n8n Automation Platform: The Developer-Friendly Alternative

n8n addresses specific pain points that businesses face with traditional automation platforms.

Key Advantages

When n8n Makes Sense

• Data Residency Required: Government, healthcare, legal, or any business needing US data sovereignty
• High Volume: Processing thousands of executions daily where per-task pricing becomes expensive
• Custom Requirements: Need to extend automation with custom code or internal API integrations
• Developer Teams: Technical staff who can manage infrastructure and appreciate code access
• Cost Sensitivity: Startups or projects where automation platform costs must stay minimal

n8n offers two deployment options, each with distinct trade-offs for businesses.

Deployment Comparison

n8n Cloud Pricing (USD Approximate)

Self-Hosting Options for US Businesses

Here's how to set up n8n and build your first workflow, whether using Cloud or self-hosted.

Quick Start: n8n Cloud

Self-Hosted Setup (Docker)

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

version: '3'
services:
  n8n:
    image: n8nio/n8n
    restart: always
    ports:
      - "5678:5678"
    environment:
      - N8N_BASIC_AUTH_ACTIVE=true
      - N8N_BASIC_AUTH_USER=admin
      - N8N_BASIC_AUTH_PASSWORD=your-secure-password
      - N8N_HOST=your-domain.com
      - N8N_PORT=5678
      - N8N_PROTOCOL=https
      - WEBHOOK_URL=https://your-domain.com/
    volumes:
      - n8n_data:/home/node/.n8n
volumes:
  n8n_data:

n8n Interface Walkthrough

Here are proven n8n workflows that businesses use in production.

1. Xero Invoice Processing

2. Lead Capture to HubSpot

3. ServiceM8 Job Automation

4. Content Distribution Pipeline

n8n offers excellent AI integration capabilities, making it powerful for intelligent automation.

Native AI Nodes

AI Workflow: Document Q&A System

AI Workflow: Intelligent Email Processing

LangChain Integration

n8n's AI Agent node uses LangChain under the hood, enabling:

• Tool Usage: AI can call other n8n nodes as "tools" to gather information
• Memory: Maintain conversation context across interactions
• Chain of Thought: Multi-step reasoning for complex problems
• Custom Chains: Build sophisticated AI pipelines

What sets n8n apart from purely no-code platforms is the ability to drop into code when needed.

Code Node

Execute JavaScript or Python directly within your workflow:

// Access input data
const items = $input.all();

// Transform each item
const transformed = items.map(item => ({
  name: item.json.firstName + ' ' + item.json.lastName,
  email: item.json.email.toLowerCase(),
  value: parseFloat(item.json.amount) * 1.0825, // Add sales tax
  timestamp: new Date().toISOString()
}));

return transformed.map(data => ({ json: data }));

# Available in n8n with Python execution enabled
import json
from datetime import datetime

data = _input.all()
results = []

for item in data:
    # Custom business logic
    score = calculate_lead_score(item['json'])
    results.append({
        'json': {
            'original': item['json'],
            'score': score,
            'processed_at': datetime.now().isoformat()
        }
    })

return results

HTTP Request Node

Connect to any API, no integration needed:

Custom Nodes

Build your own n8n nodes for internal systems or specialised requirements:

• Internal APIs: Create nodes for your proprietary systems
• Industry Tools: Build integrations for niche American software
• Complex Logic: Encapsulate sophisticated business rules
• Reusability: Share nodes across workflows and teams

Here's how n8n stacks up against the major automation platforms for businesses.

Comprehensive Comparison

Choose n8n When...

• Data sovereignty is required (government, healthcare, legal)
• Volume is high and per-execution costs become prohibitive
• Technical team can manage self-hosting
• Custom integrations needed for internal systems
• Advanced AI workflows with LangChain/vector stores

Choose Zapier When...

• Quick setup matters more than cost optimisation
• Non-technical users need to build automations
• Maximum integrations needed out of the box
• Support and reliability are priority over flexibility

Choose Make When...

• Visual complexity needed (lots of branching)
• Better value than Zapier but not ready for self-hosting
• Middle ground between ease and power