What is n8n? The Open-Source Workflow Automation Platform Explained

TL;DR — 3-4 sentence summary covering what n8n is, key differentiators (open-source, self-hosted, fair-code license), who should use it, and primary benefits vs. cloud alternatives n8n is an open-source workflow automation platform that lets you connect apps, APIs, and AI models without writing extensive code. Unlike cloud-only competitors like Zapier or Make.com, n8n operates under a fair-code license and offers self-hosting options, giving you complete control over your data, workflows, and infrastructure costs. It’s ideal for developers who need custom integrations, operations teams managing sensitive data, and organizations wanting to avoid per-execution pricing that scales unpredictably with cloud alternatives. ...

February 21, 2026 · 9 min · AI Flow Lab

How to Connect n8n to OpenAI and Build an AI Chatbot Workflow

1 Why n8n + OpenAI for Chatbot Automation n8n’s open-source workflow automation platform combined with OpenAI’s language models creates a powerful foundation for building intelligent chatbots without vendor lock-in. Unlike proprietary platforms like Zapier or Make.com, n8n gives you complete control over your data, hosting options, and customization depth—critical when handling customer conversations or sensitive business logic. ...

February 21, 2026 · 8 min · AI Flow Lab

Automating Email Workflows with n8n and Gmail: Complete Guide

1) Why Automate Gmail with n8n vs Other Tools n8n offers distinct advantages for Gmail automation compared to Zapier, Make.com, and custom Python scripts. The platform provides self-hosted control over your email data, eliminating per-task pricing that can quickly escalate with high-volume workflows. While Zapier charges $29.99/month for 750 tasks and Make.com starts at $10.59/month for 10,000 operations, n8n’s open-source version runs free on your infrastructure. ...

February 21, 2026 · 9 min · AI Flow Lab

Zapier vs n8n for AI Workflows: A Practical Comparison

TL;DR Zapier excels at speed and simplicity for AI workflows, offering 6,000+ pre-built integrations and native AI features like ChatGPT, Claude, and OpenAI nodes. It’s ideal for marketers and non-technical teams who need quick automation—think sentiment analysis on customer emails or auto-generating social media content from blog posts. However, costs escalate rapidly: AI-heavy workflows can consume 10-20 tasks per execution, and you’ll pay $29.99/month minimum for premium AI apps. ...

February 21, 2026 · 9 min · AI Flow Lab

n8n AI Agent Nodes: Building LLM-Powered Workflows Step by Step

TL;DR n8n’s AI Agent nodes let you build intelligent workflows that combine large language models with your existing tools and APIs. Instead of hardcoding every decision path, AI agents can reason through problems, call the right tools, and adapt to different scenarios—all within your n8n workflows. What you’ll learn: How to configure AI Agent nodes with OpenAI, Anthropic Claude, or local models; connect tools like Google Sheets, Slack, and PostgreSQL; implement memory for context-aware conversations; and handle errors when AI agents make unexpected decisions. ...

February 21, 2026 · 8 min · AI Flow Lab

Make.com Tutorial for Beginners: Your First AI-Powered Workflow

TL;DR Make.com (formerly Integromat) is a visual workflow automation platform that lets you connect apps, APIs, and AI services without writing code. In this tutorial, you’ll build your first AI-powered workflow that monitors Gmail for customer inquiries, uses OpenAI’s GPT-4 to generate personalized responses, and saves conversation summaries to Google Sheets. ...

February 21, 2026 · 9 min · AI Flow Lab