What it is
n8n is a visual automation tool. You connect apps, APIs and AI models with nodes instead of writing a whole program, and you add code where you need it. n8n Cloud is the paid, hosted version. The Community Edition is the version you run yourself.
Why it matters
- You don't need a monthly bill to learn it. Cloud's Starter plan is €20 a month; the self-hosted Community Edition costs nothing.
- Your data stays on your machine.
- What you build can move with you. Workflows export as JSON, so you can move them to a server or to Cloud later.
Get started
Install Docker Desktop and open it, then run:
docker volume create n8n_data
docker run -it --rm --name n8n -p 5678:5678 -v n8n_data:/home/node/.n8n n8nio/n8nOpen localhost:5678 and create your owner account. Your workflows are saved in the n8n_data volume, so they survive restarts.
Before you use it
- It only runs while your laptop does. Close the terminal and your workflows stop. For triggers that run around the clock, you need a server; any small VPS works.
- Webhooks from the internet can't reach localhost without a tunnel.
- It's fair-code, not open source. n8n's Sustainable Use License lets you use it free for your own business or personal projects, but not resell it as a hosted service.
- Some business features need a paid licence, even self-hosted. The pricing page shows which ones.
