n8n

n8n is an open-source workflow automation tool that gives technical teams the power of Zapier with the flexibility of code. It connects 400+ apps and services through a visual node-based editor, and when the built-in nodes aren't enough, you drop into JavaScript or Python directly inside the workflow. Self-host it for free, or use n8n Cloud.

Market opportunity

The workflow automation market is worth $6B+ and projected to exceed $25B by 2030 as every business tries to reduce manual work. Zapier dominates the no-code side at $19–$799/month, with usage-based pricing that spikes unpredictably as teams automate more. Make.com (formerly Integromat) is cheaper but still cloud-only. n8n's self-hosted option means no per-task charges, no data leaving your infrastructure, and no pricing surprises — a huge selling point for companies automating high-volume or sensitive workflows. With 48,000+ GitHub stars, n8n is the most-starred workflow automation tool in open source.

Technical overview

• Stack: Node.js + TypeScript, Vue.js editor, SQLite or PostgreSQL for storage.
• Nodes: 400+ integrations including Slack, Notion, HubSpot, Salesforce, Airtable, Google Workspace, and every major API.
• Code nodes: write JavaScript or Python inline to transform data, call external APIs, or handle edge cases.
• Triggers: webhooks, cron schedules, email, database changes, and app events.
• AI nodes: native LangChain integration, OpenAI, Anthropic — build AI agents that take real-world actions.
• Self-hostable: single Docker command, runs on any cloud or on-premise.

Who's it for

DevOps and engineering teams automating internal processes, SaaS companies building workflow features into their products, agencies offering automation services to clients, and anyone who has hit Zapier's pricing ceiling.

Get started

Self-host:

docker run -it --rm --name n8n -p 5678:5678 \
  -v ~/.n8n:/home/node/.n8n \
  n8nio/n8n

Open http://localhost:5678, create your account, and build your first workflow. Drag in a trigger (e.g., "Webhook" or "Schedule"), connect it to an action node (e.g., "Slack — Send Message" or "Postgres — Execute Query"), and activate.

Quick workflow example — send a Slack alert when a new row is added to Postgres:

1. Add a Postgres Trigger node (watches for INSERT events)
2. Add a Slack node → "Send Message"
3. Map {{ $json.name }} into the message
4. Activate the workflow

For production, run n8n on a $5–$10/month VPS with a domain and SSL. Use PostgreSQL as the database for reliability and workflow history.