n8n

n8n is a workflow automation platform aimed at technical teams that combines a node-based visual canvas with the ability to write custom code (JavaScript or Python, plus npm packages on self-hosted instances) at any point in a workflow. Workflows can be triggered by app events, schedules/cron, chat, event streams, webhooks or other workflows, and can route, merge, loop, filter, deduplicate, split and aggregate data. The platform ships native AI capabilities: AI nodes and agents built on LangChain, retrieval-augmented question answering over documents, model choice across providers (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, or open-source/local models), MCP client and server support, human-in-the-loop approval steps, guardrails, and native evaluation tooling for testing AI reliability.

The product is distributed as source-available "fair-code" software under the Sustainable Use License plus a separate n8n Enterprise License. It can be run via npx, Docker (docker.n8n.io/n8nio/n8n), Kubernetes, air-gapped private networks, or n8n's hosted cloud. Data can be stored in SQLite by default or PostgreSQL, and a queue execution mode allows scaling across worker instances. Enterprise-oriented capabilities include SSO via SAML and LDAP, RBAC and project-scoped permissions, encrypted secret stores with external secret managers (AWS Secrets Manager, Azure Key Vault, GCP, HashiCorp Vault, Infisical), audit logs and log streaming to SIEM tools, workflow history and diffs, Git-based source control with isolated environments, and SOC 2 audit status with external penetration testing.

Published customer examples include Vodafone (threat-intelligence and SOAR workflows, cited as saving £2.2 million), Huel (reported 1,000 hours of manual work saved), and SanctifAI (human-in-the-loop task routing across 400+ workforces). Press coverage additionally lists Volkswagen, Delivery Hero, Decathlon, KPMG, Twitch and the United Nations as users.

Founding story

Jan Oberhauser founded the project in 2019 as a response to the constraints of rigid automation platforms such as Zapier and Make, aiming to combine developer-grade control with accessibility for non-technical users. The name is short for "nodemation" (pronounced n-eight-n) — "node" for its node-based view and Node.js, "-mation" for automation — chosen and abbreviated because longer domain names were taken and the CLI name needed to be short. Oberhauser has said he started n8n to remove repetitive tasks from his own work.

Business model

Open-core style commercial model around a source-available ("fair-code") core: the community edition is free to self-host, while a paid n8n Enterprise License unlocks additional features and support, and a hosted cloud offering is sold as a subscription. Enterprise sales are supported by a "talk to sales" motion and a 14-day free trial without credit card for the cloud product.

Paid cloud subscriptions and enterprise licenses layered on a free self-hostable community edition; annual recurring revenue was reported to exceed $40 million as of October 2025, having grown roughly 10x during 2025.

Traction

Reported 6x user growth and 10x revenue growth during 2025, ARR above $40 million, and 10x year-over-year usage growth as of October 2025. Community and distribution metrics include 201.4k GitHub stars, 60.3k forks, 200k+ community members/active users, 100M+ Docker pulls, 1500+ integrations and 9,000+ workflow templates.

Latest developments

In October 2025 the company announced a $180 million Series C led by Accel at a $2.5 billion valuation, taking total funding to $240 million, with proceeds directed at expanding integrations, enabling third-party node development and distribution, extending the product beyond the canvas into new interfaces, scaling the enterprise platform and growing in the US. Recent product work cited includes Evaluations, Data Tables, MCP enablement for calling n8n workflows from external AI clients, natural-language workflow generation, and a multi-model internal chat interface.