Overview

n8n-mcp is an open-source Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that bridges AI coding assistants with the n8n workflow automation platform. It equips tools like Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, Windsurf, and VS Code with structured, real-time knowledge of n8n's entire ecosystem — including 537 core nodes + 547 community nodes (1,084 total), 2,709 workflow templates, and AI-specific validation logic.

Built as a lightweight Node.js application with an embedded SQLite database, it delivers sub-12ms responses and works in stdio or HTTP mode. Connect it once and let your AI build, validate, test, and deploy complete n8n workflows without copy-paste or manual configuration.

A hosted version with a ready-to-use Chat Agent is available at n8n-mcp.com (free tier + paid plans), while the GitHub repo remains fully self-hostable under the MIT license.

Key Features

Comprehensive Node Knowledge Base — Full access to 1,084 n8n nodes with 99% property coverage, 63.6% operation coverage, and 87% official documentation (updated within 48 hours of new n8n releases).
Smart Search & Discovery — search_nodes, get_node (multiple detail modes), and community-node filtering by source (verified/community).
Real-World Examples — 2,646 pre-extracted configurations pulled from popular templates.
Advanced Validation — validate_node and validate_workflow with AI-agent profiles, runtime checks, and dependency analysis. Supports n8n v2.17+ AI Agent workflows.
Template Engine — Search and retrieve 2,709+ ready-to-use workflow JSONs with smart filtering.
n8n Management Tools (optional API connection) — Create, update, test, execute, and autofix workflows directly in your n8n instance.
Performance & Compatibility — ~12ms average response, 70–120 MB memory footprint, works with any Node.js version. Supports stdio (Claude Desktop) and HTTP/SSE modes.
Privacy & Security — Optional anonymous telemetry (easily disabled), no hardcoded credentials, webhook security modes.

Installation & Setup

Quick Start (npx – no install)

npx n8n-mcp

Add to your Claude Desktop claude_desktop_config.json with MCP_MODE=stdio.

Docker (recommended for production)

docker pull ghcr.io/czlonkowski/n8n-mcp:latest
docker run -i ghcr.io/czlonkowski/n8n-mcp:latest

Cloud (one-click)

Deploy free on Railway via the repo's template.

Full Local Build

git clone https://github.com/czlonkowski/n8n-mcp.git
cd n8n-mcp
npm install
npm run build
npm run rebuild
npm start

Optional environment variables: N8N_API_URL, N8N_API_KEY (for direct workflow management), LOG_LEVEL=error, MCP_MODE=stdio.

Supported AI Assistants

Claude Desktop / Claude Code
Cursor
Windsurf
VS Code + Codex
Antigravity
Any MCP-compatible client (20+ tools via hosted service)

Use Cases

AI-Driven Workflow Creation — Describe “monitor Twitter mentions and post summaries to Slack with sentiment analysis” → AI generates, validates, and deploys the full JSON.
Existing Workflow Maintenance — AI reads live workflows, suggests optimizations, and applies targeted updates.
Template Exploration — Ask for “best CRM sync template using community nodes” and receive ready-to-import JSON.
Enterprise Automation — Connect to self-hosted n8n instances for secure, audited workflow generation at scale.
Learning & Prototyping — Use validation tools to teach AI best practices before production deployment.

n8n Built-in MCP vs n8n-mcp

n8n's native MCP server (available in recent releases) exposes your own workflows as tools. n8n-mcp is a complementary external MCP server focused on n8n node knowledge and AI-assisted authoring. Use both together for maximum power: native server for triggering workflows + n8n-mcp for intelligent workflow construction.

Links & Resources

GitHub: czlonkowski/n8n-mcp
Hosted Chat Agent & Dashboard: n8n-mcp.com
Free tier: 100 tool calls/day (hosted) or unlimited self-hosted
Documentation & examples in repo

n8n-mcp turns any AI coding assistant into a full-stack n8n workflow expert — instantly.