n8n
An MCP server that empowers AI assistants to build, validate, and manage n8n workflows by providing structured access to documentation for over 1,200 nodes and thousands of templates. It enables deep integration with n8n instances for automated workf
What is n8n?
n8n is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that allows AI assistants like Claude, Cursor, and VS Code to mcp server that empowers ai assistants to build, validate, and manage n8n workflows by providing structured access to documentation for over 1,200 nodes and thousands of templates. it enables deep int...
An MCP server that empowers AI assistants to build, validate, and manage n8n workflows by providing structured access to documentation for over 1,200 nodes and thousands of templates. It enables deep integration with n8n instances for automated workf
This server falls under the Business Applications category on MCPgee, the world's largest MCP server directory with 33,000+ servers.
Features
- An MCP server that empowers AI assistants to build, validate
Use Cases
Maintainer
Works with
Installation
NPM
npx -y n8n-mcpManual Installation
npx -y n8n-mcpConfiguration
Configuration Details
claude_desktop_config.json
Performance
Response Metrics
Resource Usage
How to Set Up and Use n8n
n8n-MCP is an MCP server that gives AI assistants structured access to n8n's full ecosystem — over 1,850 nodes, 2,352 workflow templates, and live workflow management tools — so they can build, validate, and deploy n8n automations through natural language. It provides seven documentation discovery tools for searching nodes and templates, plus thirteen management tools for CRUD operations on workflows, executions, credentials, and security audits when connected to a live n8n instance. Developers and automation engineers can use it to prototype workflows with AI guidance and then push them directly to production n8n.
Prerequisites
- Node.js 18 or higher with npx available
- An MCP-compatible client such as Claude Desktop or Claude Code
- A running n8n instance (self-hosted or n8n Cloud) if you want live workflow management — not required for documentation-only use
- N8N_API_KEY from your n8n instance (Settings → API → Create API Key) for management tools
- N8N_API_URL pointing to your n8n instance base URL
Choose your deployment mode
n8n-MCP offers a free hosted dashboard at dashboard.n8n-mcp.com (100 tool calls/day, no setup) or self-hosted via npx. For production use or higher limits, run it locally.
Run n8n-MCP locally with npx
For local self-hosting, use npx to run the server. No global installation is required.
npx -y n8n-mcpGet your n8n API credentials
If you want to manage live workflows, log into your n8n instance, go to Settings → API, and create a new API key. Note the API URL of your instance (e.g., https://your-n8n.com).
Configure your MCP client
Add n8n-MCP to your claude_desktop_config.json. Include N8N_API_URL and N8N_API_KEY only if you need live workflow management — omit them for documentation-only access.
Start with the tools documentation
On first use, call the tools_documentation tool via your AI assistant to understand the full tool set and recommended workflow for building n8n automations.
Search nodes and templates
Use the AI assistant to search n8n's node library and discover templates that match your automation goal before building workflows.
n8n Examples
Client configuration
Add this block to your claude_desktop_config.json. Set N8N_API_URL and N8N_API_KEY only when connecting to a live n8n instance.
{
"mcpServers": {
"n8n-mcp": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "n8n-mcp"],
"env": {
"N8N_API_URL": "https://your-n8n-instance.com",
"N8N_API_KEY": "your-n8n-api-key"
}
}
}
}Prompts to try
Use these prompts with Claude after configuring the n8n-MCP server.
- "Find n8n workflow templates for sending Slack notifications when a GitHub issue is created"
- "What n8n nodes are available for working with Google Sheets?"
- "Create an n8n workflow that polls an RSS feed every hour and emails me new entries"
- "List all my active n8n workflows and their last execution status"
- "Validate this workflow JSON and tell me if any nodes are misconfigured"Troubleshooting n8n
Management tools fail with authentication errors
Verify that N8N_API_URL matches your n8n instance exactly (including any path prefix) and that the API key in N8N_API_KEY is active. In n8n, go to Settings → API to regenerate the key if needed.
Node search returns no results
The node database is embedded in the package. If results are missing, the local database may be outdated. Update n8n-mcp with `npx -y n8n-mcp@latest` to pull the current node and template index.
Workflow created by AI fails to import into n8n
Run the validate_node tool on each node in the workflow before deploying. Use `{mode: 'minimal'}` for quick checks. Validation catches missing required fields and incompatible node versions before execution.
Frequently Asked Questions about n8n
What is n8n?
n8n is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that mcp server that empowers ai assistants to build, validate, and manage n8n workflows by providing structured access to documentation for over 1,200 nodes and thousands of templates. it enables deep integration with n8n instances for automated workf It connects AI assistants to external tools and data sources through a standardized interface.
How do I install n8n?
Install via npm with the command: npx -y n8n-mcp. Then add the server configuration to your AI client's JSON config file (e.g., claude_desktop_config.json or .cursor/mcp.json).
Which AI clients work with n8n?
n8n works with all major MCP-compatible AI clients including Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code (GitHub Copilot), Windsurf, and Cline.
Is n8n free to use?
Yes, n8n is open source and available under the MIT license. You can use it freely in both personal and commercial projects.
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