n8n – The Open-Source Workflow Automation Powerhouse with AI Superpowers

n8n (pronounced “n-eight-n”) is a fair-code licensed, open-source workflow automation tool that lets you connect 400+ apps, APIs, and services with no-code/low-code nodes—think Zapier or Make, but self-hostable and infinitely customizable. Launched in 2019 and exploding in popularity (10M+ downloads in 2025), it’s the go-to for devs, ops teams, and automation enthusiasts who want full control, privacy, and scalability. In 2025, native AI nodes (LLMs, vector stores, agents) make it a true AI orchestration platform—building multi-step agents that reason, loop, and self-correct.

Key Features (2025 Edition)

400+ Native Nodes — Connect everything: Google Sheets, Slack, Discord, databases, CRMs, GitHub, custom APIs.
AI Nodes & Agents — Built-in LLM chains, embeddings, RAG, tool calling; create autonomous agents with memory/loops.
Visual Builder — Drag-and-drop workflows with branching, error handling, scheduling.
Self-Hosting — Docker/K8s deploy; full data ownership (no third-party servers).
Code Flexibility — Custom JS/Python nodes for complex logic.
Community & Templates — 10,000+ community nodes/templates; marketplace for AI agents.
2025 Upgrades — Native vector DB support, multi-agent orchestration, improved debugging, enterprise SSO/scaling.

Where You Can Use n8n

DevOps/IT → Sync data, automate alerts, CI/CD pipelines.
Marketers → Lead routing, content distribution, social posting.
AI Builders → Chain LLMs with tools (RAG bots, data enrichment agents).
Startups/SMBs → Replace expensive SaaS stacks.
Indian Teams → Self-host for compliance; integrate local apps (Razorpay, UPI).

Free or Paid?

Community Edition — $0 forever – Self-hosted, full features (including AI nodes).
Cloud Starter — ~$20/month – Hosted, easy scaling.
Pro/Enterprise — $50+/month – Team collab, SSO, audit logs, priority support. Self-hosting is free and most popular.