How to connect Zoho CRM to n8n?

This guide shows how to connect Zoho CRM to n8n and gives a working OAuth2 setup for Docker or n8n Cloud. You connect Zoho CRM to n8n by creating a Zoho OAuth app, running n8n with a matching redirect URI, and adding OAuth2 credentials in n8n. Follow the numbered steps to get tokens and test a simple flow.

What You Need

Zoho CRM account with admin access.
n8n running on Docker or an n8n Cloud workspace.
A public reachable URL or localhost with a tunnel for OAuth callbacks.
Basic CLI access for curl and docker commands.

How to connect Zoho CRM to n8n

How to Install n8n (Docker)

Run n8n locally with a known host and port. Set the host and protocol so the OAuth redirect works.

docker run -it --rm -p 5678:5678 \
  -e N8N_HOST="localhost" \
  -e N8N_PORT="5678" \
  -e N8N_PROTOCOL="http" \
  n8nio/n8n:latest

If you use a tunnel like ngrok, expose port 5678 and use the ngrok URL as your redirect URI.

Step 1: Create a Zoho OAuth App

Log in to Zoho API Console and create a new client.
Choose Server-based Applications and note the Client ID and Client Secret.
Set Redirect URI to http://localhost:5678/rest/oauth2-credential/callback or your n8n Cloud URL.
Set scopes such as ZohoCRM.modules.ALL or specific module scopes.

Step 2: Obtain an Authorization Code and Tokens

Open the authorization URL in a browser to get the code. Replace CLIENT_ID and REDIRECT_URI.

https://accounts.zoho.com/oauth/v2/auth?scope=ZohoCRM.modules.ALL&client_id=CLIENT_ID&response_type=code&access_type=offline&redirect_uri=REDIRECT_URI

After you get the code, exchange it for tokens with curl.

curl -X POST "https://accounts.zoho.com/oauth/v2/token" \
  -d "grant_type=authorization_code" \
  -d "client_id=CLIENT_ID" \
  -d "client_secret=CLIENT_SECRET" \
  -d "code=AUTH_CODE" \
  -d "redirect_uri=REDIRECT_URI"

The response includes access_token and refresh_token. Save the refresh_token for n8n.

Step 3: Add Zoho CRM credentials in n8n

Open n8n Editor UI and go to Credentials.
Create a new OAuth2 credential for Zoho.
Enter Client ID, Client Secret, and Redirect URI.
Use the built-in OAuth flow or paste the refresh token obtained earlier.

Step 4: Build and Test a Flow

Create a new workflow with the Zoho CRM node.
Select the credential you created.
Test a simple action like “Get Records” for a module.
Check node execution and logs for errors.

Update

Keep n8n and the Zoho API client up to date. Token endpoints or scopes can change. Periodically re-check Zoho API docs and n8n release notes.

Security

Store client secret and refresh tokens securely. Use environment variables or secret stores for Docker deployments. Limit Zoho scopes to only what you need. Use HTTPS for public endpoints and enable n8n authentication.

Done

You now have n8n connected to Zoho CRM. Create automations that read or write CRM data. Test each workflow in a safe staging account before running in production.

Written by Neil

Neil is a true n8n geek who lives and breathes workflow automation. He dives deep into nodes, triggers, webhooks, custom logic, and self-hosting setups, sharing everything he learns about n8n on AutomationCompare.com. As part of a broader team of automation specialists, Neil focuses purely on mastering n8n and helping others unlock its full potential.