n8n
n8n is an open-source, node-based workflow automation platform that connects apps, APIs, and custom code to automate processes. It provides a visual, drag-and-drop editor plus pre-built nodes and code nodes so teams can build integrations and automations without writing a full integration layer from scratch.
It is intended for developers, DevOps/SRE teams, and businesses that need customizable automations, data residency control, or cost-efficient automation at scale. n8n can run in n8n Cloud or be self-hosted (Docker, Kubernetes, or node), and self-hosting is often chosen where privacy, compliance, or predictable infrastructure costs matter.
Use Cases
- Application and API orchestration: sync records between CRMs, databases, messaging systems, and analytics stores.
- Event-driven automation: respond to webhooks, schedule jobs, or poll third‑party APIs for timely actions.
- ETL and data enrichment: transform, clean, and route data before storing or feeding ML/BI systems.
- Custom logic and integrations: embed JavaScript or Python for business rules or proprietary API handling.
- AI/LLM workflows: chain model calls, preprocess/postprocess text, and integrate with LangChain or OpenAI nodes.
- Compliance-sensitive deployments: keep data on-prem or inside a controlled cloud region for regulatory reasons.
Strengths
- Visual workflow editor — speeds development and makes complex automations approachable across teams.
- Large ecosystem (400+ nodes) — many common services are covered out of the box; an HTTP node fills remaining gaps.
- Self-hosting support — Docker, Docker Compose, and Kubernetes examples let you control data residency and network boundaries.
- Custom code nodes (JS & Python) — handle bespoke transformations or API quirks without external services.
- Production deployment options — supports SQLite for quick starts and Postgres plus worker/queue setups for scale.
- Cost-effective at scale — self-hosting often lowers per-action costs compared with SaaS when volume grows.
- API & CLI — automate n8n itself from CI/CD or infrastructure tooling.
- AI/LLM integrations — built-in and community nodes simplify model-based automations.
Limitations
- Operational overhead — installing, patching, backing up, and monitoring are your responsibility when self-hosted.
- Upgrade fragility — some upgrades require manual migration or careful testing; plan rollback paths.
- Stability and connection quirks — self-hosted setups can encounter WebSocket/proxy or "connection lost" issues unless reverse proxies and health checks are correctly configured.
- Resource growth with complexity — high-frequency or heavy-data workflows need proper sizing and possibly worker scaling.
- UX trade-offs — the interface is powerful but may be less polished for non-technical users than fully managed competitors.
- OAuth and third-party auth — OAuth redirect URLs and credentials sometimes require extra configuration in self-hosted environments.
Final Thoughts
Self-hosting n8n is a pragmatic choice when you need control of data residency, want to avoid per-action SaaS pricing at scale, or require custom code and integrations. It gives flexibility and extensibility, and a clear path from prototype (SQLite, single process) to production (Postgres, workers, Kubernetes).
However, self-hosting is not zero-maintenance. Choose self-hosting only if you can commit to ops tasks: backups, security patches, monitoring, and upgrade testing. Practical steps before committing:
- Estimate load and pick Postgres + worker/queue if you expect scale.
- Provision monitoring, health checks, and logging (to catch WebSocket/proxy issues early).
- Test upgrades in staging and keep a rollback plan for workflows and DB migrations.
- Validate OAuth flows and redirect configurations behind your reverse proxy or custom domain.
- Consider n8n Cloud if you prefer a managed SLA and reduced operational burden.