n8n for Beginners: Workflows, Pricing, AI & How to Get Started

Automation is no longer just for developers. Whether you’re running a small business, managing projects, or exploring artificial intelligence tools, connecting apps and removing manual work can save hours each week. Many people discover Zapier or Make first, but another option has been gaining huge interest in the UK: n8n.

Over the past year, searches for n8n have spiked, alongside related terms like artificial intelligence, intelligent agent, API, Docker, self-hosting, and even AI tools such as OpenAI, Claude, Gemini, and Perplexity AI. This shows that people aren’t just curious about automation — they want flexible, AI-powered workflows they can control.

This guide will introduce you to n8n, explain how it works, explore its pricing and setup options, and show why it’s one of the most exciting automation tools right now.

What is n8n?

n8n (pronounced “n-eight-n”) is an open-source workflow automation tool. It lets you connect apps, APIs, and data sources into automated workflows.

Think of it as a system that watches for events (like a new file upload or an email arriving) and then runs actions you’ve designed (like saving the file to cloud storage or posting a Slack notification).

Here are a few examples:

• A GitHub issue is created → Send details to your project manager on Slack

• A JSON file is uploaded → Parse the data and add it to a Google Sheet

• A customer email arrives → Summarise it using OpenAI or Claude and forward it

Each step is handled by a node. A node could connect to Gmail, GitHub, an HTTP API, or even run custom JavaScript with Node.js. By chaining nodes together, you create a workflow.

Why n8n is Growing in Popularity

Looking at recent Google Trends data, interest in n8n is rising alongside terms like automation, intelligent agent, Model Context Protocol, and AI tools. There are a few reasons for this surge:

• Artificial Intelligence integration – With n8n AI, you can add models like OpenAI’s GPT, Anthropic’s Claude, or Google’s Gemini into your workflows. That means tasks like analysis, summarisation, and text generation can happen automatically.

• Intelligent agents – n8n now makes it possible to build AI-driven systems that make decisions, not just pass data around. This is where concepts like the Model Context Protocol (MCP) are gaining traction.

• Flexibility – Unlike Zapier, which can feel limited, n8n gives you the power of APIs, JSON, and even raw HTTP requests. If an app has an API, you can likely connect it.

• Self-hosting options – Thanks to Docker and Docker Compose, you can install n8n on your own server or cloud provider (including Amazon Web Services) and stay in full control of your data.

This combination of AI + automation + self-hosting explains why n8n is trending in the UK and globally.

Getting Started with n8n

If you’re new, here are two main ways to begin:

1. Use n8n Cloud

The quickest route is to sign up through the n8n login page. You’ll get instant access to a hosted version with no setup required. This is perfect for beginners or anyone who doesn’t want to manage a server.

2. Install n8n Yourself

For more control, you can self-host n8n. The easiest way is with Docker or Docker Compose, which can be set up in minutes. Developers often prefer this route since it allows advanced customisation, private integrations, and access to raw server logs.

Workflows, Templates, and Tutorials

n8n is built around workflows. These are visual diagrams that show how your automation moves from trigger to action.

• Example: A “new email received” trigger → “AI agent analyses email” → “save summary to Notion.”

If you don’t want to start from zero, n8n offers templates for common use cases like data syncing, web scraping, or integrating GitHub with project tools.

For step-by-step learning, you can also find plenty of tutorials in the n8n docs and community forum. Beginners often start with something simple like “send myself a notification when a Google Sheet row changes.”

n8n Pricing: Free vs Paid

One of the most common searches is n8n pricing and is n8n free? The answer is straightforward:

• Self-hosted version – Completely free, thanks to the open-source licence. You can run it locally, on a VPS, or even on AWS.

• n8n Cloud – Paid, based on usage. This removes the hassle of installing, updating, or managing servers.

Compared with Zapier or Make, n8n is far more cost-effective if you’re willing to self-host. This makes it especially attractive for startups and tech-savvy individuals.

AI and Intelligent Agents in n8n

The hottest trend right now is adding artificial intelligence to workflows. n8n makes this accessible through integrations with:

• OpenAI (for text and chat models)

• Claude by Anthropic

• Gemini by Google

• Perplexity AI (for search and Q&A)

These can be combined with intelligent agents inside n8n. Imagine a workflow where:

1. An HTTP request pulls data from a website (web scraping)

2. The data is cleaned and stored as JSON

3. An AI model analyses patterns

4. A report is generated and emailed automatically

This is where automation shifts from “if-this-then-that” to systems that can actually reason, analyse, and adapt.

Learning Resources

If you want to dive deeper, start here:

• n8n Docs – Official documentation with detailed examples and parameters explained

• n8n GitHub – The open-source repository for contributing and exploring updates

• Community tutorials – Cover everything from simple installs to advanced AI workflows

1. Is n8n free?

Yes. n8n is completely free if you run it yourself. Because it’s open source, you can install it on your own computer, server, or even with Docker. If you prefer a managed service, you can pay for n8n Cloud, which handles updates, hosting, and scaling for you.

2. What can I do with n8n workflows?

Workflows let you automate tasks across apps. Examples include:

• Sending Slack messages when new issues appear on GitHub

• Parsing a JSON file and storing the data in Google Sheets

• Using an AI agent powered by OpenAI, Claude, or Gemini to analyse text and send results by email

3. Does n8n support artificial intelligence?

Yes. n8n now integrates with AI models such as OpenAI, Claude, Gemini, and Perplexity AI. These can act as intelligent agents inside your workflows, capable of analysing, summarising, or generating content automatically.

Conclusion

With automation and AI becoming everyday tools, n8n is well-placed to help beginners and professionals alike. Whether you want simple workflows, advanced AI-powered intelligent agents, or a free self-hosted server solution, n8n gives you the flexibility to start small and scale big.

If you’ve been waiting to explore automation, now is the time — and n8n is the perfect platform to begin.