How to Use n8n: A Beginner's Guide to Workflow Automation

n8n is a fair-code workflow automation platform that connects your apps and APIs with a visual, node-based editor. Unlike closed alternatives, you can self-host it for free and extend it with custom code, which is why it has become the automation tool of choice for technical teams.

Every n8n workflow starts with a trigger — a webhook, a schedule, or an app event — followed by nodes that transform data and act: send an email, update a sheet, call an AI model. Your first workflow can be as simple as 'when a form is submitted, summarize it with AI and post to Slack'. Build it once and it runs forever.

The fastest way to learn is by importing templates. Our free n8n template library includes ready-made workflows for Google Sheets, Telegram, OpenAI, webhooks, and more — copy the JSON, import, add credentials, done.