Migrating from other automation tools like Zapier, Make (Integromat), IFTTT, or Power Automate to n8n can bring greater flexibility, self-hosting freedom, and cost control — but it requires a structured approach. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you transition smoothly:
🔁 How to Migrate from Other Automation Tools to n8n
✅ Step 1: Audit Your Existing Workflows
Create a list of your current automations:
- What platform are they on? (Zapier, Make, etc.)
- What triggers and actions are used?
- How complex are the workflows? (conditional logic, loops, webhooks, etc.)
- Are there any custom integrations or APIs?
Tip: Export or document these workflows visually or in a spreadsheet.
🔍 Step 2: Map Components to n8n Nodes
For each automation:
| Element | Example | n8n Equivalent |
| ------- | ----------------------- | -------------------------------------- |
| Trigger | New email in Gmail | Gmail Trigger |
| Action | Create Google Sheet row | Google Sheets Node |
| Webhook | Zapier Webhook URL | Webhook Node |
| Logic | Conditional steps | IF Node, Switch Node |
| Loops | Iterating over data | SplitInBatches, Set, Merge |
Browse the full n8n node list or search inside the editor.
🧱 Step 3: Rebuild Workflows in n8n
Use the n8n workflow editor to manually recreate each automation:
- Add the trigger node (e.g., Webhook, Cron, Gmail)
- Add your action nodes
- Use IF, Switch, Set, and Merge nodes for logic
- Add error handling or notifications (e.g., Telegram, Slack)
📌 Use built-in n8n examples or templates from the community forum for faster setup.
🔒 Step 4: Migrate Secrets and Credentials
- Move API keys, OAuth tokens, or service credentials to n8n’s Credentials Manager.
- Use environment variables (
.env) or encrypted secrets for secure deployments.
🔁 Step 5: Handle Webhook Redirects or DNS Changes
If your old tool uses webhooks:
- Update source systems (e.g., Stripe, Shopify, Airtable) to send webhooks to your n8n endpoint instead.
- Set up your own domain/subdomain (e.g.,
automation.mycompany.com) if self-hosting.
🧪 Step 6: Test Each Workflow Thoroughly
- Use mock data or real test inputs.
- Watch for delays, authentication errors, or data transformation issues.
- Use n8n's execution log and workflow history to debug and optimize.
🧰 Step 7: Add Monitoring and Alerts
Add workflow failure alerts via:
- Telegram
- Slack
- Email
- Or connect to observability tools (like Prometheus/Grafana)
🎓 Migration Examples
🔁 Zapier → n8n
| Zapier | n8n |
| ----------------- | --------------------------- |
| Zap | Workflow |
| Trigger + Actions | Trigger Node + Action Nodes |
| Paths | IF or Switch Nodes |
| Filters | IF Node |
| Code by Zapier | Function Node |
🔁 Make.com → n8n
| Make | n8n |
| ------------ | ----------------- |
| Scenario | Workflow |
| Iterator | SplitInBatches |
| Filters | IF Node |
| Set Variable | Set Node |
| HTTP module | HTTP Request Node |
🏗️ Tools to Help with Migration
- Workflow templates (shared by community)
- n8n Desktop or Local Docker instance for safe testing
- OpenAPI or GraphQL integrations for building custom API workflows
- Use the Modular Community Packages (MCP) system for custom connectors
💬 Get Migration Help
- Ask specific migration questions on the n8n Community Forum
- Search for matching workflows and templates
- Get 1:1 help from certified n8n partners or freelancers
Great! Let's start by helping you rebuild a specific workflow in n8n.
Please answer a few questions so I can guide you step-by-step:
📋 1. What tool are you migrating from?
(e.g., Zapier, Make.com, Power Automate…)
⚙️ 2. What does your current workflow do?
Please describe:
- The trigger (e.g., "When a new email arrives in Gmail")
- The actions (e.g., "Save attachment to Google Drive", "Send Telegram alert")
📦 3. Do you use any third-party services?
(e.g., Slack, Google Sheets, Airtable, Stripe…)
🔐 4. Do you have access to the necessary API keys or credentials?
Once I have this info, I’ll:
- Map your workflow to equivalent n8n nodes
- Provide a visual step-by-step guide
- Share a sample JSON workflow you can import into n8n
Let’s get started — just tell me about the workflow you'd like to migrate!