What makes n8n different from other automation platforms?

n8n combines visual workflow building with complete programmability and self-hosting capabilities. Unlike SaaS-only competitors, organizations can deploy n8n on their own infrastructure while maintaining access to advanced customization through JavaScript and Python code injection within workflows.

Can n8n handle complex business workflows with multiple approval steps?

Yes, n8n supports sophisticated workflow logic including conditional branching, loops, error handling, and multi-step approval processes. Its visual interface makes complex workflows manageable while custom code nodes enable advanced business logic that simpler automation tools cannot support.

How does n8n's pricing compare to competitors like Zapier or Make?

n8n offers a free self-hosted option with unlimited workflows, while cloud plans start at €20/month. This contrasts with task-based pricing from competitors that can become expensive for high-volume or complex automations. Organizations running many multi-step workflows often find n8n more cost-effective.

What level of technical expertise is required to use n8n effectively?

n8n serves both technical and non-technical users through its visual interface, though advanced features benefit from JavaScript knowledge. Basic automations require no coding, while complex workflows may need custom logic. The large template library helps users get started quickly regardless of technical background.

How does n8n integrate with existing business systems and tools?

n8n provides over 400 native integrations plus HTTP request nodes that connect to any API-accessible system. This enables integration with popular business tools, databases, cloud services, and custom applications. Organizations can connect virtually any system that offers API access, making n8n suitable for diverse technology stacks.

n8n Review: Features, Pricing, Pros & Cons

n8n is a powerful open-source workflow automation platform that has become increasingly popular among IT teams, developers, and operations professionals who need more than basic "if this, then that" automation.

Unlike closed-source alternatives, n8n combines visual workflow building with deep programmability, allowing organizations to create sophisticated automations while maintaining complete control over their data and infrastructure.

Many internal support teams use n8n not just for simple task automation—but for orchestrating complex multi-step workflows, integrating disparate systems, and building custom solutions that scale with their growing operational needs.

What Is n8n?

n8n (pronounced "n-eight-n") is an open-source, low-code workflow automation platform designed to help organizations automate repetitive tasks, integrate diverse applications, and orchestrate complex business processes without requiring extensive programming knowledge. Built with a visual node-based interface, users create workflows by connecting "nodes"—each representing a specific action, trigger, or data transformation step.

Originally developed in 2019 by Jan Oberhauser, n8n has rapidly gained adoption among technical teams, startups, and enterprises that need flexible, customizable automation solutions. Its user base spans from individual developers to large organizations, with particularly strong adoption among IT administrators, DevOps teams, and operations professionals who require both ease-of-use and advanced customization capabilities.

What is n8n used for?

n8n serves as a central automation hub for organizations looking to streamline operations and eliminate manual work across their technology stack.

Common use cases for n8n include:

IT Service Management - Automate ticket routing, password resets, user provisioning, and system monitoring alerts to reduce manual IT overhead and improve response times
Data Synchronization - Keep CRMs, databases, and business applications synchronized in real-time, ensuring consistent information across all systems without manual data entry
Employee Onboarding - Orchestrate multi-step onboarding workflows that provision accounts, send welcome emails, update HR systems, and notify relevant teams automatically
Marketing Automation - Create personalized campaigns, lead scoring workflows, and social media management processes that respond to customer behaviors and business triggers
DevOps Operations - Automate deployment notifications, error monitoring, incident management, and system health checks to streamline development and operations workflows
E-commerce Processing - Handle order fulfillment, inventory updates, customer notifications, and payment processing workflows across multiple platforms and vendors
AI-Powered Workflows - Integrate language models and AI services for document processing, content generation, and intelligent data analysis that scales with business needs

Key Features of n8n

n8n's comprehensive feature set makes it suitable for both simple automations and enterprise-scale workflow orchestration:

Open Source Architecture provides complete transparency and customization freedom, allowing organizations to modify the platform, contribute improvements, and deploy on their own infrastructure for maximum data control.
Visual Workflow Builder enables users to create complex automations through an intuitive drag-and-drop interface while supporting custom JavaScript or Python code injection for advanced logic and data processing.
Extensive Integration Library connects with over 400 applications including databases, CRMs, communication tools, and cloud services, plus HTTP nodes that enable integration with any API-accessible system.
Self-Hosting Capabilities allow organizations to deploy n8n on their own infrastructure, maintaining complete control over sensitive data while meeting compliance requirements for regulated industries.
Advanced Debugging Tools include real-time workflow visualization, step-by-step execution monitoring, data replay functionality, and comprehensive logging that simplifies troubleshooting and optimization.
Enterprise Security Features support SSO integration, role-based access control, audit logging, encrypted credential storage, and multi-environment deployment for production-ready implementations.
Community Templates offer over 600 pre-built workflows and 1,700+ templates that accelerate deployment while enabling teams to share and reuse automation patterns across organizations.

n8n Pricing

n8n offers flexible pricing models to accommodate different organizational needs and technical capabilities.

