AI and machine learning · Free online course
AI Agents and Workflow Automation with n8n
No-code automation with a language model in the loop, for the jobs an engineering office does by hand: triage maintenance tickets, send the 07:00 plant report, log a phone form into a register, watch a mailbox. n8n runs free on a laptop; the AI node points at a free model or a local Ollama. Every write goes through a human approval step.
- 12 modules
- 19h 34m of video
- Beginner
- English
- ₹0, free
- Lab practice in your browser
₹0Free for good
Worth ₹8,999 by length and depth against classroom training. It has always been free; that is not a former price.
No card. Checkout takes a minute and gives you a receipt.
Overview
About AI Agents and Workflow Automation with n8n
Build no-code workflows in n8n that use an AI model to handle everyday engineering office jobs, with a person approving every write.
AI Agents and Workflow Automation with n8n is a free, self-paced online course from EDWartens for engineers, developers and students applying AI to real work. It has 12 modules and 19h 34m of video lessons by n8n, Sven Janssen, AI Lavishka and others, with written notes and worked problems, a practical project with a document pack and a 15-question final assessment (pass mark 60%). Learning is free with an account; an optional certificate with a public verification code is issued when you pass. Last updated 27 September 2026.
Who it is for: Engineers, developers and students applying AI to real work
This course includes
- 19h 34m of video lessons
- 12 modules with written notes and diagrams
- One final assessment: 15 questions, pass mark 60%
- Ask-an-engineer support from practising engineers
- Lifetime access, the course does not expire
- Optional verifiable certificate when you finish
- Step 1 of 3
Learn the 12 modules
19h 34m of video lessons, written notes and a practice task per module, at your own pace.
- Step 2 of 3
Pass the final assessment
15 questions drawn from every module, pass mark 60%, 3 attempts.
- Step 3 of 3
Take the certificate, if you want it
Optional, paid once, only if you choose it. The course stays free either way.
See the certificate and its price
A look inside
From the lessons
What n8n is: workflows, APIs and webhooks
by n8n
Nodes, items and expressions
by n8n
Core workflow concepts and everyday nodes
by n8n
![n8n Quick Start Tutorial: Build Your First Workflow [2025]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/4cQWJViybAQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Your first workflow: form to sheet to alert
by n8n
Transforming data
by Sven Janssen
Error handling and safe writes
by n8n
Lesson frames belong to the creators named in the Credits and are shown from YouTube.
What you learn
What you will be able to do
By the end you will be able to:
- Build n8n workflows from triggers, app nodes and expressions
- Transform data and handle errors with retries
- Build an AI agent with memory, tools and structured output
- Put a human approval step before every write
- Build a RAG agent over your own documents
How it works
How this course works
Watch the lessons
Short video lessons, one module at a time, at your own pace.
Read the notes
Open the Reading tab for the written notes and diagrams of the module.
Practise in the 3D labOptional
Try the module in the free 3D lab, in your browser.
Check yourself
Answer the questions to see what stuck before you move on.
Final assessment
Pass the final once you have been through the modules.
Certificate, if you want oneOptional
Optional, with a page anyone can use to verify it.
Syllabus
Course content, module by module
In order, at whatever pace suits you. Each module ends with a practice task that builds on the last.
- Modules
- 12
- Video lessons
- 30
- Of video
- 19h 34m
- Final questions
- 15
- 01
What n8n is: workflows, APIs and webhooks
3 lessons · 32m - 02
Nodes, items and expressions
3 lessons · 45m - 03
Core workflow concepts and everyday nodes
3 lessons · 50m - 04
Your first workflow: form to sheet to alert
3 lessons · 39m - 05
Transforming data
1 lesson · 16m - 06
Error handling and safe writes
3 lessons · 36m - 07
Your first AI agent, with lab practice:
3 lessons · 9h 8m - 08
Tools, guardrails and human-in-the-loop, with lab practice:
3 lessons · 1h 21m Final assessment · 15 questions, pass mark 60%
3D lab
Practise in the 3D lab
Practise the checks behind a good n8n agent in the AI Workbench: exact structured output, tool limits with human approval, and answers that cite their source.
- Prompt to specAI Workbench, about 25 minOpen in the lab (opens in a new tab): Prompt to spec
- A safe agentAI Workbench, about 30 minOpen in the lab (opens in a new tab): A safe agent
- Answers with sourcesAI Workbench, about 25 minOpen in the lab (opens in a new tab): Answers with sources
Optional. Skip it whenever you like: it never blocks your progress or your certificate.
