If you’re building in HighLevel and feel like Zapier is bleeding your wallet dry every month… yeah, you’re not alone. 😩
We just hosted a killer Zoom training where Mario Aldayuz—our Head of Partnerships and full-on HighLevel automation nerd—walked through how N8N (yep, it’s pronounced “N-eight-N”) is flipping the script on agency automation.
Here’s what went down—and why I think this one shift could save you thousands and make your agency 10x more scalable. 👇
Wait… What Is N8N?
Think of N8N as Zapier’s smarter, cheaper, open-source cousin.
It’s a workflow automation platform, but here’s the kicker: you can self-host it, build crazy custom workflows, and stop paying enterprise-level fees for every little zap.
💸 Mario dropped this stat during the training that blew my mind:
Some agencies are paying $20k+ per month on Zapier. N8N does the same stuff for under $1k—if you self-host it.
That’s $19,000+ in savings. Per month. 😳
Now imagine reinvesting that into scaling your SaaS, hiring a new dev, or running ads.
Why N8N Plays So Nicely with HighLevel
HighLevel is amazing, but let’s be real—it wasn’t built to handle super complex logic or API-driven workflows all on its own.
That’s where N8N steps in.
Mario broke it down during the session: with N8N, you can do stuff like…
✅ Pull live GHL data and send it to Airtable or Google Sheets
✅ Trigger advanced email/SMS flows based on any webhook
✅ Auto-sync user data across multiple subaccounts
✅ Handle API token refresh logic without pulling your hair out
⚙️ Basically: N8N gives you back control.
Zapier vs. N8N: Not Even Close
Let’s compare side by side:
| Feature | Zapier | N8N |
| Monthly cost for big agencies | Up to $22k 😬 | ~$1k (self-hosted) ✅ |
| Flexibility | Limited | Fully customizable |
| API logic handling | Painful | Built-in |
| Open-source? | Nope | Yep 🔥 |
For agencies managing dozens or hundreds of HighLevel subaccounts, it’s a no-brainer. The more clients you scale, the more valuable N8N becomes.
Quick Tips
These nuggets alone were worth the whole Zoom call:
🛠 Test your workflows in chunks – N8N lets you break flows into nodes so you can test step-by-step (game-changer for debugging).
🔐 Protect your data – Use N8N’s built-in credential management to handle API keys securely across workflows.
📡 Use HighLevel’s webhooks + APIs smartly – Combine GHL’s real-time triggers with N8N’s power for automation that feels magical.
So… Should You Make the Switch?
If you’re…
- Constantly hitting Zapier task limits
- Scaling multiple subaccounts and need custom logic
- Sick of duct-taping together half-working automations
- Ready to own your automations without crazy recurring costs…
…then yeah, it’s time.
I’m not saying N8N is for everyone. But if you’re serious about growing a lean, scalable, automated agency, it’s one of the best investments you can make right now.
Want Help Making It All Work?
At HL Pro Tools, we’re already deep in the N8N trenches.
We’ve got:
🚀 Pre-built automation packs
🧑💻 Setup support if you’re not technical
🎓 Live trainings (like the one with Mario)
🎨 White-labeled solutions you can sell to clients
Head to hlprotools.com to grab tools, training, and support to build a smarter HighLevel agency—faster.
