The software is open source and free if you host it yourself. On top of that there's a paid cloud version where n8n handles the hosting and updating for you. For most small businesses the cloud version is the easiest way to start.

Do I need to be able to program to use n8n?

No. You build workflows by dragging and connecting blocks. Anyone who does know code can use it for the tricky parts, but it isn't required.

What's the difference between n8n and Zapier?

n8n is more flexible, cheaper at volume, and you can self-host it so your data stays inside your own environment. Zapier is a touch simpler to start with, but gets expensive fast.

Guide · 1 min read

What is n8n? An explanation in plain language

n8n is pronounced 'n-eight-n'. It's a tool for getting systems to talk to each other automatically, without writing a single line of code.

n8n (pronounced "n-eight-n") is a tool for building automations without programming. You drag blocks, nodes in n8n-speak, onto a canvas and connect them with lines. Each block does something: fetch a message, transform data, send an email, write a row to a database.

The result is called a workflow: a ready-made recipe that runs by itself the moment something comes in.

What a workflow looks like

A workflow starts with a trigger: the prompt. That could be a new form, an incoming email, a time of day ("every morning at 8") or a signal from another system.

After that come the steps. A simple example:

Trigger: a new lead comes in through your website
Step: check whether this company is already in your CRM
Step: if not, create a new contact
Step: send the account manager a message in Teams

What used to be manual work, retyping, looking up, forwarding, now happens in a second, without anyone having to think about it.

Cloud or self-hosted

You can run n8n in two ways. The cloud version handles everything for you for a monthly fee. Or you host it yourself, on your own server: free, and your data never leaves your environment. That last point is exactly why n8n is popular with companies that are careful with data. How that works is covered in self-hosting n8n.

Where n8n shines

Two things make n8n strong. First, its flexibility: where simpler tools get stuck, in n8n you can add just that one extra step. Second, its AI capabilities, you connect models like Claude or OpenAI to it and build workflows that don't just shuffle data around but also think along.

Torn between n8n and Make? Then read Make vs n8n. Just want to get started? Grab the n8n tutorial and build your first workflow today.

Sounds good, but no time

That happens. Plenty of business owners want the time savings without diving into the controls themselves. In that case we build and maintain your n8n automations, on your stack and within your rules.

Frequently asked questions

n8n tutorial: your first workflow in 30 minutes

Build your first n8n workflow step by step: from trigger to going live. A practical guide for small businesses, no programming required.

Lees verder

Make vs n8n: which automation tool do you choose?

Make or n8n? An honest comparison on price, learning curve, self-hosting, AI and data control, so you choose based on your situation, not on the hype.