# N8N
**Category**: Business Productivity
**Company**: n8n GmbH
**Type**: Workflow Automation Platform
## Overview
n8n is a free and source-available workflow automation tool that uniquely combines AI capabilities with business process automation. Designed for technical teams, it provides the flexibility of code with the speed of no-code, enabling users to build complex automation workflows through a visual, node-based interface.
## Links & Resources
### Official Links
- **Website**: [n8n.io](https://n8n.io/)
- **Documentation**: [n8n Documentation](https://docs.n8n.io/)
- **Pricing**: [n8n Pricing](https://n8n.io/pricing/)
### Social Media
- **n8n Twitter**: [@n8n_io](https://twitter.com/n8n_io)
- **n8n GitHub**: [n8n Repository](https://github.com/n8n-io/n8n)
- **Community**: [n8n Community](https://community.n8n.io/)
### Additional Resources
- **Templates**: [n8n Workflow Templates](https://n8n.io/workflows/)
- **Integrations**: [n8n Integrations](https://n8n.io/integrations/)
## Tool Evaluation
*Not reviewed* - See [[Tool Evaluation Template]] for evaluation criteria
### Key Features
- Visual, node-based workflow editor with drag-and-drop interface
- 500+ integrations with popular apps, services, and databases
- Custom code steps supporting JavaScript and Python
- AI-powered nodes with LangChain integration for building modular AI applications
- Self-hosting capabilities with complete data control
- Version control and collaboration features using Git
- Custom API requests (HTTP, GraphQL) and webhook triggers
- Global variables and environment management (dev, staging, prod)
- SOC 2 & 3 compliance with enterprise security features
- No-operations pricing model (doesn't charge based on workflow complexity)
- Tested configuration: 2.3GB memory allocation for optimal performance
## Use Cases
### Primary Applications
- Business process automation and workflow optimization
- Data synchronization between multiple platforms
- AI-powered document processing and analysis
- Customer onboarding and communication workflows
- Lead generation and CRM automation
- Content creation and social media management
- E-commerce order processing and inventory management
- DevOps automation and CI/CD pipeline integration
### Potential Workflow Integration Ideas
1. **Sales Pipeline Automation**: Automate lead capture, qualification, and nurturing processes
2. **Customer Support**: Create automated ticket routing and response systems
3. **Content Marketing**: Schedule and distribute content across multiple platforms
4. **Data Processing**: Extract, transform, and load data between different systems
5. **AI Document Analysis**: Automatically process and categorize incoming documents
6. **E-commerce Operations**: Automate inventory updates, order processing, and customer notifications
## Pricing
### Plan Tiers
- **Starter**: 2.5k executions saved, 5 concurrent executions, up to 1 day workflow history
- **Pro**: 25k executions saved, 20-50 concurrent executions, up to 5 days workflow history
- **Enterprise**: 50k executions saved, higher concurrent limits, up to 1 year workflow history
### Deployment Options
- **Self-Hosted**: Free with all platform capabilities
- **Cloud Hosting**: Paid plans with managed infrastructure
- **No Operations Charges**: Unlike competitors, n8n doesn't charge based on workflow complexity or number of operations
*Detailed pricing coming soon*
## Pros & Cons
### Advantages
- ✅ Free self-hosting option with full feature access
- ✅ No charges based on workflow complexity or operations count
- ✅ Extensive integration library with 500+ connectors
- ✅ Code flexibility with JavaScript and Python support
- ✅ AI capabilities with LangChain integration
- ✅ Open-source with active community development
- ✅ Enterprise-grade security and compliance features
- ✅ Visual workflow design with powerful customization options
### Disadvantages
- ❌ Steeper learning curve compared to simpler automation tools
- ❌ Self-hosting requires technical expertise for setup and maintenance
- ❌ Limited workflow history retention on lower-tier plans
- ❌ May require coding knowledge for advanced customizations
- ❌ Smaller community compared to established competitors like Zapier
## Notes & Updates
*Coming soon*
### Recommended For
- Technical teams and developers
- Businesses requiring complex workflow automation
- Organizations with data privacy and control requirements
- Companies seeking cost-effective automation solutions
- Teams needing AI-powered workflow capabilities
- Agencies managing multiple client systems and integrations
## Related Tools
### Workflow Automation Alternatives
- [[GumLoop]] - AI-powered workflow automation
- [Zapier](https://zapier.com/) - Popular no-code automation platform
- [Make (formerly Integromat)](https://www.make.com/) - Visual automation platform
- [Microsoft Power Automate](https://powerautomate.microsoft.com/) - Enterprise workflow automation
- [Pipedream](https://pipedream.com/) - Developer-focused automation platform
### Complementary Tools
- [Airtable](https://airtable.com/) - Database and project management
- [Slack](https://slack.com/) - Team communication and notifications
- [Google Workspace](https://workspace.google.com/) - Business productivity suite
## Rankings
*Coming soon*
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*Last Updated: 2025-07-27*