n8n Beginner Guide: From Zero to First Workflow in 10 Minutes
Complete n8n tutorial for beginners. Install n8n, understand nodes and workflows, and build your first automation.
What Is n8n?
n8n (pronounced “n-eight-n”) is a free, open-source workflow automation tool. Think of it as Zapier or Make, but you can self-host it for free with unlimited workflows. It has 190,000+ GitHub stars and a growing community.
Installing n8n (3 Options)
Option 1: n8n Cloud (Easiest)
Sign up at n8n.io. Free tier includes 20 workflow executions/month. Paid plans from $20/month.
Option 2: Self-Host with Docker (Recommended)
Run docker run -p 5678:5678 n8nio/n8n on your server. Full control, unlimited workflows, completely free.
Option 3: Desktop App
Download the n8n desktop app for Mac/Windows/Linux. Runs locally. Good for testing.
Key Concepts
- Workflow: A sequence of automated steps
- Node: One step in a workflow (trigger, action, or logic)
- Trigger: The event that starts the workflow (webhook, schedule, email received)
- Connection: Links between nodes that pass data
Your First Workflow in 5 Minutes
Instead of building from scratch, start with a pre-built template. Browse our n8n templates — each includes a PDF setup guide and has been tested 3+ times. Import the JSON file, add your API keys, done.