n8n is a self-hostable automation tool that lets you connect apps and services to build custom workflows without writing full programs. One of the things I like most is how it manages to be both no-code friendly and developer-friendly. The visual editor makes it easy to piece together automations by dragging and connecting nodes. If you don't know how to code, you can still get a lot done. And if you do, there’s room to drop in custom functions and go deeper.

I started using it to automate backups and pull data from APIs, but one of my favorite use cases is archiving my Spotify playlists. I set it up to grab my Discover Weekly, Release Radar, and Daylist, then save those tracks to long-term archive playlists each week. It runs on a schedule and keeps everything organized without me lifting a finger. It’s not always plug-and-play, but once you figure it out, n8n becomes a seriously powerful tool for automating the stuff you don’t want to do manually.

n8n’s pricing starts at €20/month for 2,500 executions and basic features. The Pro plan at €50/month adds more workflows, concurrency, and admin tools. Enterprise offers full customization and support, with pricing on request.