n8n

What it does

n8n is a workflow automation platform. You build flows on a visual canvas: a trigger starts the flow, and nodes pull data from apps, transform it and push it somewhere else. You can write JavaScript or Python anywhere in a flow, and call any API with the HTTP Request node when no ready-made node exists.

It lists more than 500 integrations, a library of more than 10,000 templates and nodes for building AI agents with your own data. You can run it on n8n's managed cloud or deploy it yourself, including with Docker. The code is available on GitHub under n8n's own licence, which is source-available.

Why you would need it

Simple automations are easy anywhere. The pain shows up when flows get complex: parallel branches, loops, error handling, custom logic. Or when volume grows and you pay per task. Or when your data cannot leave your own servers.

n8n handles those cases. What changes is that a flow you would split over several Zaps lives in one canvas, and cost follows executions and not steps.

Where it fits

n8n sits between your apps. Webhooks, schedules and app triggers feed it. It feeds your CRM, databases, chat tools and AI models. It is also an agent layer: it can call models, keep humans in the loop for approvals and show every step of an agent's reasoning on the canvas.

It replaces Zapier or Make for teams that want more control. It sits beside Pipedream as a developer-friendly option.

What stands out

• Code when you need it, UI when you do not. JavaScript or Python anywhere in a flow.
• Self-hosting. You can run it on your own infrastructure, so data stays where you put it.
• AI building blocks: agent nodes, human-in-the-loop approvals and an inspectable log of prompts and responses.
• A built-in MCP server, so AI clients can find, run and even build workflows.

My take

I have used Zapier for eight years, yet n8n has become my preferred platform for heavy automation. Setting up the cloud trial took minutes, and self-hosting in Docker was just as painless. The canvas works like a proper flow chart, so I can run parallel branches, insert code blocks and merge paths without splitting work across several Zaps.

I host client workflows on my own VPS, so costs stay flat even when automations run thousands of times. The form trigger, the templates and the AI assistant speed up building, and the forum is active. There are rough edges. Some smaller apps lack native nodes, so I make manual API calls. Debugging large flows can be fiddly, the interface is less polished than Zapier's, and colleagues who are not comfortable with JSON sometimes need guidance.

Verdict

Pick n8n if you have technical people, high volume or data rules that push you toward self-hosting. Skip it if your team is non-technical and wants something that just works. Zapier is the easier choice there.