X15 Free Workflows to Get Started with n8n: Automate Your World Without Paying for APIs

If you’re looking for an automation tool that’s flexible, powerful, and easy to use, look no further than n8n. It’s an open-source, no-code platform that allows you to connect apps and automate repetitive tasks with ease. Whether you’re a developer, marketer, or business owner, n8n can streamline your workflows by integrating popular apps and services without the need for expensive API plans.

What makes n8n stand out is its ability to create complex workflows without writing a single line of code. From sending emails to managing Google Sheets, n8n gives you the power to automate various tasks. Plus, it’s free to use with a variety of integrations, including popular APIs from platforms like Google, Slack, Twitter, and more.

If you're new to n8n and automation, you're in the right place. In this post, we’ll explore 15 free workflows you can set up without relying on any paid APIs. These workflows cover everything from data management and social media monitoring to weather alerts and file backups.

Why You Should Learn n8n

Before diving into the workflows, let’s take a moment to understand why n8n should be your go-to tool for automation.

  • No Code Needed: n8n’s intuitive interface lets you build workflows by simply connecting nodes, making it easy for non-technical users to automate tasks.

  • Open Source: It’s completely open-source, meaning you can contribute, customize, and host n8n anywhere. It gives you full control.

  • Extensive Integrations: n8n integrates with over 200 applications and services. Whether you're working with email, social media, databases, or project management tools, n8n can handle it all.

  • Cost-Effective: You can use n8n's free tier without hitting limits or worrying about API costs, making it accessible for everyone.

Now that you know why n8n is a game-changer, let’s dive into 15 free workflows you can easily set up to boost productivity and automate your tasks.

1. Email to Google Sheets

Trigger: Watch for incoming emails in Gmail or Outlook (using IMAP).
Action: Extract specific data from email content (e.g., sender, subject, date) and log it into a Google Sheet.
API Used: Google Sheets API (free tier).

How it helps: Automatically add incoming email details to a spreadsheet, making it easy to track leads, customer inquiries, or project updates.

2. RSS Feed to Slack

Trigger: RSS feed (e.g., news or blog updates).
Action: Send a message to a Slack channel with new feed items.
API Used: Slack API (free tier).

How it helps: Stay updated on the latest blog posts or news articles without having to manually check each website. Get notifications directly in your Slack channel.

3. Trello to Google Calendar

Trigger: New Trello card (from a specific list or board).
Action: Create a new Google Calendar event based on Trello card details.
API Used: Google Calendar API (free tier).

How it helps: Convert Trello tasks into Google Calendar events. Automatically schedule meetings or deadlines based on your Trello cards.

4. Google Forms to Email

Trigger: Google Forms submission.
Action: Send an email notification with the responses.
API Used: Google Sheets and Gmail API (free tier).

How it helps: Get immediate email notifications whenever someone submits a Google Form, ideal for surveys, feedback forms, or job applications.

5. RSS Feed to Google Sheets

Trigger: RSS feed (e.g., updates from a specific blog or news source).
Action: Add new items to a Google Sheet.
API Used: Google Sheets API (free tier).

How it helps: Automatically store RSS feed updates in a Google Sheet, ideal for tracking multiple sources of news or blog updates in one place.

6. Weather Alerts to Telegram

Trigger: Check weather data (e.g., using a free weather API like OpenWeatherMap).
Action: Send an alert to a Telegram channel if specific weather conditions are met (e.g., temperature, storm).
API Used: OpenWeatherMap API (free tier) and Telegram API (free tier).

How it helps: Stay prepared for weather changes by receiving real-time alerts about storms, temperature changes, or weather warnings directly in your Telegram channel.

7. Google Drive to Dropbox Backup

Trigger: New file in Google Drive.
Action: Copy the file to Dropbox for backup.
API Used: Google Drive API (free tier) and Dropbox API (free tier).

How it helps: Automatically back up important files from Google Drive to Dropbox, ensuring your data is secure and synchronized across platforms.

8. Twitter to Google Sheets

Trigger: New tweet by a specific user or hashtag.
Action: Insert the tweet into a Google Sheet with details like text, date, and user.
API Used: Twitter API (free tier) and Google Sheets API (free tier).

How it helps: Track Twitter mentions, hashtags, or user posts in a Google Sheet for analysis or reporting purposes.

9. GitHub Issues to Google Sheets

Trigger: New or updated issue on a GitHub repository.
Action: Log issue details into a Google Sheet.
API Used: GitHub API (free tier) and Google Sheets API (free tier).

How it helps: Monitor and track issues on your GitHub repositories, with updates automatically logged into a Google Sheet for project management.

10. Google Calendar to Email Reminder

Trigger: Upcoming Google Calendar event.
Action: Send a reminder email to a designated recipient.
API Used: Google Calendar API (free tier) and Gmail API (free tier).

How it helps: Get automatic email reminders for upcoming Google Calendar events, ensuring you never miss a meeting or deadline.

11. Facebook Page Posts to Google Sheets

Trigger: New post on a Facebook Page.
Action: Log post content to Google Sheets for tracking.
API Used: Facebook Graph API (free tier) and Google Sheets API (free tier).

How it helps: Track and log Facebook page posts in a Google Sheet, ideal for social media monitoring and content planning.

12. New YouTube Video to Telegram

Trigger: New video published on a specific YouTube channel.
Action: Send a Telegram message with the video link.
API Used: YouTube API (free tier) and Telegram API (free tier).

How it helps: Automatically notify your Telegram group or channel when a new video is published on your favorite YouTube channel.

13. Google Sheets to Email Notifications

Trigger: New row added to a Google Sheet.
Action: Send an email notification when the row is added.
API Used: Google Sheets API (free tier) and Gmail API (free tier).

How it helps: Get email alerts every time a new row is added to your Google Sheet, perfect for tracking new form submissions or sales leads.

14. New Twitter Mentions to Slack

Trigger: Mention of your Twitter handle.
Action: Post a Slack message whenever you're mentioned on Twitter.
API Used: Twitter API (free tier) and Slack API (free tier).

How it helps: Get immediate Slack notifications when you're mentioned on Twitter, keeping you up to date on brand mentions or interactions.

15. New Instagram Post to Telegram

Trigger: New post on Instagram (via a public hashtag or user).
Action: Send a message with the post link to a Telegram channel.
API Used: Instagram Basic Display API (free tier) and Telegram API (free tier).

How it helps: Automatically send new Instagram posts from a specific user or hashtag to your Telegram channel, ideal for monitoring trends or tracking competitors.

Conclusion

These 15 free workflows provide a fantastic starting point for anyone looking to automate their tasks using n8n. Whether you're managing emails, social media, weather alerts, or project updates, n8n makes it easy to connect apps, automate tasks, and increase productivity without needing to rely on paid APIs.

Get started today by setting up one of these workflows and experience how n8n can save you time and streamline your processes. The best part? It’s free, and you don’t need coding skills to get started. So, what are you waiting for? Automate away!

Automation, n8n, Workflow AutomationFrancesca Tabor