Project
The course project
Optional practice that ends in the kind of job the course prepares you for, with the documents that go with it.
About 6 hours
A maintenance-ticket triage agent, with a gated write and a measured accuracy
Technicians report faults from a phone form. An AI agent classifies each ticket, drafts the acknowledgement, logs it to a register and alerts the lead on high urgency. Only after a human approves does it create the work order. You measure how often it classifies the way you would.
- 8documents in the pack
- 7steps to follow
- Laboptional: in the 3D lab
- 6things to hand in
- 6 hof work, at your pace
Do it in the lab: 5 steps.
Sample document pack, 8 documents, filled in for the scenario
- URSUser Requirements: Maintenance Ticket Intake and Triage
- SDSWorkflow Design: Ticket Intake, Triage Agent and Approval Sub-workflow
- RegisterGoogle Sheets Schema: MNT-Register
- ProcedureTriage Agent System Message, v1 and v2
- Test reportFunctional Test Record
- ReportClassification Accuracy on Fifty Labelled Tickets
- Risk registerRisk Register: Triage Agent in Service
- O&M manualOperating Notes for the Maintenance Lead and the Automation Engineer
Read inside the course and download as a workbook. The project is optional practice, marked when you submit it; the certificate needs only the modules and the final assessment.
About 4 hours
The 07:00 plant energy report, written by a model, sent by n8n
A scheduled workflow reads yesterday's 15-minute meter rows from a sheet. It computes kWh, peak demand and the hours over contract. It asks a free model to write the four-sentence morning note and sends it by email or Telegram. It has an error workflow and an idempotent log.
- 7documents in the pack
- 5steps to follow
- Laboptional: in the 3D lab
- 5things to hand in
- 4 hof work, at your pace
Do it in the lab: 5 steps.
Sample document pack, 7 documents, filled in for the scenario
- URSRequirements: 07:00 Plant Energy Note
- SDSWorkflow Design: NRG-Morning-Note
- ProcedurePrompt and Calculation Rules
- Test reportTest Record: Figures, Note, Idempotency and Errors
- ReportThree Morning Notes as Sent
- RegisterReports Sent Log (Sheet 'Reports sent')
- O&M manualRunbook: When the Morning Note Is Missing or Wrong
Read inside the course and download as a workbook. The project is optional practice, marked when you submit it; the certificate needs only the modules and the final assessment.
Tools
Software, hardware and lessons
Software
n8n (free self-hosted via npx or Docker, or the 14-day cloud trial), a free OpenRouter key, optionally Ollama.
Hardware
None. A laptop with 8 GB RAM for the optional local-model modules.
Who it is for
Beginner. No coding needed; a little JavaScript in expressions is taught as you go. Node-RED experience helps but is not required.
Video lessons by
- n8n
- Sven Janssen
- AI Lavishka
- Nate Herk | AI Automation
- freeCodeCamp.org
Independent creators, credited in full under Credits.
Software you need
What to download, where from, what it costs and how to install it. Every link goes to the maker's own site, never a mirror.
Self-hosted n8n needs Node.js (for npx) or Docker. The n8n Cloud trial needs neither.
Required
- 01Free to self-host (Community Edition)
n8n
n8n GmbH
- Runs on
- Windows, macOS or Linux with Node.js 20.19 to 24.x, or Docker
- Account
- None needed
The self-hosted Community Edition is free under n8n's Sustainable Use License: you may use it for your own internal business, personal or non-commercial purposes, but not resell it. n8n Cloud has a 14-day free trial with no credit card needed.
Steps
- 1.Install Node.js (version 20.19 to 24.x) from nodejs.org, or install Docker.
- 2.To try n8n without installing, run: npx n8n
- 3.Or install it globally with: npm install -g n8n and then run: n8n
- 4.Open http://localhost:5678 and create the owner account for your local copy.
- With Docker: docker volume create n8n_data, then docker run -it --rm --name n8n -p 5678:5678 -v n8n_data:/home/node/.n8n docker.n8n.io/n8nio/n8n
- n8n says npm installs are deprecated from n8n 3.0, so Docker is the safer long-term choice.
- The Cloud trial lasts 14 days with Pro plan features and up to 1,000 executions.
Official download pagedocs.n8n.ioAlternatives
- n8n Cloud free trial: Hosted by n8n. 14 days, no credit card.
