Is n8n The BEST Workflow Automation Tool? (Ep. 410)

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Feb 28, 2025

Unpack the world of n8n, the self-hosted automation tool that's shaking up the market. Explore its AI-powered features and the freedom it offers by keeping your data on-premise. Enjoy live demos that showcase automating email management and business prospecting seamlessly. The conversation also contrasts n8n with rivals like Zapier and Make, dissecting pricing and real-world applications. Plus, discover custom AI solutions that refine workflows while maintaining privacy and control.

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INSIGHT

What n8n Means

n8n stands for node-based workflow automation with a self-hosted open source approach.
The name also derives from "Notimation," meaning it replaces letters with numbers between nodes.

ADVICE

Use Ready Templates

Leverage n8n's ready templates to quickly implement workflows without building from scratch.
Explore categories like HR or sales in the template library to find useful starting points.

INSIGHT

Self-Hosting Advantage

The biggest advantage of n8n over Zapier and Make is the ability to self-host.
Self-hosting keeps data on-premise, which appeals to privacy-conscious businesses.

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Today’s episode is a deep dive into n8n, the open-source automation tool that is gaining traction as a self-hosted alternative to Zapier and Make. The team explores what makes n8n unique, including its AI-powered automation, self-hosting capabilities, and flexibility for businesses looking to keep data on-premise. Karl and Brian also share live workflow demos, showcasing how n8n can automate email management, research tasks, and business prospecting.

Is n8n worth switching to, or are Zapier and Make still better options? The team compares pricing, features, and real-world use cases to help you decide.

Key Points Discussed

🔴 What is n8n? – A self-hosted, open-source automation tool that allows users to create workflows with no-code and low-code options

🟡 Self-hosting advantage – Unlike Zapier or Make, n8n allows companies to keep their data on-premise instead of relying on cloud-based automation

🟡 AI-powered workflow automation – How n8n integrates AI models like OpenAI and Perplexity to enable decision-making automation

🔴 Live demo: AI-powered email agent – Karl walks through an automation that lets an AI agent manage email, label messages, and even respond

🟡 Live demo: Business prospecting workflow – Brian shows how n8n scrapes business contact details from Google Maps and structures them for outreach

🔴 Custom AI tools with n8n – How to build AI agents that can execute multi-step workflows, analyze data, and refine outputs

🟡 Error handling and monitoring – How n8n logs workflow executions and sends notifications when automations fail

🔴 Pricing and cost comparison – n8n charges per workflow execution, while Make and Zapier charge per individual action, making n8n more affordable for complex automations

🟡 Best use cases for n8n – When to use n8n over Make or Zapier and what industries benefit the most from self-hosted automation

#n8n #Automation #AIworkflows #OpenSource #Zapier #Make #BusinessAutomation #TechTools #NoCode

Timestamps & Topics

00:00:00 🎙️ [Introduction: What is n8n and Why Are People Switching to It?]

00:04:12 🔍 [n8n vs. Zapier vs. Make – Key Differences]

00:07:39 🛠️ [Self-Hosting and Why It Matters for Businesses]

00:12:31 🤖 [Live Demo: AI Email Agent That Manages and Responds to Emails]

00:18:52 📊 [Live Demo: Scraping Business Emails from Google Maps]

00:26:14 🚀 [How n8n Uses AI to Automate Decision-Making]

00:38:40 ⚠️ [Error Handling and Workflow Logging in n8n]

00:47:33 💰 [Cost Comparison – How n8n’s Pricing Model Works]

00:51:14 🏗️ [Best Use Cases for n8n and When to Use It Over Zapier or Make]

00:56:10 📢 [Final Thoughts and Where n8n is Headed Next]

The Daily AI Show Co-Hosts: Andy Halliday, Beth Lyons, Brian Maucere, Eran Malloch, Jyunmi Hatcher, and Karl Yeh