Capability

n8n — build workflows with MCP

Give Claude n8n's 1,845 nodes and let it build, validate, and run workflows via the n8n MCP.

#mcp#automation#workflows

The n8n MCP (czlonkowski/n8n-mcp) gives Claude deep, structured knowledge of n8n's 1,845 workflow nodes — and, with API access, the ability to build, validate, and run workflows for you. Describe the automation you want and Claude looks up the right nodes, wires them together, validates the result, and deploys it to your n8n instance.

Describean automation

n8n MCPnode docs + validate

Buildcreate / update workflow

Deployto your n8n

Grounded in real node schemas, so the workflows Claude builds actually run.

Connect it

The documentation tools work with no setup. Add your n8n API credentials only when you want Claude to manage real workflows.

Add the server to Claude Code

Runs over stdio via npx — nothing to install globally.

bash

claude mcp add n8n-mcp \
  -e MCP_MODE=stdio -e LOG_LEVEL=error -e DISABLE_CONSOLE_OUTPUT=true \
  -- npx n8n-mcp

Enable workflow management (optional)

Add your instance URL and API key (n8n → Settings → API) so the n8n_* tools can create and run workflows. As JSON config:

.mcp.json / claude_desktop_config.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "n8n-mcp": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["n8n-mcp"],
      "env": {
        "MCP_MODE": "stdio",
        "LOG_LEVEL": "error",
        "DISABLE_CONSOLE_OUTPUT": "true",
        "N8N_API_URL": "https://your-n8n-instance.com",
        "N8N_API_KEY": "your-api-key"
      }
    }
  }
}

…or run it in Docker

bash

docker run -i --rm --init \
  -e MCP_MODE=stdio -e N8N_API_URL=http://host.docker.internal:5678 \
  -e N8N_API_KEY=your-api-key \
  ghcr.io/czlonkowski/n8n-mcp:latest

What needs the API

N8N_API_URL and N8N_API_KEY are required only for the management tools (create / update / delete / test). The documentation and validation tools work without them.

The tools

Twenty tools in two groups — what to build with, and how to ship it.

Documentation & validation

Always available — no API key needed.

Tool	What it does
tools_documentation	Get help/usage for any MCP tool in the server.
search_nodes	Full-text search across all 1,845 n8n nodes.
get_node	Node info in minimal / standard / full / docs modes.
validate_node	Validate a node configuration (minimal or full).
validate_workflow	Validate a complete workflow before deploying.
search_templates	Find workflow templates by keyword, nodes, task, or metadata.
get_template	Retrieve a template workflow as JSON.

Workflow management

Requires N8N_API_URL + N8N_API_KEY.

Tool	What it does
n8n_create_workflow	Create a new workflow with nodes and connections.
n8n_get_workflow	Retrieve a workflow by ID.
n8n_list_workflows	List workflows with filtering and pagination.
n8n_update_full_workflow	Replace a workflow entirely.
n8n_update_partial_workflow	Apply diff-based edits to a workflow.
n8n_delete_workflow	Permanently delete a workflow.
n8n_validate_workflow	Validate a workflow inside your n8n instance.
n8n_autofix_workflow	Auto-fix common workflow errors.
n8n_workflow_versions	Inspect a workflow’s version history.
n8n_deploy_template	Import a template from n8n.io into your instance.
n8n_test_workflow	Trigger a workflow execution to test it.
n8n_executions	Manage and inspect workflow runs.
n8n_manage_credentials	Handle credential/auth setup.

Node coverage

1,845

n8n nodes documented and searchable.

816

Core nodes.

1,029

Community nodes (filter by source).

Build a workflow

Describe the automation

text

When a row is added to my Google Sheet, summarize it with an LLM
and post the summary to Slack #updates.

2
Claude finds the right nodes
It uses search_nodes / get_node to read real schemas, then wires the trigger, the LLM node, and the Slack node together.
3
Validate, then deploy
validate_workflow catches mistakes before n8n_create_workflow pushes it to your instance; n8n_test_workflow runs it once to confirm.

Treat production with care

Build and test in development; don't let an agent edit production workflows directly, and export a backup before changes. You can also block destructive tools with DISABLED_TOOLS (e.g. n8n_delete_workflow).

Learn more

github.com/czlonkowski/n8n-mcp — the server, setup docs, and tools
n8n-skills — a complementary skill pack of n8n production patterns
docs.n8n.io — n8n itself

Claude CodeCowork / Claude appDocker1,845 nodes