- 02Free models with rate limits
OpenRouter
OpenRouter, Inc., in the browser
- Runs on
- Any modern web browser (API works from any language)
- Account
- A free OpenRouter account
Models with IDs ending in :free cost nothing but are limited to 20 requests per minute and 50 requests per day. Buying at least 10 credits raises the daily free-model limit to 1,000 requests.
Steps
- 1.Open openrouter.ai and sign up.
- 2.Go to Keys in your account settings and create an API key. Copy it somewhere safe.
- 3.Pick a model whose ID ends in :free.
- 4.Call it with any OpenAI-compatible client using the base URL https://openrouter.ai/api/v1 and your key.
- Never paste your API key into shared code or public repositories.
- The list of free models changes over time. Check the model page before a class.
Open OpenRouteropenrouter.ai
Optional
Useful, not needed to finish the course.
- 03Free
Node.js
OpenJS Foundation
- Runs on
- Windows, macOS and Linux
- Account
- None needed
Free, open source runtime. npm, the package manager, is installed with it.
Steps
- 1.Open nodejs.org/en/download.
- 2.Choose the LTS (long-term support) version and your system.
- 3.Download and run the installer with the default options.
- 4.Open a new terminal and run: node -v and then npm -v
- Pick LTS, not Current, unless your course says otherwise.
- Some tools need a minimum Node.js version. Node-RED 5 needs Node.js 22 or later.
Official download pagenodejs.org - 04Free for personal use, education and small businesses
Docker Desktop
Docker, Inc.
- Runs on
- Windows 10 64-bit version 22H2 (build 19045) or Windows 11 64-bit version 23H2 (build 22631) or later, with WSL 2 and hardware virtualisation on, 8 GB RAM. Also macOS and Linux.
- Account
- None needed
Free for personal use, education, non-commercial open source projects, and businesses with fewer than 250 employees and less than 10 million US dollars in annual revenue. Larger businesses need a paid subscription. Docker Engine on Linux is open source and is not covered by these terms.
Steps
- 1.Open docker.com/products/docker-desktop and download the installer for your system.
- 2.On Windows, install WSL first (wsl --install) if you do not have it.
- 3.Run the installer and keep the WSL 2 option selected.
- 4.Restart if asked, then start Docker Desktop and accept the subscription terms.
- 5.Open a terminal and run: docker run hello-world
- Turn on virtualisation in BIOS or UEFI if Docker says it is not available.
- On Linux servers, install Docker Engine instead of Docker Desktop.
Official download pagedocker.comAlternatives
- Docker Engine (Linux): Free, open source engine for Linux. Not covered by the Docker Desktop subscription terms.
- 05Free
Ollama
Ollama Inc.
- Runs on
- macOS 14 Sonoma or later, Windows 10 or later, Linux
- Account
- None needed
Ollama is free and open source (MIT licence). Each model you download has its own licence; check it before commercial use.
Steps
- 1.Open ollama.com/download and pick your system.
- 2.On Windows run OllamaSetup.exe; on macOS open the DMG; on Linux run: curl -fsSL https://ollama.com/install.sh | sh
- 3.Open a terminal and run a small model, for example: ollama run <model name> (browse names on ollama.com).
- 4.Type a question at the prompt. Type /bye to exit.
- Models are several GB each. Check your free disk space first.
- More RAM, or a supported GPU, lets you run larger models faster.
- On Windows you can also install from PowerShell: irm https://ollama.com/install.ps1 | iex
Official download pageollama.com
Checked against each maker's own page on 27 September 2026. Trial lengths and editions change; the maker's page is the final word.
What you walk away with
Your certificate for AI Agents and Workflow Automation with n8n
Finish the course, pass the final, and this is the document with your name on it.
Verifiable by anyone
Adds to LinkedIn in one click
QR code on the certificate
Names what you can do
A permanent link
Earned, not attended
Learning is free. The certificate is optional.
Add it now and pay only when you have finished the course, or come back for it later. One-off, US$23.99, with a receipt.
Issued by Wartens Ltd (England and Wales, company no. 15262249) through the EDWartens training portal, as a Certificate of Completion for this self-paced course. Sold in India by Wartens Automation Private Limited. It is not a vendor certification, a university award or a CPD-accredited activity, and it does not certify competence on live equipment. Delivered electronically; see the refund policy.
Practise what you learn in the free 3D lab
Technical work is judged on what you can do: wiring, commissioning, finding a fault. Doing a task yourself teaches more than watching it a second time, and a lab lets you try it safely before you meet real equipment. It does not replace working on real hardware.
- Practise safely, so a mistake costs nothing.
- The lab checks your work like a site test, so you know when it is right.
