Migrating from n8n

n8n is an open-source, self-hostable workflow automation platform popular with technical teams. This guide is for teams that are moving from n8n to Chase Agents, or evaluating which platform better fits their needs.

When Chase Agents Makes Sense Over n8n

n8n is excellent for technical teams that want full self-hosted control and are comfortable managing infrastructure. Chase Agents is better when you want: AI-native automation building (describe workflows in natural language), AI-driven self-healing when automations break, human approval gates built into the platform, AI Agents that can use your same connections conversationally, and a fully managed service with no infrastructure to maintain.

Concept Mapping

An n8n Workflow maps to a Chase Agents Automation. n8n Nodes map to Chase Agents step types. n8n's Function node (where you write JavaScript) maps to Chase Agents' run_sandboxed_code step (where you write Python). n8n's IF node maps to Chase Agents' if step. n8n's Switch node maps to Chase Agents' switch step. n8n's Merge node maps to Chase Agents' merge step. n8n's credentials map to Chase Agents' connection credentials stored in the vault.

Handling Custom Code

n8n's Code node lets you write JavaScript or Python. Chase Agents' run_sandboxed_code step supports Python. If you have n8n workflows with JavaScript code nodes, you will need to rewrite those as Python. For most data transformation tasks, the Python equivalents are straightforward. The Chase Agents sandbox also provides built-in helper functions including ai.generateText for LLM calls, ai.generateObject for structured outputs, rankByEmbeddings for semantic ranking, and document generation helpers.

Connections and Credentials

n8n credentials are stored in your self-hosted instance. When migrating to Chase Agents, re-enter your credentials as MCP connections in the Connections Marketplace. For each n8n credential, find or create the corresponding MCP connection in Chase Agents. Template variables in Chase Agents serve the same security purpose as n8n's credential manager: they keep secrets out of workflow definitions.

Trigger Migration

n8n supports cron triggers, webhook triggers, and manual triggers. Chase Agents supports the same three plus event-based triggers. n8n cron expressions map directly to Chase Agents' Cron trigger format. n8n webhooks map to Chase Agents' Webhook trigger. When switching from n8n webhooks to Chase Agents, you will receive a new webhook URL from Chase Agents. Update the source service to point to the new URL before disabling the n8n workflow.

Using the Chat Builder for Migration

For each n8n workflow you want to migrate, open the Chase Agents chat builder and describe what the workflow does. Include the trigger, the services it connects, the transformations it performs, and any branching logic. Chase Agents will generate the equivalent automation. Review the generated steps in the visual editor and adjust as needed. This is often faster than manually building each step from scratch.

Testing and Cutover

Run both the n8n workflow and the Chase Agents automation in parallel for a few days before cutting over fully. Compare outputs in Workflow History. Once you are confident the Chase Agents version produces identical results, deactivate the n8n workflow. Keep your n8n instance running for a few weeks after cutover as a fallback while you gain confidence in the Chase Agents versions.

Getting Help

The Chase Agents Discord community includes many users who have migrated from n8n. Share your specific migration challenges in the channel and you will get practical guidance from people who have navigated the same transition. The Chase Agents team is also available for migration consultation via charles@chaseagents.com.