n8n

n8n.io is a workflow automation tool designed to help small business owners and operators streamline their daily tasks and boost efficiency without needing to be a tech expert.

It can connects all your different business apps – like your email, CRM, accounting software, and more – to work together seamlessly.

Contents

1. Company Background
2. Code, Low Code & No Code
3. Data Transformation
4. Data Validation
5. Testability
6. Deployability
7. On-prem, Cloud & Hybrid
8. Full Stack Consulting's Verdict

Company Background

n8n (pronounced "n-eight-n") is a workflow automation tool that was founded in 2019 by Jan Oberhauser in Berlin, Germany.

The origin story of n8n stems from Oberhauser's recognition of a growing need for a more accessible and flexible automation tool. He envisioned a platform that could seamlessly connect various applications and services without requiring complex coding, thus simplifying automation processes for a wider audience, from small startups to large enterprises.

The company was launched with the mission to provide a powerful yet user-friendly platform for automating workflows. A key differentiating factor for n8n from its inception has been its open-source nature, offering users greater control, scalability, and flexibility compared to some other proprietary solutions. This open-source approach has also fostered a community of developers who contribute to its ongoing development.

Since its founding, n8n has gained significant traction, evidenced by its successful funding rounds (raising $73.1M in funding as of March 2025) and its continuous evolution with new features and integrations. The company has focused on enhancing usability, functionality, scalability, and performance to meet the diverse needs of its growing user base.

Code, Low Code & No Code

n8n is a versatile workflow automation platform that caters to a wide range of users by supporting no-code, low-code, and native code approaches:

• No-Code: For users with no programming experience, n8n offers a highly visual, drag-and-drop interface. You can build automated workflows by connecting pre-built "nodes" (representing different applications or tasks) without writing a single line of code. This makes automation accessible to business users and non-technical staff, allowing them to participate in process improvement and build solutions visually.
• Low-Code: n8n truly shines in its low-code capabilities, bridging the gap between non-technical users and experienced developers. While it provides a visual interface, it also allows users to embed custom JavaScript or Python code within "function nodes" when more complex logic or bespoke integrations are required. This flexibility is ideal for users who need highly customized solutions that go beyond what pre-built nodes can offer, without having to build everything from scratch. It minimizes programming effort while maintaining the power for sophisticated customization.
• Native Code/Developer-Led: For experienced developers and technical teams, n8n provides the freedom and control to work with native code. You can write custom JavaScript or Python code, add external libraries (npm packages for self-hosted instances), and even integrate with APIs using HTTP request nodes. This enables developers to build highly complex, custom automations, create new nodes, and fine-tune workflows for specific needs. It's particularly appealing for technical teams who want the speed of a visual builder combined with the precision and extensibility of code, and who may want to deploy and manage n8n on their own infrastructure (self-hosting).

In summary, n8n is designed to be accessible to a broad audience, offering a spectrum of capabilities that allow users to choose their preferred level of interaction with code, from purely visual no-code development to full native code customization.

Data Transformation

n8n offers robust capabilities for data mapping and transformation, designed to handle a wide range of scenarios, from simple field renames to complex data manipulation.

n8n provides a variety of built-in nodes specifically for data transformation and flow control, making it flexible for different use cases:

• Core Transformation Nodes: ++ Code: Allows for highly customized data manipulation using JavaScript and Python, enabling complex logic that might not be covered by pre-built nodes. This is crucial for intricate transformations and unique business rules. ++ Date & Time: Provides ready-made functions for date conversions, formatting, and extracting specific parts (year, month, day, etc.). ++ Edit Fields (Set/Rename): Simplifies renaming existing fields or assigning new values to data fields. ++ Filter: Filters data based on specified conditions, allowing workflows to process only relevant information. ++ Limit: Restricts the number of data items processed, useful for managing data flow and preventing overload. ++ Remove Duplicates: Cleans data by identifying and removing duplicate entries based on all fields or a subset. ++ Split Out: Divides a single data item containing a list into multiple individual items, enabling processing of each element separately (e.g., sending personalized emails to a list). ++ Merge: Combines data from two or more sources into a single output, useful for integrating information from different APIs or databases. ++ Aggregate: Groups data and performs calculations, similar to pivot table functionality in spreadsheets. ++ Convert to File / Extract from File: Handles file format conversions (e.g., JSON to CSV) or extracts data from files. ++ Sort: Organizes data lists in a desired order.
• Data Mapping: n8n facilitates data mapping by allowing users to reference data from previous nodes within expressions. This enables the restructuring of fields for clarity and ensuring consistent data flow throughout the automation.

n8n is generally considered to have a steeper learning curve than, say, Zapier due to its node-based interface and the flexibility it offers for custom code. While it has a visual builder, understanding data passing and expressions requires some technical understanding. However, for users who invest time in learning, the UI is often described as intuitive and powerful for building complex automations. It's often preferred by developers and technical teams.

n8n excels in handling complex workflows, high data volumes, and intricate data transformations, especially with its support for JavaScript and Python in "Code" nodes. This allows for deep customization and manipulation of data structures, access to file systems, and complex HTTP requests. It's often the tool of choice for advanced use cases, ETL processes, data synchronization, and projects requiring strict data privacy or custom backend automation. It can integrate with AI technologies via LangChain for intelligent data processing.

This contrasts with tools like Zapier that have are more limited in their data manipulation capabilities.

Data Validation

While n8n doesn't have a single, dedicated data validation node as a core built-in feature, it offers several powerful ways to implement data validation rules within your workflows:

• Code Nodes
• Conditional Logic
• Community-Contributed Nodes

In essence, n8n provides a highly customizable environment for data validation. While simple checks can be done with conditional logic, its true strength in validation lies in the ability to integrate custom code and external validation libraries, allowing it to handle even the most complex and bespoke data quality requirements. The active community also contributes nodes that streamline common validation patterns.

Testability

n8n offers strong interactive testing and debugging capabilities within its visual editor. For more advanced or enterprise-level scenarios, its extensibility through custom code nodes and the ability to integrate with external testing tools allow for more comprehensive and automated testing strategies, although this often requires a developer-led approach.

Deployability

n8n offers highly flexible deployment options, catering to a wide range of user needs, from individuals and small businesses to large enterprises with specific infrastructure and control requirements. Its deployability is a significant advantage, especially compared to many closed-source iPaaS solutions.

• n8n Cloud (Managed Service/SaaS)
• Self-Hosting (On-Premise or Private Cloud)

Full Stack Consulting's Verdict

It is early days for us working with n8n, but so far we like what we see, a lot.

Next Steps

Would you like our indepent view of whether n8n is right for your business?

If so, get in touch today.