N8n
 | |
| Original author(s) | Jan Oberhauser |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | n8n GmbH |
| Initial release | June 2019.[1] |
| Stable release | 1.95.2
/ 2025/05/29 |
| Repository | github n8n |
| Written in | TypeScript |
| Engine | |
| Operating system | Cross-platform |
| Type | Task automation |
| License | Sustainable Use License[2] |
| Website | n8n |
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n8n (pronounced “n-eight-n”) is a free and source-available, fair-code licensed workflow and Business process automation tool. Created in 2019 by Jan Oberhauser and maintained by n8n GmbH of Berlin, Germany, it lets users build complex automations via a visual, drag-and-drop interface. It supports both self-hosting and a cloud-hosted service.
History
n8n was first published in June 2019.[3]
In March 2020, n8n secured a $1.5 million seed round co-led by Sequoia Capital and Firstminute Capital to develop its fair-code platform[4].
In April 2021, the platform raised $12 million in its Series A round led by Felicis Ventures, with participation from Sequoia and Harpoon Ventures[5]
Building on rapid AI-driven adoption, n8n closed a €55 million ($60 million) Series B in March 2025, led by Highland Europe and joined by HV Capital, Sequoia, Felicis, and Harpoon Ventures, at an approximate €250 million valuation[6]. As of that round, the company reported over 3,000 enterprise customers and around 200,000 active users.
Naming
The name n8n comes from “nodemation,” with the eight letters between the two “n” characters. “Node” refers to its Node.js foundation and “-mation” is shorthand for automation([7]).
Features
- **Open source fair-code license**: Community-driven and source-available with sustainable use terms.
- **Visual workflow editor**: Drag-and-drop node linking.
- **Extensible integrations**: Hundreds of built-in connectors plus custom code support.
- **Self-hosted or n8n.cloud**: Full control over data or turnkey cloud service.
- **Scheduling and triggers**: Cron, webhooks, event-based and AI-augmented workflows.
- **AI integrations**: Native support for LLMs and AI agents to streamline prompts into automations.
Reception
In April 2025, Hermann Fink of *The Digital Project Manager* praised n8n as “a self-hosted low-code powerhouse,” highlighting its open-source flexibility and extensive node library([8]). A March 2025 *Cybernews* review noted that n8n’s intuitive drag-and-drop interface makes complex workflows accessible to SMEs on a budget([9]).
Use cases
Common scenarios include:
- Data integration between CRMs and databases
- Automated reports and notifications via email, Slack or WhatsApp
- Social media posting and marketing campaign automation
- Web scraping and data processing pipelines
- AI-driven agents for customer support and lead enrichment
Technology and architecture
n8n is built on Node.js and TypeScript. Each step in a workflow is a “node,” and users wire nodes together into directed graphs. It can run as a standalone process, within Docker containers, or orchestrated on Kubernetes. Custom nodes allow arbitrary JavaScript/TypeScript code execution.
Installation
Docker : docker run -it --rm -p 5678:5678 n8nio/n8n
npm : npm install -g n8n
Cloud : Sign up at https://n8n.cloud for a managed environment.
See also
- Yahoo! Pipes
- Google Mashup Editor (discontinued in 2009)
- Mozilla Ubiquity
- Yahoo! query language
- Scratch programming language
- EMML
- Open Mashup Alliance
- WSO2 Mashup Server
- Node-RED
- Workflow (app) Apple acquired scripting app
- IFTTT
- Zapier
- Comparison of workflow automation tools
References
- ↑ "First commit". GitHub.
- ↑ "n8n/LICENSE". GitHub. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
- ↑ "Introduction". GitHub. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
- ↑ "n8n, a 'fair code' workflow automation platform, raises seed from Sequoia as VC firm steps up in Europe". TechCrunch. March 13, 2020. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ↑ "n8n raises $12M for its 'fair code' approach to low-code workflow automation". TechCrunch. April 26, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ↑ "Fair-code pioneer n8n raises $60M for AI-powered workflow automation". TechCrunch. March 24, 2025. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ↑ Source "n8n: The workflow automation tool for the AI age". WorkOS. March 24, 2025. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ↑ Source "n8n Workflow Automation Software Review For 2025". TheDigitalProjectManager. Apr 22, 2025. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ↑ Source "n8n review (2025)". Cybernews. Mar 7, 2025. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
External links
This article "N8n" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:N8n. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
