- Community-built nodes
🎯 Key Differentiators
- Source-available and self-hostable
- Node-based editor offers more flexibility
- Ability to write custom code within workflows
- Fair-code licensing model
Unique Value: Powerful, flexible, and self-hostable workflow automation that puts developers in control.
🎯 Use Cases (5)
✅ Best For
- Creating a new GitHub issue from a Slack message and assigning it
- Querying a database, transforming the data, and sending a custom report via email
- Building a custom webhook endpoint to process data from any source
💡 Check With Vendor
Verify these considerations match your specific requirements:
- Non-technical users looking for a simple, guided setup
- Companies requiring enterprise-grade compliance certifications on a self-hosted instance
🏆 Alternatives
More powerful and flexible than Zapier. Offers a self-hosting option unlike Make. More of a pure workflow tool than enterprise iPaaS platforms.
💻 Platforms
✅ Offline Mode Available
🔌 Integrations
🛟 Support Options
- ✓ Email Support
- ✓ Dedicated Support (Enterprise tier)
🔒 Compliance & Security
💰 Pricing
✓ 14-day free trial
Free tier: Self-hosted is free. Cloud has a 'Starter' free tier.
🔄 Similar Tools in API Integration
Zapier
Connects your web apps to automate repetitive tasks....
Make
A visual automation platform for workflows, apps, and systems....
Workato
An enterprise-grade iPaaS for integration and automation....
MuleSoft Anypoint Platform
A unified platform for integration, APIs, and automation....
Boomi
A cloud-native, unified, and open integration platform....
Celigo
An iPaaS focused on business process automation....