AI Automation & Agents  

Getting Started with n8n: The Open Source Workflow Automation Tool

What is n8n?

n8n (pronounced “n-eight-n”) is a powerful open-source workflow automation tool that lets you connect different apps and services with minimal coding. It works through a simple, visual interface where you build workflows by linking "nodes", each representing a task, action, or trigger.

Imagine automating tasks between Google Sheets, Slack, GitHub, APIs, databases, and more, all by just connecting the dots visually.

While it's often compared to tools like Zapier, n8n stands out for its flexibility. You can self-host it, customize it to fit your needs, and even write custom JavaScript to extend functionality when needed.

With over 200 built-in integrations and the ability to create custom nodes, n8n is a great choice for automating everything from simple personal tasks to complex business processes.

Real-life Example

Let’s say you’re managing form submissions on your website. Every time someone fills out a contact form (stored in Google Sheets), you want to.

  1. Validate their email using an external API
  2. Notify your sales team in Slack

With n8n, you can stitch that all together in a few clicks using ready-to-go nodes for Google Sheets, HTTP requests, and Slack. No need to write a full-blown backend.

Why Should You Use n8n?

  1. Open source: you can host it on your own server, giving you full control
  2. Time-Saving: Automate repetitive tasks like data syncing or notifications.
  3. Cost-Effective: Open-source and free to self-host, with a cloud option for convenience.
  4. Flexible: Supports hundreds of apps and custom integrations via HTTP requests.
  5. User-Friendly: The drag-and-drop interface makes it accessible for non-coders.
  6. Self-Hosted Option: Control your data by hosting n8n on your own server.
  7. Flexible: supports branching, loops, and logic that Zapier just can’t handle
  8. Customizable: add JavaScript wherever you need advanced logic
  9. Huge library of nodes: integrates with hundreds of tools out of the box
  10. Growing community: frequent updates and community-contributed nodes

If you've ever wished for a tool that mixes visual simplicity with developer power, n8n might be exactly what you need.

Where Can You Use n8n?

You can use n8n pretty much anywhere repetitive work needs automating.

  1. Businesses: Automate CRM updates, marketing campaigns, or customer support tasks.
  2. Developers: Build custom integrations or connect APIs without writing extensive code, triggering DevOps pipelines (e.g., when code is pushed to GitHub).
  3. Freelancers: Streamline invoicing, social media posting, or project management, and send automated marketing emails when forms are submitted.
  4. Personal Use: Automate reminders, calendar events, or data backups.

When is n8n the Right Choice?

Use n8n whenever you need to connect apps that don’t natively integrate or want to eliminate manual tasks. You’ll find n8n especially useful when.

  1. You need self-hosting for privacy, security, or compliance reasons
  2. You want to use JavaScript logic or condition branching
  3. You're connecting to internal tools or custom APIs
  4. Syncing Google Sheets with a CRM daily.
  5. Sending Slack notifications when a new email arrives.
  6. Scheduling social media posts across platforms.

How to Get Started?

Here’s a step-by-step guide to creating your first n8n workflow, complete with an example.

Prerequisites

  • Basic understanding of how apps and APIs work.
  • Familiarity with JSON (optional but useful for advanced workflows).
  • A computer with Docker or Node.js for self-hosting, or an account for n8n’s cloud version.

You have two main options.

Option 1: Use n8n Cloud

The fastest way to get started is just to sign up and go.

Option 2: Run Locally with Docker

Step 1. Install n8n

Install Docker and run//.

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

Once it's running, go to http://localhost:5678 and start building!

Your First Workflow (Step-by-Step)

Let’s build a simple flow

Goal: SMS & Email Follow-Up System with n8n + Twilio

Objective

Build a fully automated SMS and email outreach system.

  • Re-engage existing contacts from Google Sheets
  • Send segmented SMS & Email follow-ups
  • Tag responses
  • Track engagement in Google Sheets

Steps

Here’s the step-by-step breakdown of your n8n workflow from the screenshot below.

WorkFlow

  • Webhook: Receives the trigger request with required data.
  • Switch (mode: Rules): Routes the workflow based on whether the incoming data is for a Buyer or Dealer.
  • Set Template & FollowUp_Step (Manual): Assigns the appropriate message template and follow-up step based on the recipient type.

Email Path

  • Send a message (Gmail): Sends the email to the recipient.
  • Set_Email_Field_value (JavaScript): Sets/Formats the email-specific data fields.
  • Update_Email_Info (Google Sheets): Updates the email tracking sheet with the sent email details.
  • Log Email (Google Sheets): Appends a log entry for the sent email.

SMS Path

  • HTTP Request (Twilio API): Sends the SMS to the recipient via Twilio API.
  • Set_SMS_Field_value (JavaScript): Sets/Formats the SMS-specific data fields.
  • Update_SMS_Info (Google Sheets): Updates the SMS tracking sheet with the sent SMS details.
  • Log SMS (Google Sheets): Appends a log entry for the sent SMS.

HTTP


What You Should Know Beforehand?

You don’t need to be a pro to start with n8n. But a few basics will help.

  • Understand APIs and how data flows as JSON
  • Know a little JavaScript (helpful, not mandatory)
  • Be familiar with tools like Google Sheets, Slack, or REST APIs

Bonus Use Cases

Here are some real-world automations you can build.

  • GitHub → Jira: Automatically create a Jira ticket for new GitHub issues
  • RSS → Telegram: Send blog updates to a Telegram channel
  • Twilio SMS: Log messages into a database
  • Upload to S3: Trigger an email alert

n8n hits the sweet spot between ease of use and developer power. Whether you're a non-techie trying to automate manual tasks or a developer building complex logic across APIs, n8n gives you the tools to build powerful workflows without getting stuck in boilerplate code.

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