Automating Workflows with n8n: Why I Use It and Why You Might Too

n8n is an open-source workflow automation platform that allows users to connect various services and APIs to automate repetitive tasks without relying on SaaS pricing models. It offers over 350 integrations, a visual editor, and event-driven automation capabilities. Use cases include marketing automation, DevOps monitoring, data pipelines, and e-commerce workflows. Setting up n8n is straightforward, and it balances simplicity for non-developers with flexibility for developers, making it a valuable tool for reducing repetitive work.
Sakib Rahman
Sep 24, 2025
3 min read
127 views

If you’ve ever found yourself copy-pasting data between tools, writing yet another one-off script to connect APIs, or juggling a dozen SaaS dashboards every day, you know the pain of repetitive work. That’s exactly where n8n comes in a tool I’ve been exploring recently, and honestly, it has quickly become one of my favorites for automation.

So, What Exactly is n8n?

n8n (short for “node”) is an open-source workflow automation platform. Think of it as a more developer-friendly version of Zapier or Integromat. It lets you connect different services, APIs, and databases, and build workflows that run automatically, without needing to reinvent the wheel each time.

The best part? You can host it yourself, customize it however you want, and you’re not locked into someone else’s SaaS pricing model. For developers and teams who care about data ownership and flexibility, this is a huge plus.

Why I Like Working with n8n

When I started tinkering with n8n, a few things immediately stood out:

  • It’s open-source and self-hostable. You can run it locally, on a server, or even in Docker/Kubernetes. This gives you full control.
  • It comes with 350+ integrations. Google Sheets, Slack, GitHub, AWS, databases - you name it.
  • The editor is visual, but not limiting. You can drag-and-drop nodes, but you can also write custom JavaScript if you need more control.
  • Event-driven automation. Workflows don’t just run on a schedule - they can trigger when something happens (like a new file uploaded, or a webhook received).

For me, it strikes the right balance between low-code convenience and developer power.

Real-Life Use Cases

Here are a few scenarios where n8n shines:

  • Marketing automation: A new lead fills out a form → n8n saves it to a CRM → sends a Slack notification → triggers a welcome email.
  • DevOps monitoring: When a server goes down → log the issue → create a GitHub ticket → ping the on-call engineer.
  • Data pipelines: Fetch data from an API → transform it → insert it into PostgreSQL or BigQuery.
  • E-commerce workflows: Automate order tracking, payments, and shipping updates.

Basically, if you can describe a process, you can probably build it in n8n.

Getting Started (It’s Easier Than You Think)

Setting up n8n is surprisingly straightforward. You can install it globally with npm:

bash
npm install n8n -g
n8n start

Or, if you’re like me and prefer containers:

bash
docker run -it --rm \
  -p 5678:5678 \
  -v ~/.n8n:/home/node/.n8n \
  n8nio/n8n

Then just head over to http://localhost:5678 in your browser, and you’ll find a clean visual editor waiting for you. From there, it’s drag-and-drop nodes, configure credentials, and connect the dots.

Why n8n is Worth a Try

There are plenty of automation tools out there, but what sets n8n apart is the balance of simplicity and flexibility. It’s approachable for non-developers, but at the same time, it doesn’t box developers in. You can go as deep as you want with scripting, custom nodes, and API integrations.

For me, it’s a tool that reduces repetitive work and lets me focus on more interesting problems. If you’re curious about automation, I’d definitely recommend giving it a try.

n8n
Automation
Productivity
WorkflowAutomation
LowCode
NoCode