Automation platform
n8n automation
n8n gives you visual workflow automation that you can run on your own infrastructure. That means your data stays where you decide, there is no charge per task, and a developer can add code when a connector falls short. We build and run n8n for teams that want that control.
- 1,200+ clients helped
- Building since 2010
- 15 services, one team
- 50+ technologies
At a glance
What it is
n8n is a workflow automation tool that can run on your own servers, with a visual editor, many connectors, and the option to add code when a step needs it.
Problems it solves
Hosted automation tools charge per task, send your data through a third party, and limit what you can customize.
Who it suits
Teams with high automation volumes, data-handling rules, or technical staff who want control, and AI-workflow builders.
How to choose
Choose n8n when control, volume, or data location matter and someone can run it. Choose a hosted tool when you want zero upkeep.
What it means
Visual workflows with an open door to code
n8n is a workflow automation tool with a visual editor. Its code is available to read, it can be hosted by you or by n8n, and workflows can include code steps and calls to any service that has an API (a set of agreed requests that programs can make).
For many teams the deciding factors are practical: workflows that process thousands of items would be costly on per-task pricing, or the data involved should not leave the company's own environment.
It also suits AI-related workflows, where steps call language models, search documents, and decide what to do next, because custom steps are easy to add.
Options
Hosted by n8n or run by you?
The tool is the same. What differs is who looks after it.
What matters most to you?
Choose this when
You want it to work, and have no one to run servers.
- What you get
- The hosted service, which handles updates and availability.
- Keep in mind
- Data passes through the provider, and plans set limits.
Choose this when
Rules or customers require that data stays in your environment or region.
- What you get
- n8n on your own cloud or servers, with access controls you set.
- Keep in mind
- Someone must patch, back up, and monitor it. We can do this for you.
Choose this when
Thousands of items a day make per-task pricing expensive.
- What you get
- Self-hosting with queued workers, so cost follows servers instead of task counts.
- Keep in mind
- Scale needs design, including queues and database sizing.
Alternatives
n8n compared with the alternatives
n8n
This pageSuits
Control, volume, and workflows that mix visual steps with code.
- Trade-off
- Needs someone to run it if self-hosted.
Suits
Simple chains across common apps, with no upkeep.
- Trade-off
- Per-task pricing and fewer options for custom logic.
Suits
Visual workflows with strong data tools, fully hosted.
- Trade-off
- Data runs through the provider.
Suits
Microsoft-centered organizations.
- Trade-off
- Strongest inside its own ecosystem.
How it runs
What a self-hosted n8n set-up involves
Running it yourself means a small stack of parts, each with a job.
What a self-hosted n8n set-up involves
Layers from top to bottom. Workflows; n8n service; Database and queue; Hosting; Monitoring.
- WorkflowsBuilt and reviewed in the visual editor.
- n8n serviceRuns workflows, on a schedule or when triggered.
- Database and queueStores workflows, history, and waiting jobs.
- HostingA server or containers, with backups.
- MonitoringAlerts when a workflow or the service fails.
What DECHY can do
Working with n8n
Build
- Workflows connecting your tools, with code steps where needed.
- AI-assisted workflows that read, sort, and draft.
Host
- Set-up on your cloud, with access control.
- Backups, updates, and monitoring.
Scale
- Queued workers for high volume.
- Cost reviews against hosted alternatives.
Hand over
- Documentation and naming standards.
- Training for your team.
Technical depth
How we build with n8n
Our engineering choices on deployment, reliability, and security, written for the people who will own the system after launch.
We run it in containers with Docker, use PostgreSQL instead of the default file database, put it behind a reverse proxy with encryption, and keep workflows and credentials in version control and a secrets store.
- Queue mode with separate workers for heavier loads.
- Error workflows that alert on failure and retry safely.
- Pinned versions, tested upgrades, and tested backups.
- Single sign-on and role limits for editors.
- Separate credentials per environment, with the least access needed.
Common questions
Questions about n8n
Is self-hosting n8n free?
The software has a free self-hosted option with license terms you should read for your use. The real cost is hosting and the time to run it, which we can handle.
Can n8n use AI models?
Yes. Workflows can call language models, search documents, and use the results in later steps. We add checks and limits around those steps.
Is it harder to use than Zapier?
A little, because it offers more control. Simple workflows are comparable. We build and document them so your team can follow along.
Who fixes it when something breaks?
That is agreed at the start. We can monitor and repair it, or train your team to.
Have a different question?
Tell us what you are weighing up and we will answer it plainly.
Ask a questionAlready a client? Email support@dechytech.com
Tell us your volume and your data rules
Describe the workflows, how many items they handle, and where data may go. We will recommend hosted or self-hosted and plan the build.