- Free, in your browser, with nothing to install.
Why learn with EDWartens
What you get with this course.
- Free from the first lesson to the final assessment.
- Practice in a free 3D lab in your browser, with nothing to install.
- Video lessons with written notes and a project.
- An optional certificate that anyone can verify online.
FAQ
Common questions
Is n8n free?
Self-hosted, yes: one command on your laptop (npx n8n) or Docker, no time limit. n8n Cloud has a 14-day trial and is paid after that. The course assumes self-hosted.
Do I need to code?
No. Expressions use a little JavaScript inside braces and are taught as you go; a Code node appears in two places with the code given. If you know Node-RED you will feel at home in an hour.
What is the project in the AI Agents and Workflow Automation with n8n course?
A maintenance-ticket triage agent. It takes tickets from a phone form, classifies them with AI and logs them in a register. It sends an alert for high urgency, and the work-order write waits for the lead's approval. There is an error workflow, and accuracy is measured on fifty sample tickets. A second project sends the 07:00 plant energy report written by a model.
Which AI model does it use?
Any. The course uses OpenRouter's free models through an OpenAI-compatible credential, and shows the swap to a local Ollama model for confidential data. No paid key is needed anywhere.
Is the AI Agents and Workflow Automation with n8n course really free?
Yes. Every module, practice task, project and assessment. You create an account so your progress is saved and the assessments can be marked. The certificate is the only paid item, and only if you want it.
What certificate does the AI Agents and Workflow Automation with n8n course give?
An EDWartens Certificate of Completion, issued when you have finished the modules and passed the final assessment (the project is optional practice), with a verification code anyone can check. It is not an n8n credential and is never described as one.
Who made the video lessons in the AI Agents and Workflow Automation with n8n course?
The creators named in the Credits block at the foot of this page, on their own YouTube channels. EDWartens did not make the videos and the creators are not affiliated with EDWartens. What EDWartens wrote is the study plan, the notes, the practice tasks, the projects and the assessments.
Do I have to use the lab?
No. The lab is optional practice. You can skip it whenever you like, and it never blocks your progress, the final assessment or your certificate.
Is the lab free?
Yes. Every lab level for this course opens in your browser, free, with nothing to install.
Is the AI Agents and Workflow Automation with n8n course free in India, and what does the certificate cost?
Yes. Learning costs ₹0 in India: every module, the written notes, the practice tasks and the final assessment, with no card and no trial period. The only paid item is the optional EDWartens Certificate of Completion, ₹499 including GST for this beginner course, paid in rupees through Razorpay, and only if you want it after passing the final assessment.
All course factsHide course facts
- Price
- ₹0, free for good. No trial, no card. Comparable classroom training of this length costs about ₹8,999.
- Who it is for
- Engineers, developers and students applying AI to real work
- Format
- 12 self-paced modules, 19h 34m of video, written notes, a practice task per module and one final assessment.
- Level
- Beginner. Beginner. No coding needed; a little JavaScript in expressions is taught as you go. Node-RED experience helps but is not required.
- Brand
- Vendor-neutral
- Software
- n8n (free self-hosted via npx or Docker, or the 14-day cloud trial), a free OpenRouter key, optionally Ollama.
- Hardware
- None. A laptop with 8 GB RAM for the optional local-model modules.
- Certificate
- Optional EDWartens Certificate of Completion, ₹499 inclusive of GST for learners in India, verifiable by code. Not a vendor credential.
- Video lessons by
- n8n, Sven Janssen, AI Lavishka, Nate Herk | AI Automation, freeCodeCamp.org (independent creators, credited below)
- Language
- English
- Last updated
- 27 September 2026
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Credits
Who made the video lessons
The video lessons in this course were created by the people below, not by EDWartens. Every lesson streams from its creator's own YouTube channel; EDWartens neither hosts nor sells that footage, and the creators are not affiliated with EDWartens and do not endorse this course. What EDWartens wrote is the study plan, the notes, the practice tasks and the assessments.
- n8nthe n8n Beginner Course, the quick-start tutorials, the AI agent lessons and the integration walkthroughs
- Sven Janssenthe Nodemation basics on the canvas and transforming JSON
- AI Lavishkathe RAG agent builds and the self-hosted versus cloud comparison
- Nate Herk | AI Automationthe eight-hour Build and Sell n8n AI Agents course
- freeCodeCamp.orgthe n8n zero-to-hero course
If you are one of these creators and would like a lesson removed or credited differently, write to info@wartens.com.