[opensourcedex]

n8n is a free, open source automation project written in TypeScript and released under a custom open-source licence. It has 204,887 GitHub stars, 60,739 forks and 1,143 open issues, and was last pushed 8 hours ago. On this registry it ranks #1 of 54 tracked projects in Automation, and is listed as an open source replacement for 1 paid product, with 5 head-to-head comparisons available. It gained 787 stars over the last 6 tracked days.

n8n — Visual workflow automation with code flexibility and AI agents

What is n8n?

What it is

n8n is a visual workflow automation platform built in TypeScript that combines a drag-and-drop editor with custom code execution. It lives in the integration and automation ecosystem, positioned as an open alternative to proprietary services like Zapier. Users design multi-step workflows—called “n8n flows”—that connect apps, services, and custom logic to automate repetitive tasks.

The platform solves the problem of vendor lock-in and high cost in workflow automation by offering full control over execution environment, data, and integrations. Unlike cloud-only tools, n8n supports self-hosting and provides native AI capabilities, enabling users to build, test, and deploy intelligent agents without surrendering infrastructure or data sovereignty.

Key capabilities

  • Build and deploy multi-step AI agents with native support for LLMs, tool use, memory, and human-in-the-loop steps
  • Connect to 1,500+ integrations including APIs, databases, cloud services, and messaging platforms
  • Switch between AI model providers (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, open-source) without rewriting workflow logic
  • Extend visual workflows with JavaScript or Python code blocks and import npm packages
  • Self-host with full control over data, or use the official cloud托管 option at app.n8n.cloud
  • Use role-based access control, audit logs, and encryption for enterprise-grade security
  • Access 9,000+ community-shared workflow templates to accelerate deployment

Who uses it and how

  • Developers integrate n8n into CI/CD pipelines to automate deployments, testing, and notifications across tools like GitHub, Slack, and Jira
  • Data engineers orchestrate ETL pipelines by chaining database, API, and file system actions with custom Python scripts
  • Product teams prototype and productionize AI agents that process user inputs, call external APIs, and generate structured outputs using internal models

Getting started

Install via the one-line Docker script (curl -fsSL https://get.n8n.io | sh) or manually run docker run -it --rm --name n8n -p 5678:5678 -v n8n_data:/home/node/.n8n docker.n8n.io/n8n/io/n8n. Access the editor at http://localhost:5678.

When to use it — and when not to

Use n8n when you need full control over automation logic, self-hosting, or AI model choice—and when proprietary tools are too expensive or restrictive. Avoid it if you require zero-configuration managed infrastructure, or if your team lacks Docker or Node.js operational experience (self-hosting requires PostgreSQL, storage, and optional SMTP for emails). It trades simplicity for flexibility: more powerful than Zapier for custom logic, but steeper to set up and maintain.

project readme (upstream, from github) — read inline

Banner image

n8n – The Platform for AI Agents and Workflow Automation

Fair-code platform to build and deploy AI agents and workflows. Combine a visual canvas with custom code, run it self-hosted or in the cloud, and connect to 1500+ integrations. AI automation you can trust with real work, from prototype to production.

n8n.io - Screenshot

Key Capabilities

  • AI-Native Automation Platform: Build and operationalize AI workflows and multi-step agents using your own data, models, and tools
  • Model Flexibility, No Lock-In: Connect to OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, or open-source models and switch providers without changing your architecture
  • From Prototype to Production: Design multi-step AI workflows with logic, tool use, human approvals, and full observability
  • Code When You Need It: Combine visual building with JavaScript, Python, and npm packages for advanced AI workflows
  • Enterprise-Ready AI: Self-host or deploy securely with role-based access, audit trails, and support for sensitive data
  • Leverage What Already Exists: 1500+ integrations and 9,000+ workflow templates to connect AI with your existing systems

Quick Start

Try n8n instantly with our install script (requires Docker):

curl -fsSL https://get.n8n.io | sh

Or deploy manually with Docker:

docker volume create n8n_data
docker run -it --rm --name n8n -p 5678:5678 -v n8n_data:/home/node/.n8n docker.n8n.io/n8nio/n8n

Access the editor at http://localhost:5678

Resources

Support

Need help? Our community forum is the place to get support and connect with other users: community.n8n.io

License

n8n is fair-code distributed under the Sustainable Use License and n8n Enterprise License.

  • Source Available: Always visible source code
  • Self-Hostable: Deploy anywhere
  • Extensible: Add your own nodes and functionality

Enterprise Licenses available for additional features and support.

Additional information about the license model can be found in the docs.

Contributing

Found a bug 🐛 or have a feature idea ✨? Check our Contributing Guide for a setup guide & best practices.

Join the Team

Want to shape the future of automation? Check out our job posts and join our team!

What does n8n mean?

Short answer: It means "nodemation" and is pronounced as n-eight-n.

Long answer: "I get that question quite often (more often than I expected) so I decided it is probably best to answer it here. While looking for a good name for the project with a free domain I realized very quickly that all the good ones I could think of were already taken. So, in the end, I chose nodemation. 'node-' in the sense that it uses a Node-View and that it uses Node.js and '-mation' for 'automation' which is what the project is supposed to help with. However, I did not like how long the name was and I could not imagine writing something that long every time in the CLI. That is when I then ended up on 'n8n'." - Jan Oberhauser, Founder and CEO, n8n.io

Frequently asked questions

Is n8n free to use?

n8n is open source. There is no licence fee and no seat count — you can self-host it or, where the project offers one, pay a vendor for a managed version instead.

What does n8n do?

Visual workflow automation with code flexibility and AI agents

What is n8n written in?

n8n is primarily written in TypeScript. Its source is publicly available at https://github.com/n8n-io/n8n, and it has 204,887 GitHub stars.

What is a good open source alternative to Zapier?

n8n is one of the open source options listed as an alternative to Zapier. Compare licences, stars and activity side by side on the n8n profile.