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n8n
Berlin workflow automation platform with a visual editor, native AI agent nodes and Model Context Protocol support, also for HR.
★★★★★(0) Profile checked on 23 September 2026
What is n8n?
n8n is a general-purpose workflow automation platform out of Berlin, built around a visual, node-based editor and not designed specifically for HR. HR is one of several departments that use it, across organizations of every size. In May 2026, SAP made a strategic investment in n8n, more than doubling its valuation to 5.2 billion dollars within less than a year, and the companies agreed to embed n8n's workflow engine inside SAP's Joule Studio by the third quarter of 2026.
On AI, n8n offers native nodes for OpenAI, Anthropic and other language models, so a workflow can call a model without custom API work. Agents can self-correct and hand off to another agent or a human when stuck, and n8n natively supports the Model Context Protocol, letting external AI tools read and update workflows directly. For HR, this fits syncing an applicant tracking system to the HRIS, running a policy-question bot in Slack or Teams, or drafting offer letters from templates.
Whoever configures these workflows needs a data processing agreement once employee data passes through the platform or its AI calls, and someone should decide who may build or edit flows touching HR data. n8n can be self-hosted for full control over where that data lives, or run as a managed cloud service. Where an automated flow ends up monitoring or scoring individual employees, German works councils can still gain co-determination rights under section 87 of the Betriebsverfassungsgesetz. n8n fits organizations of any size, with Germany, the US and the UK as its strongest markets.
What the AI does
- Native AI nodes for OpenAI, Anthropic and other language models without building your own API integration
- Autonomous AI agents that self-correct and hand off to other agents or humans
- Native support for the Model Context Protocol (MCP)
- Self-hostable for full data control, or available as a cloud service
Where it fits best
🇩🇪 Germany🇺🇸 United States🇬🇧 United Kingdom Available internationally
n8n was founded in Berlin and is headquartered there; SAP made a strategic investment in 2026 that doubled its valuation to $5.2 billion.
Using it in Germany and the EU
- Works councilSoftware that can evaluate behaviour or performance usually requires co-determination in Germany (§ 87 (1) no. 6 BetrVG).
- Data hostingmulti (according to the vendor). Ask for a data processing agreement (Art. 28 GDPR).
- EU AI ActCheck whether the AI prepares decisions about people. If not, the high-risk rules usually do not apply.
General information with sources, not legal advice.
In practice
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Questions
Is n8n self-hostable, or only available as a cloud service?
Both. n8n can be self-hosted, for example with Docker using its full source code from GitHub, for complete control over where data lives, or run as a managed cloud service.
Does n8n have a free plan?
Yes, n8n offers both a free plan and a free trial alongside its usage-based paid pricing.
What is the SAP investment in n8n about?
In May 2026, SAP made a strategic investment of about 60 million US dollars in n8n, doubling its valuation to 5.2 billion dollars, and the companies agreed to embed n8n's engine inside SAP's Joule Studio by the third quarter of 2026.
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