n8n from zero

From nothing to a running, imported workflow in about 30 minutes. Facts checked against the official n8n docs (Oct 2026).

1. Pick how to run n8n

Option	Cost	Good for
npx on your computer	Free	Trying n8n today. Needs Node.js 20.19 – 24.x.
Docker (self-hosted)	Free software; you pay for any server	Running workflows 24/7 on your own server.
n8n Cloud	Free trial, no credit card; then from €20/mo (Starter, billed annually)	No servers to manage.

Quickest try (npx):

npx n8n

Then open http://localhost:5678 and create the owner account. npm docs

Docker:

docker volume create n8n_data
docker run -it --rm --name n8n -p 5678:5678 \
  -v n8n_data:/home/node/.n8n docker.n8n.io/n8nio/n8n

The volume keeps your workflows and credentials when the container restarts. Docker docs

Cloud: sign up at n8n.io/pricing. Prices and trial limits change, so check the page.

Click Create workflow. Add the trigger Trigger manually.
Click +, add Edit Fields (Set), and add a field message = Hello from n8n.
Click Test workflow. Each node shows its output. That data is a list of items.
Swap the manual trigger for a Schedule Trigger, then toggle the workflow Active so it runs on its own.

Official walk-through: n8n quickstarts.

Open a recipe and click Download workflow (a .json file).
In n8n, open a new workflow, then the ⋯ menu (top right) → Import from File…. You can also copy the JSON and paste it straight onto the canvas.
Open each node that shows a warning and add your own credentials. Our files contain no secrets.
Edit the values the recipe's setup section names (topic, URL, email), click Test workflow, then toggle Active.

Start with a recipe labeled ✓ Fully tested. Those ran end to end with real services and need no API keys: website down alert, web lead capture.

Webhook works in testing, not live	The Test URL only listens while you click "Listen for test event". Live traffic must use the Production URL, and the workflow must be Active.
Workflow never runs on schedule	It isn't Active, or the timezone is wrong. Check Settings → Timezone.
"Node does not have any credentials set"	Open the node and create or pick a credential.
Webhooks unreachable on localhost	Outside services can't reach your laptop. Host n8n on a public URL and set `WEBHOOK_URL` (docs).
Expression shows [undefined]	The field name is wrong or that node hasn't run yet. Run the earlier nodes and drag the field in from the input panel.
Import fails / nodes show "?"	Your n8n is older than the file's nodes. Update n8n. Our files were checked on n8n 1.70.3.
Lost workflows after restart (Docker)	Mount the `n8n_data` volume as shown above.