n8n Cron Schedule

n8n is a powerful workflow automation tool that supports cron expressions through its Schedule Trigger node. You can create complex automated workflows that run on precise schedules.

How to Set Up Cron Jobs in n8n

Add Schedule Trigger Node

Start your workflow with the Schedule Trigger node

Code

// In n8n workflow editor:
// 1. Click '+' to add a new node
// 2. Search for "Schedule Trigger"
// 3. Add it as the first node in your workflow

Configure Cron Expression

Set your schedule using cron syntax

Code

// Schedule Trigger Settings:
// Trigger Mode: "Cron"
// Cron Expression: "*/5 * * * *"  // Every 5 minutes

// Common n8n cron patterns:
// */5 * * * *     - Every 5 minutes
// 0 * * * *       - Every hour
// 0 9 * * *       - Every day at 9 AM
// 0 9 * * 1-5     - Weekdays at 9 AM
// 0 0 1 * *       - First day of month

Add Workflow Actions

Connect nodes to perform your automated tasks

Code

// Example: Daily report workflow
// 
// [Schedule Trigger] → [HTTP Request] → [IF] → [Send Email]
//     (9 AM daily)      (Fetch data)   (Check)  (Send report)
//
// n8n supports 400+ integrations:
// - HTTP Request for API calls
// - Database queries (MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB)
// - Email, Slack, Discord notifications
// - Google Sheets, Airtable, Notion
// - And many more...

Activate Your Workflow

Enable the workflow to start running on schedule

Code

// Workflow Activation:
// 1. Click "Save" to save your workflow
// 2. Toggle the "Active" switch in the top right
// 3. Your workflow will now run on the defined schedule
//
// Note: Workflow must be Active for Schedule Trigger to work

n8n Cron Limitations vs CronUptime

n8n Limitations

•Requires self-hosted n8n instance or paid cloud plan
•Self-hosted n8n needs server maintenance
•No built-in uptime monitoring for the n8n instance
•Cloud plan has execution limits
•Complex workflows can be hard to debug
•Timezone handling requires manual configuration

CronUptime Advantages

✓No n8n instance required for simple HTTP triggers
✓Built-in monitoring and failure alerts
✓Lighter alternative for simple scheduled HTTP calls
✓Can trigger n8n webhook workflows reliably
✓Free tier for basic scheduling needs
✓Guaranteed execution with retry logic

Why Use CronUptime Instead?

While n8n cron jobs work for basic use cases, managing infrastructure for scheduled tasks adds complexity. CronUptime offers a simpler, serverless alternative.

No Infrastructure

We handle execution. No servers to maintain.

Reliable Timing

Built on Cloudflare for 99.9%+ uptime.

Any Endpoint

Works with any HTTP endpoint on any platform.

Frequently Asked Questions

Use the Schedule Trigger node as the first node in your workflow. Set the Trigger Mode to 'Cron' and enter your cron expression. Save and activate the workflow to start the schedule.

n8n uses standard 5-field cron format: minute (0-59), hour (0-23), day of month (1-31), month (1-12), day of week (0-7). You can also use special characters like */5 for intervals.

Yes, use the cron expression '* * * * *' to run every minute. However, consider your n8n plan limits and server resources. For high-frequency tasks, ensure your previous execution completes before the next one starts.

Use the Webhook node instead of Schedule Trigger. This creates a URL that external services like CronUptime can call. This is useful for reliable triggering with monitoring and retry logic.

Schedule Trigger uses cron expressions for precise timing (e.g., 'every day at 9 AM'). Interval mode runs workflows at fixed intervals (e.g., 'every 5 minutes') but doesn't guarantee specific times.

Quick Reference

Cron Expression:

*/5 * * * *

Human Readable:

every 5 minutes

Cron Jobs on Other Platforms

Cron Job in Node.js

Node.js

Cron Job in Python

Python

Cron Job List & Management

Linux/Unix

Vercel Cron Jobs

Vercel

Try CronUptime Free

Schedule HTTP requests without managing n8n infrastructure.

Try it now - Free

Create a cron job running every 5 minutes. No sign-up required.