Getting Started with n8n: Your First Workflow Tutorial

Beginner n8n Tutorial Step-by-Step 📅 Last Updated: Nov 9, 2025

n8n is a powerful open-source workflow automation tool that lets you connect apps and automate tasks without writing code. This complete beginner's guide will walk you through building your first n8n workflow from scratch.

What is n8n?

n8n (nodemation) is a workflow automation platform that connects different apps and services together. Think of it as the glue between all your business tools - it can automatically move data, trigger actions, and coordinate complex processes across 400+ apps.

Unlike other automation tools, n8n is:

Open Source - You own your automations and can self-host for complete data privacy
Fair Pricing - Unlimited workflows and operations on paid plans, unlike competitors who charge per execution
Developer Friendly - Supports JavaScript, expressions, and custom nodes when you need advanced features
No-Code First - Visual workflow builder perfect for beginners and non-technical users

Getting Started: Setup Options

Option 1: n8n Cloud (Easiest)

The fastest way to get started is with n8n Cloud - a managed version where everything is set up for you.

Go to n8n.io and click "Try Cloud"
Sign up with your email
Verify your email and you're ready to build!

Free Tier: 5,000 workflow executions per month

Option 2: Self-Hosted (Full Control)

For complete data privacy and unlimited usage, you can self-host n8n. This requires basic server knowledge.

Docker (Recommended for self-hosting):


        docker run -it --rm --name n8n -p 5678:5678 -v ~/.n8n:/home/node/.n8n n8nio/n8n

Then open http://localhost:5678 in your browser

Understanding the n8n Interface

When you first open n8n, you'll see:

Canvas - The main area where you build workflows by connecting nodes
Node Panel - Left sidebar with all available nodes (triggers, actions, tools)
Workflow Tabs - Top area showing your open workflows
Execute Button - Top right, runs your workflow to test it

Key Concepts You Need to Know

1. Workflows

A workflow is a series of connected nodes that automate a specific process. Each workflow has one or more starting points (triggers) and can have unlimited action nodes.

2. Nodes

Nodes are the building blocks of workflows. There are three types:

Trigger Nodes - Start a workflow (e.g., "When new email arrives", "Every day at 9 AM", "When webhook receives data")
Regular Nodes - Perform actions (e.g., "Send Slack message", "Add row to Google Sheets", "Make HTTP request")
Core Nodes - Data manipulation (e.g., "Filter", "Merge", "Split", "Set")

3. Connections

Connections are the lines between nodes. They pass data from one node to the next. Data flows left to right in n8n.

4. Executions

An execution is when your workflow runs. You can see the data flowing through each node and debug any issues.

Your First Workflow: Webhook to Slack

Let's build a simple but practical workflow: When data is sent to a webhook URL, post a message to Slack. This teaches the core concepts and is useful for real-world integrations.

      What we'll build: A webhook that receives customer inquiries from your website and posts them to a Slack channel so your team is instantly notified.
    

Step 1: Add a Webhook Trigger

Click the "+" button on the canvas
Search for "Webhook" and select "Webhook" trigger
Set HTTP Method to "POST"
Set Path to "customer-inquiry"
Click "Listen for Test Event"

n8n will show you a URL like: https://your-instance.app.n8n.cloud/webhook/customer-inquiry

Step 2: Test the Webhook

Open a new browser tab and use this test URL (replace with your actual webhook URL):

Send test data:

You can use the browser or a tool like Postman. For testing, just paste your webhook URL in the browser's address bar with query parameters:


        https://your-instance.app.n8n.cloud/webhook/customer-inquiry?name=John&email=john@example.com&message=Interested+in+your+product

Back in n8n, you should see the test data appear in your webhook node! You'll see the query parameters in the node's output data.

