Hiveflow
Visual workflow orchestration for AI agents and automation
n8n
Fair-code workflow automation platform with native AI capabilities
n8n combines visual workflow building with custom code flexibility. Self-host or use cloud, leverage 400+ integrations, and build AI agent workflows with full data control.
Overview
Workflow Automation for Technical Teams
n8n is a fair-code workflow automation platform designed for developers and technical teams who need the flexibility of code combined with the speed of visual building. With 400+ pre-built integrations and 900+ ready-to-use templates, n8n enables teams to automate complex workflows without sacrificing control or customization.
AI-Native and Code-Flexible
Unlike traditional no-code tools, n8n lets you write JavaScript or Python directly in your workflows, import npm packages, and build AI agent workflows based on LangChain. The platform supports native AI capabilities, allowing you to integrate your own data and models into sophisticated automation pipelines.
Deployment on Your Terms
With a fair-code license, n8n offers genuine self-hosting options alongside managed cloud deployment. Enterprise features include advanced permissions, SSO, and air-gapped deployments. Whether you're running workflows locally via npx, deploying with Docker, or scaling in production, n8n maintains your data sovereignty while delivering enterprise-grade automation capabilities. The active community and extensive documentation ensure you're never building alone.
Highlights
Write JavaScript/Python code inline or use visual interface with 400+ integrations
Build AI agent workflows with native LangChain support and custom models
Self-host with fair-code license or deploy to managed cloud infrastructure
Enterprise features: advanced permissions, SSO, and air-gapped deployments
Pros
- True code flexibility with JavaScript/Python and npm package support
- Fair-code license enables genuine self-hosting and data control
- Native AI and LangChain integration for building agent workflows
- Large ecosystem with 400+ integrations and 900+ workflow templates
Considerations
- Requires Node.js knowledge for advanced customization and local deployment
- Fair-code license differs from pure open-source (not OSI-approved)
- Learning curve steeper than pure no-code platforms due to code capabilities
- Enterprise features like SSO and advanced permissions require paid tiers
Managed products teams compare with
When teams consider n8n, these hosted platforms usually appear on the same shortlist.
Looking for a hosted option? These are the services engineering teams benchmark against before choosing open source.
Fit guide
Great for
- Technical teams needing workflow automation with custom code flexibility
- Organizations requiring self-hosted solutions with full data sovereignty
- Developers building AI agent workflows with LangChain and custom models
- Teams wanting to escape vendor lock-in with fair-code licensing
Not ideal when
- Non-technical users seeking pure drag-and-drop automation without code
- Teams requiring OSI-approved open-source licensing for compliance
- Organizations without technical resources to manage self-hosted deployments
- Simple automation needs adequately served by SaaS-only platforms
How teams use it
AI-Powered Customer Support Automation
Build LangChain-based agents that process support tickets, query internal knowledge bases, and route complex issues to human agents while maintaining data privacy through self-hosting.
Multi-System Data Synchronization
Connect 400+ integrations with custom JavaScript logic to synchronize data across CRM, marketing, and analytics platforms while transforming data formats on the fly.
Compliance-First Workflow Orchestration
Deploy air-gapped n8n instances with SSO for regulated industries, automating sensitive processes while maintaining complete data sovereignty and audit trails.
Developer Productivity Automation
Automate CI/CD pipelines, GitHub workflows, and deployment processes using custom Python scripts combined with pre-built integrations, reducing manual DevOps overhead.
Tech snapshot
TypeScript91%
Vue8%
SCSS1%
JavaScript1%
Python1%
Handlebars1%
Frequently asked questions
What does fair-code mean and how does it differ from open source?
Fair-code means the source code is publicly available and can be self-hosted, but with some usage restrictions that prevent it from being OSI-approved open source. n8n offers both self-hosting options and managed cloud services under this model.
Can I write custom code in n8n workflows?
Yes, n8n supports inline JavaScript and Python code within workflows. You can also import npm packages and use custom functions, giving you full programming flexibility alongside the visual interface.
How do the AI and LangChain capabilities work?
n8n provides native AI workflow nodes built on LangChain, allowing you to create AI agent workflows using your own data sources and models. You can build RAG pipelines, chatbots, and intelligent automation with full control over your AI infrastructure.
What's required to self-host n8n?
You can run n8n locally with Node.js using npx n8n, or deploy via Docker with a single command. For production, you'll need a server environment capable of running Node.js applications and optional database setup for persistence.
How many integrations does n8n support?
n8n offers 400+ pre-built integrations covering APIs, databases, cloud services, and business applications. The community also contributes custom nodes, and you can build your own integrations using the platform's extensibility features.
Project at a glance
Active- Stars
- 170,210
- Watchers
- 170,210
- Forks
- 53,852
Repo age6 years old
Last commit23 hours ago
Self-hostingSupported
Primary languageTypeScript
Last synced 23 hours ago