WORKFLOW AUTOMATION

What is n8n?

n8n is workflow automation software. You connect triggers, data and actions into visual workflows so repeated jobs can happen without you manually moving information between services.

What can you automate?

Typical examples include saving form submissions, moving files, sending notifications, updating databases, transforming data, calling APIs and orchestrating AI tools. The useful question is not “what can n8n connect to?” but “which repeated task is worth automating?”

Cloud or self-hosted?

You can use n8n as a managed cloud service or run it yourself. Self-hosting gives you control over the server, database and network environment, but it also makes updates, backups, credentials and uptime your responsibility.

What does self-hosting need?

For a small personal deployment, the core needs are modest: an always-available machine, persistent storage and a way to protect credentials. Workflows that process large files, run code, call many services or use AI can create very different resource demands.

Why credentials matter

Automation tools often hold access tokens, API keys and passwords for the services they connect to. Treat the n8n instance as sensitive infrastructure. Backups and exports can contain secrets, so they need the same care as the live server.

Check the licence before using it commercially

n8n's community edition is source-available under its Sustainable Use License rather than a conventional permissive open-source licence. Personal and internal business automation can fit comfortably, while hosting workflows for clients or embedding n8n into a product can require a commercial licence. Check n8n's current terms for your use case.

Go deeper

• What hardware does n8n need?
• Self-hosted n8n vs n8n Cloud
• How to build a small self-hosted automation server

Next: what hardware does n8n need? or build a small automation server.