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n8n: The Open-Source Automation Engine That Belongs on TurboStack
n8n: The Open-Source Automation Engine That Belongs on TurboStack
If you've ever found yourself updating spreadsheets manually, copying data between tools or juggling notifications across five platforms, you've probably thought, “There has to be a better way.”
You're absolutely right. That better way is called n8n.
You could think of it as Zapier’s younger, cooler, open-source sibling. One that listens to synthwave, runs Linux and doesn’t share your secrets with Silicon Valley.
It’s powerful, private and gives you full control on how your tools work together. And when you host it on a fast and reliable platform like TurboStack, you get the best of both worlds.
Let me show you why it’s worth your attention.
What is n8n, exactly?
n8n stands for “node to node” and it’s a workflow automation platform. It lets you connect your apps, services and APIs through visual workflows. That might sound simple, but it can get seriously powerful.
You start with a trigger. Maybe a webhook, a new entry in your CRM, a daily schedule or a form submission. From there, you can chain together actions like sending emails, updating databases, calling APIs, running code or even generating content using AI.
The interface is clean and visual, but not limiting. You can add custom JavaScript, work with expressions and build complex logic if you need to. It’s intuitive for non-devs but still exciting for techies who want to get their hands dirty.
And since n8n is open source, you get complete control. You can extend it, contribute to it and most importantly, run it wherever you want.
Why is it so useful?
Because every business wastes time on repetitive tasks. Things like copying data between systems, checking reports or chasing follow-ups. With n8n, you can turn those tasks into automatic flows that just happen.
Let’s say a new lead fills out a form. n8n can grab that data, enrich it via an API, add it to your CRM and send your sales team a Slack message. All in a few seconds, without anyone lifting a finger.
Or maybe your dev team wants alerts when someone opens a critical GitHub issue. Or your marketing team wants to summarize support tickets using AI. Or your finance team needs invoices synced between two systems.
n8n makes all of that possible. And it grows with you. Start with small tasks and before you know it, you're automating things across your whole company.
Why self-hosting is the smart move
n8n offers a cloud-hosted version if you want to try it out quickly. But if you're serious about privacy, performance or doing things your way, self-hosting is the better option.
Here's why it matters:
When you self-host, you decide where your data lives. You avoid limits like “X tasks per month” or “premium features only on the Pro plan.” You’re not sending sensitive information to a third-party service. And if you work in a regulated industry, that kind of control can be essential.
You can also hook into internal systems, private APIs or company-specific tools that cloud-based automation platforms simply can't reach.
The catch? Setting up and maintaining it takes some effort.
That’s where TurboStack comes in.
Why TurboStack is the best place to run n8n
TurboStack is our performance-focused hosting platform, built specifically for modern applications like Magento, Shopware, Laravel, and yes, n8n.
Hosting n8n on TurboStack gives you the speed and control of self-hosting, without the headache of managing servers yourself.
Your workflows run faster. Your environment scales automatically. Monitoring, backups and updates are taken care of. And because you’re in full control, you get to decide exactly how things run.
If you already host your web app or store on TurboStack, the benefits are even bigger. You can run n8n right next to your core platform, which means faster syncs, better integration and less complexity overall.
This setup is perfect for digital agencies, SaaS platforms, e-commerce players and any dev team that wants automation without compromise.
What kind of things can you build?
You can build things like:
- An automated reporting flow that pulls data from Google Analytics and emails a PDF every Monday.
- A system that monitors uptime, creates an incident ticket in Jira, and pings your Slack.
- An AI assistant that summarizes customer feedback and logs sentiment trends in Notion.
- A process that creates new client folders in your cloud storage when a deal is marked “Won” in your CRM.
And that’s just the start. There’s a growing library of templates and integrations that you can plug in and tweak to fit your needs.
Once you build one flow, you'll start seeing automation opportunities everywhere.
Why now?
Because your team’s time is valuable. Because your clients expect fast, smooth experiences. And because your systems already talk to each other, they just need someone to start the conversation.
n8n is that conversation starter. TurboStack makes sure it doesn’t stutter, crash or lose the plot halfway through.
If you're tired of hitting limits with Zapier, worried about data privacy, or just want more control, this is your chance to level up.
Want to see it in action?
We’d love to show you what n8n running on TurboStack looks like. Whether you're already using it somewhere else or starting fresh, we’ll help you get up and running fast.
- Book a demo
- Chat with our team
- Or just dive in and try it for yourself
Let’s make your tools work for you.
No fluff. No nonsense. Just automation that fits like a leather jacket and sounds like a Moog synth solo.
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This article was written by:
Tim Terreur
Managing Partner
