n8n

n8n is an open source workflow automation platform founded in 2019 in Berlin, Germany, by Jan Oberhauser. The name 'n8n' is a numeronym for 'nodemation' (n-8 letters-n). Designed as a self-hostable alternative to proprietary automation tools, n8n allows users to connect different services and create automated workflows through a visual node-based editor. The platform bridges the gap between simple no-code automation tools and complex programming, offering a 'fair-code' approach that provides the benefits of open source with a sustainable business model.

The platform offers over 400 built-in integrations (called nodes) covering popular services like databases, APIs, messaging platforms, CRMs, and more. Workflows are created by connecting nodes in a visual canvas, with support for conditional logic, loops, error handling, sub-workflows, custom JavaScript/Python code execution, webhooks, scheduled triggers, and AI agent capabilities. n8n also provides a built-in credential store, execution history, and version control for workflows.

n8n has become one of the fastest-growing open source automation projects, with over 40,000 GitHub stars and a passionate community of users and contributors. The platform can be self-hosted for free or used via n8n Cloud, which is hosted on European infrastructure. As a German company, n8n operates under EU data protection laws, making it an attractive choice for European businesses that want powerful workflow automation without sending their data through US-based services.