n8n
Also known as: n8n.io, n8n workflow automation
n8n (pronounced 'nodemation') sits between traditional no-code automation tools like Zapier and developer-focused frameworks like LangGraph. Its drag-and-drop canvas lets you connect blocks representing apps, logic, and AI calls, then wire them together into automated pipelines. Over 400 built-in integrations cover most SaaS tools a builder would need.
What changed in 2025-2026 is the AI layer. n8n added native AI Agent nodes and MCP client/server support, which means you can plug LLMs directly into automation flows, spawn sub-agents, and connect to MCP tool servers without custom code. Teams use it for email triage, customer support flows, data enrichment, and internal tool automation.
At 150,000+ GitHub stars it is one of the most-used open-source AI tools. Its self-hosting option gives teams full control over their data, which matters for companies under GDPR or other data residency rules. The common pattern: prototype with n8n to validate agent logic quickly, then decide whether to graduate to a code-first framework for complex production requirements.