## Introduction
Many startups and operations teams rely on Airtable combined with Softr to build simple internal no-code CMS or internal tools for project management, CRM, inventory tracking, and more. While this combo is powerful and user-friendly, it comes at a recurring cost that grows with usage and complexity. For technically proficient teams, building the same no-code CMS functionality using n8n, an open-source workflow automation platform, can drastically reduce costs, increase flexibility, and gain full control over data and workflows.
This article will guide you step-by-step to create a custom no-code CMS that mimics the key Airtable + Softr features—data collection, CRUD operations, and dynamic content pages—using only n8n and free/low-cost complementary tools. This automation will benefit startup CTOs, automation engineers, and ops specialists looking to replace costly SaaS with open automation stacks.
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## Problem Statement
Airtable + Softr enables non-technical users to build internal tools without code, but costs escalate as usage grows:
– Airtable pricing tiers increase with records, collaborators, and automation runs.
– Softr charges for building and hosting dynamic frontends.
– Limited customization beyond what the SaaS platforms allow.
By replacing this stack with n8n, teams can:
– Build and host a flexible, scalable CMS.
– Use open-source technologies to avoid vendor lock-in and reduce monthly fees.
– Expand automation and integrations unlimitedly.
## Tools and Services Integrated
– **n8n**: the automation workflow orchestrator.
– **Google Sheets**: acts as the backend database to store CMS records (free alternative to Airtable).
– **Express.js (optional)**: to serve a simple REST or GraphQL API that interacts with n8n workflows.
– **Frontend**: created using free no-code tools like Webflow or custom React app fetching data from the API.
## How the Workflow Works: Overview
1. **Trigger:** An HTTP request triggers n8n workflows for Create, Read, Update, Delete (CRUD) operations on CMS data.
2. **Data Store:** n8n reads/writes data to Google Sheets.
3. **Processing:** n8n applies logic, validation, and formatting.
4. **Response:** Workflow returns JSON or HTML content consumed by the frontend.
This setup replicates Airtable’s database and Softr’s dynamic frontend rendering with open tools.
## Step-by-Step Technical Tutorial
### Prerequisites
– Running instance of n8n (can be deployed via Docker, n8n cloud, or locally).
– Google account with Google Sheets access.
– A Google Sheet prepared for your CMS data (e.g., columns: id, title, description, status).
### Step 1: Prepare Google Sheet as Your CMS Database
Create a Google Sheet with columns representing your CMS fields. For example:
– **id**: unique identifier (text or numeric)
– **title**: page or item title
– **description**: detailed content
– **status**: published/draft
Share the sheet and obtain credentials to authenticate in n8n via Google API (OAuth or Service Account).
### Step 2: Setup n8n Google Sheets Nodes
1. **Create Credentials**: Configure Google Sheets credentials in n8n.
2. **Create nodes**:
– Use **Google Sheets > Append Row** node to add new entries (Create operation).
– Use **Google Sheets > Read Rows** node to fetch records (Read operation).
– Use **Google Sheets > Update Row** node to update existing records (Update operation).
– Use **Google Sheets > Delete Row** node to delete records (Delete operation).
### Step 3: Create HTTP Webhook Triggers in n8n
For each CRUD operation, create a **Webhook** node that accepts HTTP requests:
– **POST /cms/create**: to create a new CMS entry.
– **GET /cms/read**: to read entries, with optional query params (id, filters).
– **PUT /cms/update/{id}**: to update an entry by ID.
– **DELETE /cms/delete/{id}**: to delete an entry by ID.
Configure each webhook to parse incoming data (JSON payloads, URL params).
### Step 4: Build CRUD Logic Workflows
**Create Operation Workflow:**
– Trigger: HTTP Webhook POST /cms/create
– Extract data from request
– Add unique `id` (e.g., UUID or timestamp)
– Use Google Sheets Append Row node to add data
– Return success/failure response
**Read Operation Workflow:**
– Trigger: HTTP Webhook GET /cms/read
– Parse query parameters for filtering (e.g., id, status)
– Use Google Sheets Read Rows node to fetch all or filtered data
– Return matched data in JSON
**Update Operation Workflow:**
– Trigger: HTTP Webhook PUT /cms/update/{id}
– Use Google Sheets Read Rows to find row number by `id`
– Use Google Sheets Update Row to update fields
– Return success/failure response
**Delete Operation Workflow:**
– Trigger: HTTP Webhook DELETE /cms/delete/{id}
– Find row by `id`
– Use Google Sheets Delete Row node
– Return confirmation
### Step 5: Enable Pagination and Filtering
For scalable data viewing:
– Use Google Sheets node’s built-in pagination or limit rows returned.
– Parse query parameters for filters (e.g., status=published).
– This allows frontend to request CMS pages in chunks.
### Step 6: Connect Frontend to n8n API
You can build a frontend using:
– No-code website builders with REST API integration (e.g., Webflow, Bubble).
– Custom React/Vue app.
Frontend requests CMS content through HTTP calls to n8n webhooks.
Example: Fetch published pages with GET /cms/read?status=published
### Step 7: Error Handling and Validation
– Validate incoming requests in n8n using the Function or IF nodes.
– Respond with 4xx / 5xx HTTP status and JSON error messages.
– Add retry mechanisms for Google Sheets API failures.
– Log errors for auditing.
### Step 8: Security Considerations
– Protect the n8n webhook endpoints with API keys, JWT, or IP whitelisting.
– Limit Google Sheets access with least privilege OAuth scopes.
### Step 9: Scaling the Workflow
– For larger datasets, switch Google Sheets to a proper database (PostgreSQL, MySQL), which n8n supports.
– Add caching layer with Redis to reduce repeated calls.
– Use n8n’s built-in queue and concurrency controls for better performance.
## Common Errors and Tips
– Google Sheets API rate limits: Implement retry and exponential backoff.
– Handling row IDs: Use unique IDs not dependent on sheet row numbers (store IDs in column).
– Data consistency: Lock workflows to prevent race conditions during updates.
– Workflow debugging: Utilize n8n’s execution logs and test workflows incrementally.
## Summary
Using n8n to automate CRUD operations against Google Sheets enables you to replace Airtable + Softr for no-code internal CMS tools. This approach reduces SaaS costs, boosts customization, and scales with your team’s technical capacity. By exposing n8n workflows as HTTP APIs, you unlock endless frontend possibilities—from simple websites to complex React-based dashboards—while maintaining full control over data and integrations.
## Bonus Tip: Automate Content Publishing Notifications
Extend your CMS with automation:
– Add a node to send Slack or email notifications when new CMS entries are published.
– Trigger workflows on data changes to prompt team collaboration.
This turns your no-code CMS into a dynamic, real-time operational tool.