Plan	Price	Key Features
Starter	$20/month	2.5k workflow executions, 5 active workflows, unlimited test ones, hosted by n8n, 1 shared project, 5 concurrent executions, unlimited users, forum support
Pro	$50/month	10k workflow executions, 15 active workflows, unlimited test ones, hosted by n8n, 3 shared projects, 20 concurrent executions, 7 days of insights, admin roles, global variables, workflow history, execution search
Enterprise	Custom	Custom number of workflow executions, unlimited active workflows, self-hosted (or hosted by n8n), unlimited shared projects, 200+ concurrent executions, 365 days of insights, SSO SAML and LDAP, different environments, external secret store integration, log streaming, version control using Git, scaling options, extended data retention, dedicated support with SLA, invoice billing

n8n offers a 14-day free trial without the requirement of a credit card.

n8n Pros & Cons

Understanding n8n's strengths and limitations helps organizations make informed automation platform decisions.

n8n Pros

Open-source architecture eliminates vendor lock-in while providing complete customization control
Self-hosting options ensure data sovereignty and compliance with strict security requirements
Visual interface combined with full programming capabilities serves both technical and non-technical users
Extensive integration library plus HTTP nodes enable virtually unlimited connectivity
Strong community support provides ongoing templates, documentation, and troubleshooting assistance
Cost-effective scaling without per-user or per-task pricing restrictions

n8n Cons

Steeper learning curve compared to simple no-code alternatives
Self-hosting requires infrastructure management expertise and ongoing maintenance
Lacks natural language interface for non-technical users to create and manage workflows
Missing AI-powered request classification and intent recognition capabilities
Documentation gaps for advanced features may require community support
Limited native customer support compared to commercial SaaS platforms
No built-in employee-facing chat interface for triggering workflows
Complex workflows can become difficult to visualize and manage at scale

When n8n Isn't Enough: Meet Siit

While n8n excels at technical workflow automation, organizations often need more than just backend processes to create seamless employee experiences. Siit addresses the critical gaps in n8n's capabilities by providing:

AI-Powered Natural Language Interface that allows employees to trigger complex workflows through simple conversational requests in Slack or Microsoft Teams
Intelligent Request Classification that automatically categorizes and prioritizes incoming requests without manual tagging or routing
Employee-Facing Experience Layer that keeps technical complexity hidden while providing intuitive interfaces for request submission and tracking
Contextual Knowledge Retrieval capabilities that enhance workflows with relevant information from company documentation, previous interactions, and HRIS integration that provides important employee context to deliver more personalized and effective support
No-Code Request Management enabling internal support teams to autonomously create advanced service flows without relying on IT or programming expertise
Advanced Analytics Dashboard providing real-time visibility into internal operations by tracking request volume, response times, team performance, and workflow efficiency across all support channels in a unified interface
Automated Request Triage that uses AI to determine urgency, route appropriately, and suggest solutions before escalation
Enterprise-Grade Support with dedicated success managers who ensure optimal implementation and ongoing optimization

n8n Alternatives

Several workflow automation platforms compete with n8n, each offering different approaches to process automation and system integration:

Zapier provides the largest integration library with over 6,000 apps and exceptional ease-of-use, though it lacks n8n's customization depth and self-hosting options for organizations with specific data requirements.
Make (formerly Integromat) offers advanced visual workflow building with strong conditional logic and error handling, supporting over 1,500 integrations while maintaining more flexibility than Zapier but less than n8n's open architecture.
Microsoft Power Automate integrates deeply with Microsoft ecosystem tools and offers AI-powered workflow suggestions, making it ideal for organizations already invested in Microsoft 365 but limiting flexibility outside that ecosystem.
Pipedream targets developers with serverless, event-driven workflows that support custom code in multiple programming languages, providing n8n-like flexibility through a more code-centric approach.

Apache Airflow serves data engineering teams with Python-based workflow orchestration and enterprise-grade scheduling, offering maximum technical control but requiring significant development expertise compared to visual alternatives.

An Overview of n8n for IT Service Management