FAQ from n8n
What is n8n?
n8n is an open-source, developer-centric automation platform that unifies AI orchestration with enterprise-grade workflow engineering. It empowers teams to build, deploy, and govern intelligent automations — from simple API glue to adaptive AI agents — with complete control over data, models, and infrastructure.
How to use n8n?
Design workflows visually or programmatically — then extend them with AI logic using native LLM nodes, custom Python functions, or dynamic prompt templating. Integrate cURL, webhooks, or SDKs in seconds. Debug with precision: replay individual steps, simulate inputs, and validate outputs before going live — all within one unified environment.
What are executions and how are they different from other products?
An “execution” is a single, atomic run of your entire workflow — from trigger to final output. n8n bills per execution, not per node or API call, making costs predictable and scalable. This reflects actual work done, not infrastructure overhead — aligning pricing with business value.
What is the difference between active workflows and test workflows?
Active workflows run automatically on schedule or event triggers and count toward your plan’s monthly execution limit. Test workflows remain inactive until manually triggered — ideal for development, QA, or sandbox experimentation — and consume zero quota.
Can I deploy n8n on-premise?
Absolutely. n8n is designed for full-stack autonomy: deploy via Docker, Kubernetes, or bare metal in your own VPC — even in air-gapped environments. You retain full ownership of data, AI models, and runtime — with optional integration into existing IAM and logging stacks.
What are the performance limits of n8n?
Cloud plans scale automatically; self-hosted instances handle ~220 concurrent executions/sec per CPU core (tested with mixed AI + API workloads). Horizontal scaling is supported via Redis-backed clustering — enabling enterprise-grade throughput and fault tolerance.
Is n8n secure and where is data stored?
Cloud instances process and store data exclusively in Frankfurt, Germany (EU), compliant with GDPR and ISO 27001. Self-hosted deployments give you full jurisdictional control — including private LLM hosting, encrypted secrets management, and end-to-end TLS. All plans include RBAC, audit trails, and SSO enforcement.