Beginner’s Guide to n8n If Node: 10 Practical Use Cases with Detailed Explanations

D: The If Node in n8n is one of the most powerful tools for workflow automation, allowing you to create conditional logic that can branch your workflows based on specific criteria. 🚀 Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced user, mastering the If Node will significantly enhance your automation capabilities.

In this guide, we’ll explore 10 practical use cases with step-by-step explanations, making it easy for you to implement them in your own workflows.

🔹 1. Filtering Incoming Emails

Scenario: Automatically categorize emails based on keywords.
How It Works:

1. Use the Email Trigger node to fetch new emails.
2. Add an If Node to check if the subject/body contains words like “urgent,” “support,” or “invoice.”
3. Route emails to different actions (e.g., Slack alerts, Trello tasks, or Google Sheets logs).

Example Condition:

{{ $json["subject"] contains "urgent" }}  

🔹 2. Auto-Approving Low-Risk Expenses

Scenario: Approve expenses under $100 automatically; flag higher amounts for review.
How It Works:

1. Receive expense data via Google Forms or Airtable.
2. Use the If Node to check:
   • If amount ≤ 100 → Auto-approve (send confirmation email).
   • Else → Notify manager via Slack.

Example Condition:

{{ $json["amount"] <= 100 }}  

🔹 3. Dynamic CRM Updates

Scenario: Update Salesforce contacts only if they meet certain criteria (e.g., “VIP” tag).
How It Works:

1. Fetch contact data from HubSpot or Pipedrive.
2. Use If Node to check for tags like “VIP” or “High-Value.”
3. Trigger personalized follow-ups or special discounts.

Example Condition:

{{ $json["tags"] includes "VIP" }}  

🔹 4. Weather-Based Notifications

Scenario: Send an umbrella reminder if rain is forecasted.
How It Works:

1. Pull weather data from OpenWeatherMap API.
2. Use If Node to check:
   • If weather == "rain" → Send SMS via Twilio.
   • Else → Do nothing.

Example Condition:

{{ $json["weather"][0]["main"] == "Rain" }}  

🔹 5. Social Media Auto-Engagement

Scenario: Like tweets containing your brand name.
How It Works:

1. Monitor Twitter via Twitter Trigger.
2. Use If Node to check if the tweet contains “@YourBrand.”
3. Trigger an automatic “like” or reply.

Example Condition:

{{ $json["text"] includes "@YourBrand" }}  

🔹 6. E-Commerce Order Routing

Scenario: Split orders into “Express” or “Standard” shipping based on order value.
How It Works:

1. Receive order data from Shopify or WooCommerce.
2. Use If Node to check:
   • If order_total > 200 → Assign “Express Shipping.”
   • Else → Assign “Standard Shipping.”

Example Condition:

{{ $json["total_price"] > 200 }}  

🔹 7. Automated Survey Responses

Scenario: Send a thank-you email only if a survey rating is 5 stars.
How It Works:

1. Collect responses via Typeform or Google Forms.
2. Use If Node to check:
   • If rating == 5 → Send a thank-you email (via SendGrid).
   • Else → Send a feedback request.

Example Condition:

{{ $json["rating"] == 5 }}  

🔹 8. Smart Calendar Scheduling

Scenario: Auto-decline meetings outside business hours.
How It Works:

1. Use Google Calendar Trigger for new invites.
2. If Node checks:
   • If start_time < 9 AM OR end_time > 6 PM → Decline (via Gmail).
   • Else → Accept.

Example Condition:

{{ $json["start"].split('T')[1] < "09:00" }}  

🔹 9. Low Stock Alerts

Scenario: Notify your team when inventory drops below a threshold.
How It Works:

1. Fetch stock levels from Airtable or Sheets.
2. If Node checks:
   • If stock < 10 → Post in Slack / Microsoft Teams.

Example Condition:

{{ $json["quantity"] < 10 }}  

🔹 10. AI-Powered Spam Filter

Scenario: Use OpenAI to detect spam in form submissions.
How It Works:

1. Get form data via Webhook.
2. Send text to OpenAI Node for spam detection.
3. If Node checks:
   • If spam_score > 0.8 → Move to “Spam” folder.
   • Else → Process normally.

Example Condition:

{{ $json["openai"]["spam_score"] > 0.8 }}  

🎯 Final Tips for Using If Node Effectively

✔ Test Conditions using the “Execute Node Once” feature.
✔ Combine Multiple Conditions with AND / OR.
✔ Use Expressions for advanced comparisons (e.g., regex).

Now you’re ready to supercharge your n8n workflows with the If Node! 🚀 Which scenario will you try first? Let us know in the comments! 💬

(Need help? Check n8n’s official docs for more details.)