automation

n8n: Automate Your Startup's Workflows Without Coding Headaches

Name: n8n: Automate Your Startup's Workflows Without Coding Headaches
Author: n8n-io

Build complex automations visually or with code, connecting 400+ services, all while keeping total control by self-hosting or using cloud. Perfect for founders wanting flexible workflow solutions.

190,713 stars58,213 forksTypeScriptUpdated 6/2/2026100% free · open source

What it does

n8n is a workflow automation platform that allows founders to visually build and customize automations, connecting over 400 services, with the flexibility of self-hosting or using the cloud.

When to use it

•When you need to automate complex workflows across multiple services without relying on proprietary platforms
•When you want to leverage AI capabilities in your workflow automation without requiring extensive coding knowledge
•When you require a high degree of customization and control over your automation workflows

Quick start

1Run 'npx n8n start' to start the n8n server
2Access the n8n web interface at http://localhost:5678
3Create a new workflow by clicking the 'Add Workflow' button and selecting a trigger node from the available nodes
4Configure the trigger node by setting the required parameters, such as API credentials or webhook URLs, and then connect it to an action node
5Execute the workflow by clicking the 'Execute Workflow' button and verify the results

Ready-to-paste prompt

Create a workflow that sends a Slack notification whenever a new email is received in Gmail by using the 'Gmail' trigger node and the 'Slack' action node, and configure the workflow to run every 5 minutes