n8n Setup

What is n8n?

n8n is a powerful, open-source workflow automation platform — think of it as a self-hosted Zapier or Make.com that runs entirely on your Mac. It lets you create automated workflows that connect your local AI models to email, databases, file systems, APIs, and hundreds of other services using a visual drag-and-drop interface.

With n8n and your local AI stack, you can build workflows like: automatically summarise every incoming email using your local LLM, transcribe voice memos and save them as notes, monitor a folder for new documents and add them to your RAG knowledge base, or generate weekly reports from your database using AI.

Unlike cloud automation services that charge per execution and route your data through third-party servers, self-hosted n8n has no per-task fees and keeps all data processing local. Your workflows, credentials, and execution logs stay on your machine — perfect for automating tasks with sensitive data.

MacAI installs n8n via Docker for easy management and updates, configures it to auto-start on boot, and sets up the web-based editor accessible from your browser. We also create a starter workflow that connects to your local Ollama instance, so you can see AI-powered automation in action immediately.

How It Works

Visual workflow automation powered by your local AI.

What You Get

• n8n installed via Docker — containerised for easy updates and isolation
• Auto-start on boot — n8n launches automatically when your Mac starts
• Web-based editor — visual drag-and-drop workflow builder accessible via browser
• AI starter workflow — pre-built workflow connecting n8n to your local Ollama models
• 400+ integrations — connect to email, Slack, Google Sheets, databases, and more
• Webhook support — trigger workflows from external events or custom applications
• 30-minute walkthrough — demo of the editor, node types, and how to build your own workflows

Who Is This For?