Step 3: Add a Slack Node

Click the "+" after your webhook node
Search for "Slack" and select it
Click "Create New Credential"
Click "Connect my account" and authorize n8n
Select your Slack workspace
Choose "Post Message" as the operation
Select the channel where you want messages posted

Step 4: Customize the Slack Message

Now let's use the data from the webhook in our Slack message. In the Message field, we'll use n8n's expression syntax:

Message Template:


🆕 New Customer Inquiry

👤 Name: {{ $json.query.name }}
📧 Email: {{ $json.query.email }}
💬 Message: {{ $json.query.message }}

Time: {{ $now.format('YYYY-MM-DD HH:mm:ss') }}

Note: The {{ }} syntax lets you reference data from previous nodes!

Step 5: Test Your Workflow

Click "Execute Workflow" in the top right
Send another test request to your webhook URL
Watch the data flow through each node
Check your Slack channel - you should see the formatted message!

Step 6: Activate Your Workflow

Once testing is complete, activate your workflow so it runs automatically:

Click the toggle switch in the top right (it will turn blue)
Your workflow is now live and will run whenever the webhook receives data
You can track executions in the "Executions" tab

      🎉 Congratulations! You've just built your first n8n workflow! This same pattern (trigger → action → action) can be used for countless automations.
    

Common n8n Workflow Patterns

1. Scheduled Automation

Use Case: Send a daily report every morning at 9 AM

Pattern: Schedule Trigger → Fetch Data (API/Database) → Format Data → Send Email

2. Data Sync

Use Case: Keep your CRM and email marketing platform in sync

Pattern: Webhook/Polling Trigger → Transform Data → Update Record → Send Confirmation

3. Multi-Step Approval

Use Case: Route expense reports for manager approval

Pattern: Form Trigger → IF Node (Check Amount) → Send to Manager → Wait for Webhook → Update Status

4. Data Aggregation

Use Case: Collect data from multiple sources into one report

Pattern: Schedule → Fetch from API 1 → Fetch from API 2 → Merge → Google Sheets

Essential n8n Features

Expressions (Dynamic Data)

Use {{ }} to reference data from previous nodes or use functions:

{{ $json.fieldName }} - Access data from the previous node
{{ $now }} - Current date/time
{{ $workflow.id }} - Current workflow ID
{{ Math.random() }} - Use JavaScript functions

Error Handling

Add error handling to make your workflows robust:

Click the three dots on any node → "On error"
Choose "Continue with next items" or "Stop and error"
Add an Error Trigger node to handle failures

IF Nodes (Conditional Logic)

Use IF nodes to create different paths based on conditions:

Example: Only send high-priority alerts to Slack

Add an IF node after your trigger
Set condition: {{ $json.priority }} equals "high"
Connect true path to Slack
Connect false path to email or different handling

Tips for n8n Beginners

Use the Test Execution feature - Always test with real data before activating
Check the node documentation - Click "?" on any node to see examples and parameters
Start simple - Build basic workflows first, then add complexity
Use the FlowKit library - Browse our 250+ pre-built n8n nodes to copy and paste
Enable workflow error notifications - Get alerted when workflows fail
Name your nodes descriptively - Makes debugging much easier
Version your workflows - Duplicate before making major changes

Common Issues & Solutions

Issue: "Cannot connect to app"

Solution: Re-authenticate the credential. Click credentials → reconnect

Issue: "No data returned"

Solution: Check if the previous node has data. Run a test execution to see actual data flow

Issue: "Expression error"

Solution: Verify the field path. Use the dropdown to select fields instead of typing manually

Next Steps

Now that you know the basics, expand your n8n skills:

Build 3-5 simple workflows to internalize the patterns
Explore the node library - Try connecting apps you use daily
Join the n8n community - Forum and Discord for help and ideas
Learn advanced features - Code node, SubWorkflows, Webhooks
Browse FlowKit's n8n library - 250+ ready-to-use nodes for common tasks

Browse n8n Node Library →

FAQs

Is n8n really free?

Yes! The self-hosted version is completely free and open source. n8n Cloud has a free tier with 5,000 executions/month and paid plans starting at $20/month.

Can I use n8n without coding?

Absolutely. Most workflows can be built using the visual interface without any code. You only need JavaScript if you want advanced data transformations.

How many apps does n8n support?

n8n has 400+ native integrations and can connect to any app with an API using the HTTP Request node.