The Code Report, dated September 29th, 2025, introduces N8N, an open-source, self-hostable automation tool built as an alternative to Zapier, which some people pay $500 per month for.
N8N takes an input trigger such as a form submission, database write or GitHub issue and runs its data through a pipeline of steps, with examples ranging from Docker builds announced on Discord to AI-suggested football bets.
Workflows are built without code in a flowchart-style Vue.js editor, which you can launch in seconds by running npx n8n from your terminal.
The video hosts N8N on a Hostinger VPS using a pre-built Ubuntu template for about five dollars a month, with the code FIRESHIP for a discount.
It then builds a joke workflow in which a Telegram message containing a certain emoji triggers a flower order via API, an AI-written apology letter, a public post on X and a log in Google Sheets.
Brief overview
N8N is a free, open-source, self-hostable Zapier alternative you can run on a $5 VPS.
N8N is an open-source Zapier alternativeIt is free, self-hostable and not the sponsor of the video.
No-code workflows start with npx n8nA flowchart editor lets non-technical people build automation pipelines.
Self-hosting costs about $5 a monthA Hostinger VPS template runs Ubuntu with N8N ready out of the box.
Questions this recording answers
7 questions, each answered where it is said
What is N8N?
N8N is an open-source, self-hostable automation tool, easiest to think of as the free and open-source alternative to Zapier. It takes an input trigger, like a website form submission, database write, voice command or GitHub issue, and runs that data through a pipeline of steps including third-party apps or your own code.
How do you start N8N quickly on your own machine?
You can unlock it in about five seconds by running npx n8n from your terminal. After a few seconds that brings up a UI, built with Vue.js, where you can start building automation workflows on localhost, though for serious use you'll want an actual server.
How do you host N8N on a VPS?
On Hostinger you select a new VPS and a region, then use the pre-built template running Ubuntu with N8N ready out of the box. Choose a password and a plan for about five dollars a month, optionally using the code FIRESHIP, then click through from the dashboard directly to N8N.
Do you need to write code to use N8N?
No. Workflows can be built without writing a single line of code, using a flowchart-style editor that makes the logic clear enough for non-technical people. You can still add nodes that run arbitrary code or hit a third-party API when no built-in integration exists.
What kinds of automations can N8N run?
Examples include triggering on a GitHub PR merge to build a Docker image and notify Discord, sharing new YouTube videos across social media, sounding an IoT alarm from a smart camera, or scraping football stats and using AI to suggest bets.
What can the AI agent node in N8N do?
The AI agent node takes a custom prompt, which can use data from earlier steps such as an incoming message. It lets you choose any custom model and provide data for memory and tools for the model context protocol. In the demo it writes an apology letter.
How does N8N compare in cost to Zapier?
The video says some people pay $500 per month for tools like Zapier, while N8N is free and open source and can be self-hosted on a VPS plan for about five dollars a month, giving full control on a $5 VPS.
Key Quote
“Lost time is never found again.”
— Narrator
Key Quote
“when you can spend 10 hours failing to automate it?”
— Narrator
Key Quote
“screw it, I'm building my own Zapier from scratch.”