PPlatformAppStores

n8n

General SaaS

n8n GmbH · General SaaS app marketplaces

Best for: Developers building open, self-hostable automation nodes with full code control.

Overview

n8n is a fair-code, source-available workflow automation platform whose integration ecosystem is delivered as community nodes — npm packages that each wrap a single third-party service with its trigger and action nodes. Thousands of community nodes have been published. A developer scaffolds a node in TypeScript with the n8n-node CLI, publishes to npm, and can submit it for verification; verified nodes are vetted against technical and UX guidelines, must avoid run-time dependencies, and (from 2026) must be published via GitHub Actions with a provenance statement.

Because n8n is source-available and self-hostable, its distribution model is unusually open: anyone can install any community node on their own instance, while verification is the trust/discovery gate for cloud and mainstream users. There is no listing fee and no revenue share; n8n monetizes cloud executions and enterprise licensing, and it is not a merchant of record. It is heavily positioned for AI, with native agent/LangChain nodes and MCP integration. Choose n8n when you want an open, self-hostable target with a code-first contribution model, when data-residency matters to your users, or when you are building AI-agent automations.

How to build & ship

  1. 1Scaffold a node project with the n8n-node CLI (@n8n/create-node), which starts from the nodes-starter template
  2. 2Implement the node (declarative or programmatic) plus its credentials, naming the package n8n-nodes-* or @scope/n8n-nodes-*
  3. 3Run and test the node locally with the CLI's dev/build commands
  4. 4Ensure it follows the verification technical and UX guidelines (e.g., no runtime dependencies for verified nodes) and add a README
  5. 5Publish the package to npm (from 2026, via GitHub Actions with a provenance statement)
  6. 6Submit it through the n8n Creator Portal for verification

Key APIs & SDKs

n8n-node CLI (@n8n/node-cli)
@n8n/create-node initializer
n8n-nodes-starter template
Declarative and programmatic node styles
npm publishing (with provenance)
n8n Creator Portal

Integration types

Connector
Workflow action

Authentication & security

  • Primary auth: OAuth 2.0
  • Also supports: API key, PAT
  • Security review: Required
  • n8n vets verified community nodes against technical/UX guidelines (single-service scope, no run-time dependencies, provenance-signed publishing) before listing.
  • Unverified community nodes install from npm freely; to become verified and discoverable in the nodes panel, n8n vets the node against technical (no runtime deps) and UX guidelines via the Creator Portal (no publicly fixed timeline).
  • Self-hosted has no platform limit (bound by the target API); n8n Cloud meters executions per plan.
Auth docs Store policies

Monetization

Free
Onboarding
$0 (free to list)
Commission
None (n8n Cloud monetizes executions; self-hosting is free)
Merchant of Record
Not applicable

Pros & cons for builders

Pros

  • Open-source, self-hostable platform with a fair-code license
  • Any npm package can be installed as a community node without gatekeeping
  • Official CLI enforces conventions and speeds scaffolding
  • Verification unlocks in-app discovery for quality nodes

Cons

  • Verified status has stricter rules (no runtime dependencies, provenance publishing)
  • Requires TypeScript/Node.js and npm publishing know-how
  • Unverified nodes get less discovery than verified ones

Frequently asked questions

How do I get my app approved on n8n?

Unverified community nodes install from npm freely; to become verified and discoverable in the nodes panel, n8n vets the node against technical (no runtime deps) and UX guidelines via the Creator Portal (no publicly fixed timeline).

What authentication does n8n use?

n8n apps primarily authenticate with OAuth 2.0, also supporting API key, PAT.

How is n8n monetized?

n8n supports Free. Typical commission: None (n8n Cloud monetizes executions; self-hosting is free). Onboarding fee: $0 (free to list).

Is a security review required to list on n8n?

Yes, n8n requires a formal security or listing review before apps go live. n8n vets verified community nodes against technical/UX guidelines (single-service scope, no run-time dependencies, provenance-signed publishing) before listing.