# n8n for Beginners: Your First Automations > What n8n is and how it thinks, then your first workflows: forms, schedules, expressions, Google Sheets, rules and a first AI step. n8n, n8n, n8n, and more. Source: https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/paths/n8n-beginner · Updated 2026-10-18 · Free from Stepthrough (https://learn.ynteractive.com) Updated October 18, 2026 For anyone new to n8n and to automation. You will learn what n8n is, how workflows, triggers, nodes and items fit together, and the difference between a test run and a published workflow, then build small real workflows: a form that logs itself, reminders every Monday, reminders written with expressions, form answers in a Google Sheet, a template, rules with If and Switch, and a first AI step that summarizes emails. Work through them in order: each step builds on the one before it, and every module runs in a practice copy of n8n right in your browser. It is free, and no experience is needed. Beginner 9 modules about 83 minutes Free [Start the path free](https://learn.ynteractive.com/modules/n8n-what-is-n8n-first-workflow) ## The path: 9 steps 1. [**Step 1: n8n: What Is n8n? Build Your First Workflow**](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/n8n-tutorial-for-beginners-first-workflow)✓ Done Beginner What n8n is and how it thinks, then your first workflow: a client inquiry form that catches every request and writes a one-line summary. No code, no accounts to connect. Free · about 8 minutes · Next up: [n8n: Items, JSON and Expressions, Explained by Doing](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/n8n-items-json-expressions-tutorial) 2. [**Step 2: n8n: Items, JSON and Expressions, Explained by Doing**](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/n8n-items-json-expressions-tutorial)✓ Done Beginner See how n8n holds data: pin five fake invoices, read them as items, Table and JSON, then write one reminder per invoice and a late fee with drag-and-drop expressions. Free · about 9 minutes · Next up: [n8n: Execute Step, Execute Workflow and Publish](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/n8n-execute-step-execute-workflow-publish) 3. [**Step 3: n8n: Execute Step, Execute Workflow and Publish**](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/n8n-execute-step-execute-workflow-publish)✓ Done Beginner Learn the buttons in today's n8n editor: run one node with Execute step, pin test data, run everything with Execute workflow, then Publish and copy the Production URL. Free · about 6 minutes · Next up: [n8n: Run a Workflow on a Schedule (Every Monday at 8am)](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/n8n-schedule-trigger-tutorial) 4. [**Step 4: n8n: Run a Workflow on a Schedule (Every Monday at 8am)**](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/n8n-schedule-trigger-tutorial)✓ Done Beginner Use the n8n Schedule Trigger to run a workflow by itself: every Monday at 8am, a timesheet reminder. Set the interval, test it now, and check the time zone. Free · about 6 minutes · Next up: [n8n: Send Form Answers Straight to Google Sheets](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/n8n-form-to-google-sheets) 5. [**Step 5: n8n: Send Form Answers Straight to Google Sheets**](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/n8n-form-to-google-sheets)✓ Done Beginner Build a consultation request form in n8n (required fields, email, dropdown), test it, and add every answer as a new row in Google Sheets. No webhook, no form tool to pay for. Free · about 10 minutes · Next up: [Find and Use n8n Templates](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/find-and-use-n8n-templates) 6. [**Step 6: Find and Use n8n Templates**](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/find-and-use-n8n-templates)✓ Done Beginner Skip the blank canvas. Find a ready-made workflow in the n8n template gallery, import it into your workspace, connect Google Sheets and Gmail, test it with a real form entry and publish it. Free · about 9 minutes · [Watch the video](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/find-and-use-n8n-templates#watch) · Next up: [n8n: Talk to Your Google Sheets with ChatGPT, from Zero (Free Credits or API Key, Google, Sheet, Chat)](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/n8n-talk-to-google-sheets-chatgpt-ai-agent) 7. [**Step 7: n8n: Talk to Your Google Sheets with ChatGPT, from Zero (Free Credits or API Key, Google, Sheet, Chat)**](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/n8n-talk-to-google-sheets-chatgpt-ai-agent)✓ Done Beginner Start from nothing: copy n8n template 7639, use n8n's free credits (or your own OpenAI API key), connect Google, make your own sheet, then ask it questions in plain English. Free · about 16 minutes · Next up: [IF and Switch in n8n: Route Work by Rules](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/n8n-if-and-switch-node-tutorial) 8. [**Step 8: IF and Switch in n8n: Route Work by Rules**](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/n8n-if-and-switch-node-tutorial)✓ Done Beginner Send each request where it belongs. Use an If node to split big jobs from small ones, then a Switch with named outputs and a fallback to route by service. Free · about 10 minutes · [Watch the video](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/n8n-if-and-switch-node-tutorial#watch) · [Read the guide](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/n8n-if-and-switch-node-tutorial#guide) · Next up: [n8n: Summarize Customer Emails with OpenAI](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/n8n-openai-summarize-emails) 9. [**Step 9: n8n: Summarize Customer Emails with OpenAI**](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/n8n-openai-summarize-emails)✓ Done Beginner Your first AI step in n8n: send each customer email to OpenAI with one prompt and get a one-line summary plus the next step. No agent needed, about a cent of API use. Free · about 9 minutes · Last step - Previous path: [n8n Intermediate: Real Business Workflows](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/paths/n8n-intermediate) - See: [All learning paths](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/paths) ## Related [n8n Automation Toolkit (18)](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/course/n8n-automation-toolkit) · [n8n tutorials (47)](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/tool/n8n) · [Business Automations with n8n (14)](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/paths/business-automations-n8n) · [n8n Jump Start (16)](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/paths/n8n-jump-start) [All free tutorials](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content) ## How every module works Each step is shown on the left, with a cursor pointing to exactly where to click. You do the same thing on the right, in a practice copy of the real tool. Get it right and it moves on. Nothing touches your real accounts until you're ready to build it for real. 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