n8n
Free node based Workflow Automation Tool. Easily automate tasks across different services.
The license is not an approved open-source license. Read it before you rely on the app.
- GitHub stars
- 207,158
- License
- Apache-2.0, Commons-Clause
- Latest release
- stable
12 October 2026 - Last commit
- 13 October 2026
- Runs on
- Node.js
Commits per month, last 12 months
9,435 commits
Replaces
Paid products n8n can stand in for.
How to self-host n8n
n8n runs on Node.js. The project's own install guide is the place to start; most people put it on a small server with Docker and a reverse proxy for HTTPS.
- Get a server: a home server, a VPS, or a managed app host.
- Install it the way the project's docs describe, usually with Docker Compose.
- Put it behind HTTPS and set up backups before you add real data.
- Update it regularly. Watch the project's releases.
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Guides that cover it
How to self-host n8n with Docker Compose (2026 guide)
Step by step: run n8n with Docker Compose and Traefik for HTTPS, set N8N_ENCRYPTION_KEY and the webhook URL, back up the right data and update safely.
Self-hosted Zapier alternatives: n8n, Activepieces and more
n8n, Activepieces, Node-RED, Huginn, Automatisch and Kestra compared as self-hosted Zapier alternatives, including what their licenses really allow.
Questions
Is n8n free?
n8n's source code is available under Apache-2.0, Commons-Clause, which is not an approved open-source license. It may restrict commercial use or redistribution, so read the license before you depend on it.
Can I self-host n8n?
Yes. n8n runs on Node.js. Follow the install guide in the project's documentation, or use a host that installs it for you.
What does n8n replace?
People use n8n instead of IFTTT, Make, Microsoft Power Automate or Zapier.
Is n8n still maintained?
The last change to n8n's code was on 13 October 2026, with 9435 commits in the last 12 months.
Topics
App data from awesome-selfhosted (CC BY-SA 3.0), stars and activity from GitHub.