n8n, the open source workflow automation platform, has grown into a serious alternative to Zapier and Make. For teams that want automation without sending data to third-party clouds, n8n is the default choice.
What n8n does
Visual workflow builder. 400+ integrations. Triggers, actions, conditions, loops. Connect your apps, transform data, and automate—all on your own infrastructure. Fair-code license: self-host for free; cloud offering for those who prefer it.
Why self-hosted automation matters
Zapier and Make process your data on their servers. For many use cases, that's fine. For sensitive workflows—CRM sync, internal tools, regulated data—you need control. n8n runs where you deploy it. Your data never leaves your perimeter.
AI integration
n8n has nodes for OpenAI, Anthropic, and Ollama. Use AI to summarize, classify, or transform data between steps. Run models locally with Ollama for zero cloud dependency.
Adoption
n8n has tens of thousands of GitHub stars and a growing enterprise customer base. The open source automation revival is underway.
Discussion
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