Workflow automation is undergoing a seismic shift, and Berlin’s n8n is at the center of this transformation. Since its founding in 2019 by Jan Oberhauser, n8n has rapidly become a powerhouse in the business and productivity software sector, blending open-source transparency with enterprise-grade AI automation. With a recent €55 million Series B round led by Highland Europe and a valuation nearing €250 million, n8n is not just another automation tool—it’s redefining how technical teams build, secure, and scale their processes.
What Sets n8n Apart in the Automation Arena?
At its core, n8n is an open-source, fair-code workflow automation platform designed for developers and technical teams. Unlike traditional automation tools that force a trade-off between visual simplicity and code-level control, they delivers both. Users can construct complex, multi-step workflows using a drag-and-drop interface or dive deep into code with JavaScript and Python, integrating custom libraries and even pasting cURL requests directly into their flows.
The platform’s flexibility is a game-changer for enterprises and government agencies demanding transparency, data control, and security. With over 400 integrations and 1,700+ templates, they empower organizations to connect disparate applications, automate repetitive tasks, and orchestrate sophisticated AI agent flows. Notably, n8n’s AI-native features allow users to embed models like GPT-4 as decision-makers within their workflows, a capability that has driven a surge in adoption and market enthusiasm.
Growth by the Numbers
n8n’s trajectory is impressive by any standard. After pivoting to become more AI-friendly in 2022, the company saw its revenues increase fivefold, with a doubling in just the last two months before its Series B raise. Today, n8n boasts more than 3,000 enterprise customers and around 200,000 active users worldwide, with over half its user base in the United States. The platform’s community is equally robust, with 100+ contributors and a weekly release cadence that keeps innovation at the forefront.
The company’s funding journey underscores its momentum:
- Seed Round (2020): $1.5 million led by Sequoia
- Series A (2021): $12 million led by Felicis Ventures
- Series B (2025): €55 million (approx. $60 million) led by Highland Europe, with participation from HV Capital, Sequoia, Felicis, and Harpoon VC
Real-World Impact: Efficiency at Scale
The value of n8n is best illustrated through its impact on customers. StepStone, for example, reduced a two-week integration project to just two hours using their workflows. Delivery Hero saved 200 hours per month on IT operations with a single workflow, while Musixmatch reclaimed 47 days of engineering time in just four months. These aren’t isolated wins—n8n’s case studies span industries from ITSM to marketing, demonstrating consistent gains in efficiency, reliability, and scalability.
Security, Control, and Community
Security-conscious organizations gravitate to n8n for its fully on-premise deployment option, encrypted secret stores, advanced RBAC permissions, and audit logging. The platform supports SSO SAML, LDAP, version control, and multi-user workflows—features essential for enterprises and government agencies. Its open-source foundation and active GitHub community ensure transparency and rapid evolution, while its fair-code license model guarantees ongoing accessibility.
Why n8n Is Different
n8n’s unique blend of open-source flexibility, AI-native automation, and enterprise-grade security sets it apart from competitors like Zapier and Make.com. While other platforms offer thousands of integrations, n8n’s code-first approach and HTTP Call node allow teams to connect virtually any tool with an API, making it a true “super glue” for modern tech stacks.
The company’s commitment to fair pricing is also notable. The self-hosted version is free, with cloud-hosted plans starting at just €20 per month, ensuring accessibility for startups and large enterprises alike.
n8n is not just another automation tool. It’s a catalyst for digital transformation, empowering organizations to harness the power of AI and automation without sacrificing control or transparency. As businesses race to automate, n8n’s open, flexible, and AI-native approach is setting a new standard for what workflow automation can achieve.
- https://n8n.io
- https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/24/fair-code-pioneer-n8n-raises-60m-for-ai-powered-workflow-automation/
- https://www.hostinger.com/ph/tutorials/what-is-n8n
- https://n8n.io/case-studies/
- https://nicksaraev.com/n8n-vs-make-2025/
- https://datascientest.com/en/n8n-an-overview-of-the-workflow-automation-tool
- https://n8n.io/press/
- https://n8n.io/pricing/
- https://nocodestartup.io/en/n8n/
- https://www.marketermilk.com/blog/n8n-alternatives
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