n8n Templates (2026): Where to Find Them, How to Use Them and 16 Ideas
n8n templates are ready-made workflows you can copy and edit. Here is where to find them, how to import one safely, and ideas by use case.
Short answer: n8n templates are ready-made workflows you can copy into your own n8n and edit. The official library lives on n8n's workflows site and is open from inside n8n through the Templates icon. You will usually need to add your own credentials and change a few settings before a template runs.
What are n8n templates?
An n8n template is a pre-built workflow: a chain of triggers, apps and steps already connected on the canvas. Templates come from n8n and from community members. They are useful for seeing what is possible and for learning how good workflows are structured, so you do not start from a blank canvas every time.
Where to find n8n templates
- Inside n8n: on n8n Cloud or a standard install, the Templates icon opens the official n8n workflows library. n8n also documents this on its workflow templates page.
- Community contributions: n8n says creators can submit workflows to the library through its Creator hub, so the library keeps growing and changing.
- Your own library: self-hosted users can point n8n at a custom template library with the N8N_TEMPLATES_HOST setting.
Anyone selling or sharing a pack of templates outside the official library is a separate source. Treat those like any download and review them before use.
How to use an n8n template
- Pick a template that matches the job and read what apps it connects.
- Open it in your n8n. From the library you can send it to your instance. n8n also lets you import a workflow as a JSON file or paste it onto the canvas.
- Add your credentials for each app node. n8n says you will usually need to add your own credentials and adjust settings.
- Test with sample data before you switch anything on.
- Activate the workflow only after you have checked what it will send, delete or post.
16 n8n template ideas by use case
These are common automation ideas, not a copy of any single template. Use the search hint to find templates that do the same job, then compare a few before you pick one.
Sales and CRM
| Workflow idea | Accounts you will usually need | What to search |
|---|---|---|
| New web-form lead goes to your CRM and a Slack alert | Form or webhook, CRM, Slack | Search "lead" or "CRM" in the library |
| Enrich new leads with company data | An enrichment service and your CRM | Search "enrich" |
| Reminder when a deal has had no activity for a set time | CRM and a messaging app | Search "follow-up" |
| New payment logged to a spreadsheet or CRM | Payment processor and Google Sheets | Search "Stripe" or "invoice" |
| Workflow idea | Accounts you will usually need | What to search |
|---|---|---|
| Daily AI summary of important emails | Gmail or IMAP and an AI model account | Search "email summary" |
| Route and label incoming support emails | Email account and a helpdesk or sheet | Search "support email" |
| Save attachments to cloud storage automatically | Email account and Drive or Dropbox | Search "attachments" |
| Draft replies for you to approve before sending | Email account, AI model and a manual approval step | Search "draft reply" |
Social media
| Workflow idea | Accounts you will usually need | What to search |
|---|---|---|
| Post new blog articles to your social accounts | RSS feed and social account logins | Search "RSS" or "social" |
| Schedule posts from a spreadsheet | Google Sheets and social account logins | Search "schedule posts" |
| Alert when your brand or keyword is mentioned | RSS or an API and a messaging app | Search "mentions" |
| Turn a long article into short post drafts | An AI model and a place to store drafts | Search "repurpose" |
AI workflows
| Workflow idea | Accounts you will usually need | What to search |
|---|---|---|
| Chatbot that answers from your own documents | An AI model, chat trigger and a document source | Search "AI agent" or "chatbot" |
| Summarize PDFs or meeting notes into a database | AI model and Notion or Sheets | Search "summarize" |
| AI assistant you can message on Telegram | Telegram bot token and an AI model account | Search "Telegram" |
| Research workflow that searches, summarizes and saves findings | Search or scraping service, AI model, storage | Search "research" |
Comparing tools? See n8n alternatives and AI agent builders. Building a Telegram assistant? See our best Telegram bots guide for handles and safety tips.
Check a template before you run it
- Read every node. Look for steps that send email, post publicly, delete records or call outside services.
- Use dedicated credentials. Give a template the minimum access it needs and avoid your main admin accounts at first.
- Never paste secrets into a workflow you plan to share. API keys belong in credentials, not in node fields.
- Start with test data and a small volume, because a mistake in a loop can run many times.
Do templates cost anything?
Templates in the official library are free to use, but running them is not free if you use n8n Cloud. Cloud plans are based on workflow executions per month, so a template that runs often can use up your allowance. See our n8n pricing guide for the plans, or run the free Community Edition on your own server. For free AI tools to pair with your workflows, see the free AI tools list.
Frequently asked questions
What are n8n templates?
n8n templates are pre-built workflows from n8n and its community that you can copy into your own n8n and edit.
Are n8n templates free?
The templates in n8n's official library are free to use. Running workflows on n8n Cloud counts against your plan's executions, and self-hosting has its own server costs.
Where can I find n8n templates?
Open the Templates icon inside n8n, which opens the n8n workflows library on Cloud or a standard install, or browse the library on n8n's website.
How do I import an n8n template?
Open the template from the library in your n8n, or import a workflow JSON file or paste it onto the canvas. Then add your own credentials, test it and activate it.
Do n8n templates work without changes?
Usually not. n8n says you will typically need to add your own credentials and adjust settings before a template runs.
Can I share my own n8n templates?
Yes. n8n says you can submit workflows to its template library through the Creator hub, although the details may change.
Do n8n templates use up my executions?
Yes. Each run of a template workflow counts as an execution on plans that are based on executions, so check the plan limits before you activate a busy workflow.
Ready to try a template?
Start with n8n Cloud or self-host the free Community Edition, then import your first workflow.
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