💡 Why Learn n8n? A Beginner's Overview & Guide
Automation has become a cornerstone of modern productivity and n8n (affectionately known as “Nathan” in the community) is one of the most flexible tools available today.
When I first decided to explore automation platforms, I had dozens of options, from Udemy courses to YouTube tutorials. But I wanted something official, hands-on, and certification-based, so I chose to take the official n8n courses, both the Video Series (Beginner + Advanced) and the Text-Based Courses (Level 1 + Level 2).
Here’s everything I learned, what I’d recommend, and how you can get started, even if you’ve never automated anything before.
🎯 Why I Chose the Official n8n Courses
When you start exploring n8n, you’ll find many third-party learning options, one of the most popular being Udemy’s “n8n – The Ultimate Course”.
While that course looked comprehensive, it had two main drawbacks for me:
- 💰 It’s paid, while the official n8n courses are completely free and even reward you with badges (certifications) when you complete them.
- 🏆 The official courses are directly created by the n8n team, which means they reflect the latest features, best practices, and interface updates.
By the time I completed the official courses, I realised I didn’t need the Udemy course at all as I already had a strong grasp of both the fundamentals and the more advanced concepts.
🧩 My Step-by-Step Path to Learning n8n
🎥 Step 1: The Official n8n Video Courses (Beginner & Advanced)
The video series provided a solid conceptual foundation. Each lesson introduced a new skill, from understanding JSON and nodes to creating branching workflows, error handling, and debugging.
Course breakdown:
- ✅ Beginner Course: Introduces the basics, such as nodes, triggers, and workflow logic.
- 🚀 Advanced Course: Explores loops, merges, sub-workflows, and enterprise features.
It’s perfect for learning "why" automation works the way it does and learning the theory behind the practice.
However, there’s a major limitation:
The video courses don’t include any downloadable materials.
That meant recreating every workflow myself, even the spreadsheets and data files shown in the videos.
I ended up creating and sharing my own replica Excel tables (see Google Drive link further down) so others can follow along more easily.
📘 Step 2: The n8n Text-Based Courses (Level 1 & Level 2)
After the videos, I tackled the text-based courses, which were even more interactive. They build workflows step by step, allowing you to test concepts directly in the n8n editor.
🧱 n8n Text Course Level 1: Hands-On and Beginner-Friendly
Level 1 syllabus:
- Includes an integrated interactive workspace where you can edit and test workflows right in your browser.
- Covers everything from data collection and filtering to scheduling tasks, sending notifications, and exporting/importing workflows.
- Ends with a “Test Your Knowledge” quiz to earn your Level 1 badge.
⚙️ n8n Text Course Level 2: More Advanced, More Manual
Level 2 steps things up, you learn about:
- Merging and splitting data
- Error handling
- Data types and transformations
- Complex workflows that build upon previous levels
However, it’s much more hands-on and requires manual setup.
You must copy the provided JSON, save it in a text editor like Notepad, convert it into a .json file, and then import it into a new workflow, something the course doesn’t explain clearly.
That extra step can be confusing for beginners and I think n8n could make this part smoother with a direct import option or clearer guidance.
⚠️ A Major Roadblock: How I Solved the n8n "Discord Error"
While working through Level 1, I hit a frustrating problem that nearly stopped my progress completely. In the “Notifying the Team” lesson (where you send a Discord message summarising workflow data), the provided expression syntax threw an Invalid Syntax error.
Here’s the line that caused the issue:
This week we've {{$json["totalBooked"]}} booked orders with a total value of {{$json["bookedSum"]}}. My Unique ID: {{ $('HTTP Request').params["headerParameters"]["parameters"][0]["value"] }}.Even after searching everywhere, from the official n8n Community Forum, the Discord group, and even Reddit, I couldn’t find a working fix.
Finally, I discovered a workaround myself:
Replace the last part (the variable referencing the unique ID) with your actual ID manually.
✅ Fixed version:
This week we've {{$json["totalBooked"]}} booked orders with a total value of {{$json["bookedSum"]}}. My Unique ID: 12345ABC.
After that small change, the message was sent successfully and I was able to earn my badge.
🔧 Tip: If you run into this same issue, try the manual fix - it saves hours of frustration.
💬 The Power of the n8n Community
Even with that error, the process helped me discover one of the best parts of learning n8n which is its community.
If you ever get stuck, don’t stay stuck. Here are the best places to get help and inspiration:
- 💬 n8n Community Forum: Ask questions, share ideas, or get solutions from experienced users and n8n team members.
- 🧠 n8n Discord Server: Great for quick questions and real-time help.
- 🔍 Reddit (r/n8n): Helpful for niche problems and peer troubleshooting.
Beyond solving problems, these communities are goldmines for discovering new workflows, automation ideas, and creative use cases from people worldwide.
🎓 Which n8n Learning Path is Right for You? My Recommendations After Completing All n8n Courses
After finishing both the video and text courses, here’s what I’d recommend:
🆕 For Absolute Beginners
If you are brand new to n8n or automation concepts, I strongly recommend starting with both the Video Courses and the Text-Based Level 1 Course.
Why? This combination is highly effective. The videos give you the foundational theory, while the Level 1 text course provides the crucial hands-on learning and practice you need to build confidence.
🎓 For Intermediate or Experienced Users
Already comfortable with automation tools or basic n8n concepts? You can likely skip the beginner videos and start directly with the Text-Based Courses (Level 1 and Level 2).
Why? This path skips the basics and dives straight into more advanced workflows and practical challenges, which is a much better use of your time if you already know your way around nodes and simple connections.
🧠 For Experienced Automators
If you're already an n8n power user, your goal is mastery. For this, I recommend focusing exclusively on the Text-Based Level 2 Course.
Why? This course is specifically designed for mastering n8n's most advanced capabilities, tackling complex logic, and pushing the tool to its limits.
💭 Is Learning n8n Worth It? My Final Verdict
Definitely yes! And here are some reasons why you should also consider taking the official courses provided by n8n:
✔️ The official n8n courses give you everything you need to get started - FOR FREE.
✔️ The badges provide proof of completion and a motivational milestone.
💬 The n8n communities make up for any gaps with shared knowledge and support.
By the end, I didn’t feel any need to take the Udemy course. The official path had already given me:
- The theoretical foundation,
- The practical experience,
- The troubleshooting know-how,
- And the community connections to keep learning.
🌐 Bonus: My n8n Starter Pack & Resource List
📂 Downloadable n8n Practice Materials (Created by Me)
I’ve recreated and shared the missing workflow files and Excel datasets from the n8n video courses so you can follow along more easily.
👉 Google Drive link
💬 Recommended n8n Community Links
🔗 What to Learn After Getting Started with n8n
Ready to go beyond the basics? Explore how n8n workflows are transforming real business operations in our guide:
👉 Every Real-World n8n Use Cases & Workflow Examples for Business
Or, if you’re curious how tools like n8n fit into the world of AI agents, read:
👉 AI for Business: The Ultimate Quick Start Cheat Sheet
Together, they’ll help you connect the dots between automation, AI, and real-world productivity. 🚀