n8n is an open-source workflow automation tool that's become essential for businesses looking to streamline operations without enterprise-level costs.
What is n8n?
n8n (pronounced "nodemation") lets you connect different apps and services to automate workflows. Unlike Zapier or Make, n8n can be self-hosted, giving you full control over your data.
Common Use Cases
1. Lead Management
- Capture leads from multiple sources
- Enrich with additional data
- Route to appropriate sales reps
- Create tasks in your CRM
2. Customer Support
- Auto-categorize incoming tickets
- Pull customer history from multiple systems
- Suggest responses based on similar tickets
- Escalate based on sentiment or urgency
3. E-commerce Operations
- Sync inventory across platforms
- Update listings automatically
- Process orders and notify shipping
- Generate reports and alerts
Getting Started
- Start small - Pick one painful manual process
- Map the workflow - Document each step before building
- Test thoroughly - Run with real data in test mode
- Monitor actively - Set up alerts for failures
n8n vs Zapier vs Make
| Feature | n8n | Zapier | Make | |---------|-----|--------|------| | Self-hosting | Yes | No | No | | Pricing | Free (self-hosted) | Per task | Per operation | | Complexity | High flexibility | Simple | Medium | | Support | Community | Enterprise | Business |
When to Get Help
Complex integrations, custom logic, and error handling often benefit from professional implementation. A well-built automation pays for itself in weeks.