n8n

What is n8n?

n8n is a workflow automation platform you can self-host, combining a visual node editor with the ability to drop into JavaScript or Python when a step needs custom logic. It has grown into a common home for AI work: agent nodes, vector database connectors, memory, tool calling and model providers are first-class building blocks rather than add-ons, so a retrieval or agent workflow can sit next to ordinary business automation. Fair-code licensing and self-hosting matter to teams with data residency rules, and the node library covers hundreds of services.

Last updated: 2026-09-20. This site only provides an index; for exact features, pricing, and licensing, see the official website.

Key features

• Visual node-based workflow editor with branching and loops
• Native AI agent, chain and memory nodes with tool calling
• Self-hosting with Docker plus a managed cloud option
• Custom code steps in JavaScript or Python inside a workflow
• Hundreds of integration nodes for common business services
• Vector store and embedding connectors for retrieval workflows

Pros & cons

Strengths

• Self-hosting keeps sensitive data inside your own infrastructure
• AI agents and ordinary automation live in one workflow
• Code steps prevent the visual editor from becoming a dead end

Watch out for

• Self-hosting means you own upgrades and uptime
• Complex workflows need real engineering discipline
• The learning curve is steeper than simpler no-code tools

Best for & use cases

technical teams, self-hosted automation, ai agent workflows and internal tooling

If you're comparing similar products, check the alternatives below, or browse all tools in the AI Agents & Automation category.

FAQ

Similar tools