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n8n Workflow Builder

Community

Manage n8n workflows through natural language, connecting AI assistants to your automation platform.

GitHub source repository ↗

★ 541 Stars Category · Dev Tools Popular Source revision 411c0a75f512

44FMRS · D

Reliability

5/20

Security and permissions

7/20

Maintenance

8/20

Documentation

13/20

Setup experience

11/20

Based on the provided README, this server is a community project, not officially maintained. It offers a comprehensive toolset, but security depends on proper API key configuration and network access. It is recommended to use with caution in production, and to review permissions regularly.

Read the FMRS scoring method →

This MCP server bridges the gap between AI assistants (like Claude Desktop, ChatGPT, Cline, etc.) and your n8n instance, allowing you to create, manage, execute, and monitor n8n workflows through natural language commands. It provides a comprehensive set of tools covering the full workflow lifecycle, including create, read, update, delete, activate/deactivate, execute, view execution history, manage tags, and generate security audit reports. The server uses the official n8n API and requires a valid API key for authentication.

Tools

list_workflows

List all workflows from your n8n instance.

get_workflow

Retrieve detailed information about a specific workflow.

create_workflow

Create a new workflow with nodes and connections.

execute_workflow

Manually execute a workflow.

update_workflow

Update an existing workflow's configuration.

activate_workflow

Activate a workflow to enable automatic execution.

deactivate_workflow

Deactivate a workflow to stop automatic execution.

delete_workflow

Permanently delete a workflow.

create_workflow_and_activate

Create a new workflow and immediately activate it.

list_executions

List workflow executions with filtering and pagination.

get_execution

Get detailed information about a specific execution.

delete_execution

Delete a workflow execution record.

list_tags

List all workflow tags with pagination.

create_tag

Create a new workflow tag for organization.

generate_audit

Generate a comprehensive security audit report.

Setup

Use the hosted version on Smithery.ai (no installation) or run locally with NPX: npx @makafeli/n8n-workflow-builder.\n2. Configure environment variables: N8N_HOST (your n8n instance URL) and N8N_API_KEY (your n8n API key).\n3. Add the server to your AI assistant's MCP configuration. For example, for Claude Desktop, edit claude_desktop_config.json and add the configuration above.

claude_desktop_config.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "n8n-workflow-builder": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "@makafeli/n8n-workflow-builder"
      ],
      "env": {
        "N8N_HOST": "http://localhost:5678",
        "N8N_API_KEY": "your-api-key-here"
      }
    }
  }
}

Generate and validate client config

Fit and risk

Best for

Teams using n8n for automation who want to leverage AI assistants to simplify workflow management.
Users who want to create workflows through conversational interfaces without directly using the n8n Web UI.
Developers looking to integrate AI assistants into their existing n8n workflows.

Not for

Users without an n8n instance or API key.
Those seeking a full low-code visual interface rather than AI-driven management.
Users requiring direct support or maintenance from the official n8n product team.

Required permissions

Requires access to your n8n instance URL (`N8N_HOST`) and an API key (`N8N_API_KEY`).
The API key should have appropriate permissions, typically read/write access to workflows, executions, tags, and audits.
The server communicates directly with your n8n instance; it does not store data but requires network access.

Risks and side effects

API key leakage could lead to unauthorized access to your n8n workflows and data.
Misconfiguration could result in unintended workflow modifications, deletions, or executions.
Involving automation actions should first be tested on a small scale.
When using third-party hosted services (like Smithery.ai), consider data privacy implications.

Troubleshooting

Connection refused (ECONNREFUSED): Check that `N8N_HOST` is correct and n8n is running.
401 error: Verify `N8N_API_KEY` is correct and not expired, and ensure it has proper permissions.
404 error: Use `list_workflows` to get valid workflow IDs.
Server won't start: Ensure Node.js v18+ is installed, and try `npm cache clean --force`.
Enable debug mode: `DEBUG=n8n-workflow-builder npx @makafeli/n8n-workflow-builder`.

Use cases

List, browse, and manage n8n workflows via natural language commands.

Automatically create complex workflows by describing them in plain language.

Execute workflows on demand and monitor execution status.

Bulk update or deactivate multiple workflows.

Manage workflow tags for organization and categorization.

Generate security audit reports for compliance purposes.

Supported clients

Claude DesktopFull support

ClineFull support

ContinueFull support

Other MCP-compatible clientsFull support

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