Yes. n8n has a public REST API that does many of the same tasks as the GUI, authenticated with an API key sent in the X-N8N-API-KEY header. It's available on n8n Cloud Starter, Pro and Enterprise and on all self-hosted editions, but not during the free trial (as of Nov 2026).
What the n8n API lets you do
n8n's public API lets you programmatically perform many of the same tasks you'd do in the editor, such as listing your active workflows. n8n's docs cover authentication, pagination and idempotency, plus an endpoint reference generated from the OpenAPI specification. That's useful when you run lots of workflows and want to manage them from a script, a deployment pipeline or another tool.
n8n also gives you two other ways in. The n8n API node lets a workflow call the API itself, so one workflow can manage others. And a CLI wraps the public API, which n8n recommends for developers, scripting, CI/CD and AI agent integration.
Which plans include it
| Edition | Public API |
|---|---|
| n8n Cloud Starter | Yes |
| n8n Cloud Pro | Yes |
| n8n Cloud Enterprise | Yes, with key scopes |
| Self-hosted, all editions | Yes, plus a built-in API playground |
| Free trial | No (as of Nov 2026) |
If you're evaluating n8n on a trial and want to script against it, that's the snag: you'll need to move to a plan or self-host before the API works.
Creating and using a key
- Go to Settings, then n8n API.
- Select Create an API key.
- Choose a Label and an Expiration time, then save the key somewhere safe.
- Send the key in a header named X-N8N-API-KEY with each request.
Requests go to your instance's base address. On Cloud that's your-name.app.n8n.cloud/api/v1, and on self-hosted it's your own instance URL followed by /api/v1. A good first call is to get all active workflows: if it returns your list, the key and URL are right.
To remove a key, go to Settings, n8n API, select Delete, then confirm with Delete Forever. Giving each key a clear label, such as the script or person using it, makes that much easier later.
Safe retries with idempotency
For supported POST requests, you can send an Idempotency-Key header. If the same request arrives again with the same key, n8n returns the first successful response instead of running the request a second time. That matters when a network hiccup makes your script retry: without it, you could create the same workflow twice.
Every key is an admin key, unless you're on Enterprise
n8n Docs, on authentication, spell out the catch. Scopes, which limit what a key can touch, are an Enterprise feature. On every other plan, an API key has full access to all of the account's resources and capabilities. So a key you hand to a contractor for one small job can read, change or delete anything in your n8n account.
Treat keys like admin passwords. Set an expiration time, use one key per script or person so you can delete one without breaking the rest, and never paste a key into a shared workflow note or a public repository.
A worked example for a small agency
Say you run client automations in n8n and want a weekly check that nothing's been switched off. A short script calls the API with your key, gets all active workflows and compares the list with last week's. Anything missing gets flagged to you. The same job could live inside n8n itself, using the n8n API node on a schedule. My guide to APIs and webhooks explains when polling like this beats waiting for a webhook.
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How Make and Cal.com compare
The Make API follows REST API design, with documentation covering authentication, pagination, sorting and filtering, and error handling. Cal.com's API v2 documents rate limits per authentication method, with API keys at 120 requests per minute. If you're weighing the platforms, see my comparison of n8n and Zapier.
My advice for n8n users
Yes, use the API, but get off the trial first and treat every key as full access. Label and expire keys, add an Idempotency-Key to POST requests that might retry, and try the CLI if you'd rather not write raw requests. If you're building agents on top, my guide to n8n AI agents is the next read.
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Frequently asked questions
Does n8n have a REST API?
Yes, a public API with an endpoint reference.
How do I authenticate?
Create an API key in Settings, n8n API and send it in the X-N8N-API-KEY header.
Is the API on every plan?
It's on Cloud Starter, Pro, Enterprise and all self-hosted editions, not the free trial (as of Nov 2026).
Can I limit a key's access?
Scopes are available on Enterprise plans.
Can workflows call the n8n API?
Yes, using the n8n API node.
