Add a phone call step to an n8n workflow

What you need

• A HumanCalls workspace and an API key from the dashboard (10 free minutes come with a new workspace).
• In n8n, a Header Auth credential with the name Authorization and the value Bearer YOUR_API_KEY.

1. Request the call

Add an HTTP Request node: method POST, URL https://humancalls.ai/v1/calls, your Header Auth credential, and an Idempotency-Key header that is unique to the task (the execution ID works well). Send a JSON body like this:

{
  "to": "+12125550100",
  "business": "Harbor Supply Co.",
  "on_behalf_of": "Acme Robotics",
  "goal": "Confirm stock and earliest delivery for SKU 7712",
  "max_minutes": 10,
  "collect": {
    "in_stock": { "type": "boolean", "required": true },
    "delivery_date": { "type": "date", "description": "Earliest delivery date" }
  },
  "delivery": { "mode": "polling" }
}

collect names the answers you want and their types: string, number, boolean or date. The response is 202 with the task's id and status. Retrying with the same Idempotency-Key returns the same task instead of creating a second call.

2. Wait, then read the result

A person places the call during the business's opening hours, so build the wait into the workflow. Add a Wait node (15 minutes is a reasonable start), then an HTTP Request node: GET https://humancalls.ai/v1/calls/{{ $json.id }}. Loop back to the Wait node with an IF node until status is one of completed, failed, no_answer, declined or canceled.

{
  "status": "completed",
  "outcome": { "in_stock": true, "delivery_date": "2026-11-18" },
  "summary": "620 units available. Earliest delivery Wednesday.",
  "billed_minutes": 4,
  "cost_usd": 4
}

Branch on outcome like any other data. A required answer the business did not clearly give comes back marked as missing with a note, not guessed.

Webhooks and AI Agent nodes

If you would rather be pushed the result, register a connection for an n8n Webhook node and verify its signing secret; events such as call.completed then arrive signed with HC-Signature. The steps are in the API docs. Polling is simpler to start with.

For n8n's AI Agent node, the MCP Client Tool can point at https://humancalls.ai/mcp with your API key as a Bearer token, which gives the agent the same tools chat apps use. See Connect for the tool list.

Questions

What does a call cost inside a workflow?

The same as anywhere: $1 per connected minute, capped by max_minutes, and $0 when nobody answers. If credit is too low the API returns 402 and no call is queued. See pricing.

Can I use this from Make or Zapier?

Yes. Any tool that can send an HTTPS request with a header can use the same two calls.

Is there a rate limit?

Ten new tasks a minute per account and three open tasks per destination number. A 429 response includes Retry-After.

Related

• Check stock and price by phoneHave a real person phone a supplier or store to confirm stock, price and lead time, and get the answers back as typed fields your team or AI agent can use.
• HumanCalls in CursorAdd the HumanCalls MCP server to Cursor so its agent can ask a real person to phone a business and bring back typed answers, a summary and the recording.
• Collect quotes by phoneHave a real person phone several vendors with the same questions and return price, lead time and terms as comparable fields for you or your AI agent.