What is n8n and why businesses use it
n8n is an open-source automation platform. You assemble a workflow from blocks: "a lead arrives from the website" → "create a deal in the CRM" → "post a Telegram alert". The chain then runs on its own, around the clock.
The name reads as "n-eight-n", short for nodemation — from node, the building block of every workflow.
n8n vs Zapier vs Make
All three connect apps. The difference is the pricing model: Zapier and Make charge per operation, while n8n can run on your own server, where you only pay for the server.
| n8n (self-hosted) | Zapier | Make | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billing | server only, from €5/month | per task | per operation |
| 10,000 operations | price unchanged | above entry tier | above entry tier |
| Data location | your server | vendor cloud | vendor cloud |
| Custom code | JavaScript and Python | limited | limited |
The rule of thumb: below a few thousand operations a month, Zapier is faster to start. Once the automation bill passes €40–50 per month, moving to self-hosted n8n usually pays for itself within two months — that migration is our n8n agency service.
What people actually automate
- Leads: website form → CRM record → task for a manager → Telegram alert in seconds.
- Documents: invoices generated from a template, sent to the client, payment status written back.
- Reports: CRM, ad accounts and spreadsheets merged into one scheduled report.
- Stock: warehouse, website and marketplaces kept in sync.
- AI steps: a Claude or GPT node reads an email, extracts the data and decides where it goes.
What you need to start
- A server. A €5 VPS is enough; n8n Cloud removes the admin work for a fee.
- Domain and HTTPS. Required for webhooks — services only post to secure endpoints.
- API credentials for your CRM, email and messenger.
- A described process. The important one: automating chaos multiplies chaos.
Cost
The platform itself is free under a fair-code licence for internal company use. Your costs are the server (€5–20 per month) and the workflow build: a simple chain from €380, a 20+ node scenario from €900.
The downsides nobody mentions
- Someone has to watch it. A vendor changes an API, the workflow breaks — without failure alerts you notice through missing leads.
- Steeper learning curve than Zapier.
- Self-hosted means self-updated.
FAQ
Is n8n free?
Free for internal use; you pay for hosting. Reselling n8n as your own service requires a licence.
Do I need to code?
Not for standard workflows — they are built visually. Code helps with non-standard data handling.
Can Zapier scenarios be migrated?
Yes, one to one. Ten production chains take about a week including testing.
Want automation for your own process? Get in touch — we will tell you what to automate first and how much it saves.
Read next
Self-hosted n8n: Docker setup and maintenance
What to prepare before installing, running n8n in Docker with PostgreSQL, HTTPS and webhooks, the encryption key, backups, updates and first-month mistakes.
How to choose an automation contractor
Seven questions to ask before signing, three signs of vendor lock-in, and what a serious proposal actually looks like.
Warehouse and marketplace automation: where to start
Step by step: one source of truth for stock, orders from every channel, shipping and tracking numbers. What takes a week and what needs an accounting system.