Node-RED

n8n (pronounced "n-eight-n") is a self-hosted, open source workflow automation platform that lets you connect any app, API, or service and build powerful multi-step automations - visually, in code, or a mix of both. With 400+ pre-built integrations and the ability to hit any HTTP endpoint directly, n8n covers the kind of automation territory that tools like Zapier and Make charge per-task for, except everything runs on your own server, your data never leaves your network, and there are no execution limits imposed by someone else's pricing tier. It deploys in minutes via Docker, runs on any Linux machine, NAS, or VPS, and has clocked over 100 million Docker pulls - making it one of the most widely used self-hosted automation tools in the world.

The problem n8n solves is one that anyone who's used Zapier for more than a few months eventually hits: the moment your automations get genuinely useful, they get expensive. Complex multi-step workflows, high execution volumes, and anything involving custom logic quickly pushes you into premium tiers that don't reflect the actual value you're getting. n8n flips that model entirely. Self-host it once, and you get unlimited workflows, unlimited executions, and the full integration library - permanently. Beyond cost, it goes places that no-code-only tools simply can't follow. The code node lets you drop into JavaScript or Python mid-workflow, add npm packages on self-hosted instances, and handle transformations and business logic that visual tools can't express.

What really sets n8n apart right now is its AI-native architecture. Using LangChain under the hood, you can build multi-step AI agent workflows that chain LLM calls, memory, tools, and APIs together on a single canvas - with your own models, your own data, and your own infrastructure handling everything. Whether you're building a customer support bot that queries a database, an automated research pipeline, or a smart home server alert system, the same workflow editor handles it all. Combined with webhook triggers, cron scheduling, sub-workflows, error handling, and Git-based version control, n8n is the automation workflow category's most capable self-hosted platform for anyone who's serious about building things that actually scale.

Key Features

• Visual workflow editor with 400+ integrations - drag-and-drop canvas connects apps like Slack, Google Sheets, GitHub, Notion, Airtable, and hundreds more with pre-built nodes that handle auth and API quirks for you
• Code nodes with JavaScript and Python - drop into custom code at any point in a workflow, add npm packages on self-hosted instances, and handle logic that no-code tools can't express
• AI agent and LangChain integration - build multi-step AI agent workflows with LLM calls, memory, tool use, and API chaining all on one canvas, using any model including locally hosted ones
• Webhook triggers and HTTP request node - receive and respond to webhooks from any service, or connect to any API without a pre-built node using the flexible HTTP request node
• Cron scheduling - run any workflow on a fixed schedule using familiar cron syntax, from every minute to once a month
• Sub-workflows and reusable components - break complex automations into modular, reusable building blocks that can be called from any other workflow
• Error handling and retry logic - set up error workflows, send failure notifications to Slack or ntfy, and configure automatic retries without leaving the visual editor
• Git-based version control - connect your n8n instance to a Git repository for workflow versioning, environment promotion, and team collaboration
• Queue mode for high-volume deployments - run multiple worker instances for parallel execution, handling up to 220 workflow executions per second on a single instance
• Docker deployment - single-container or Docker Compose setup with straightforward environment variable configuration and persistent volume mapping

Who It's For

n8n is the go-to self-hosted automation platform for developers, homelabbers, and technical teams who want the power and flexibility of a proper automation tool without Zapier's per-task pricing or the privacy trade-offs of routing sensitive business data through a third-party cloud. It's the natural next step for anyone who's hit the ceiling of what Make or Zapier can do and wants to bring custom code, AI agents, and unlimited executions into the same workflow editor. If you're running a home server and want one tool that handles everything from smart home alerts and media management to AI pipelines and API integrations - n8n is where serious automation builders end up.