Self-hosted n8n

No per-execution fee. Self-hosted, you run as many workflows and executions as your server handles for a flat hosting cost. This is the big one at volume.

You own the data. Client data stays on your infrastructure, never a third-party cloud, which matters for agencies handling sensitive accounts.

White-label. It runs under your brand and domain. Clients see your system, not an n8n cloud login.

Full control. Your own version, your own environment variables, community nodes, and integrations, with nothing gated behind a plan tier.

1. Get a small server (VPS)

A basic cloud VPS (a couple of GB of RAM) is enough to start, for a low monthly cost. Providers like Hetzner, DigitalOcean, or any cloud work.

2. Install Docker

n8n runs cleanly in Docker, which keeps it isolated and easy to update. Docker Compose is the standard way to define the setup.

3. Run n8n with Docker Compose

A short compose file sets n8n, a Postgres database for persistence, and the environment variables. Bring it up and n8n is running.

4. Put it behind a domain with HTTPS

Point a subdomain at the server and add a reverse proxy (Caddy or Nginx) with SSL, so it is secure and reachable at your own URL.

5. Back it up and keep it updated

Schedule database backups and update the container periodically. This maintenance is the part most teams underestimate.

Describe the automation

One message with what you want to automate. No spec, no discovery-call gauntlet.

Get a real scope back

Ayush replies within a day with what to build, on which tool, and roughly what it takes.

Built and maintained for you

White-label, on tech you own, and kept running. You are never locked into us to keep it working.

Is self-hosted n8n free?

The self-hosted Community edition of n8n is free software; you only pay for the server it runs on, which is a low monthly cost for a small VPS. Executions are effectively unlimited with no per-task fee, which is why self-hosting is the cheapest way to run n8n at volume.

How do I self-host n8n with Docker?

Get a small VPS, install Docker, and run n8n with a Docker Compose file that defines the n8n container, a Postgres database for persistence, and your environment variables. Then put it behind your own domain with a reverse proxy and HTTPS. Docker keeps it isolated and simple to update.

How much does it cost to self-host n8n?

Just the server. A small VPS that comfortably runs n8n costs a low single- to double-digit amount per month, and executions are unlimited on top of that. Compared with per-task tools like Zapier, self-hosted n8n is dramatically cheaper once you automate at any real volume.

Self-hosted n8n vs n8n Cloud, which is better?

Self-hosted is cheapest and gives you full control and data ownership, at the cost of setting up and maintaining a server. n8n Cloud is priced by executions but removes the maintenance. For an agency at volume that wants to own its data and white-label, self-hosted usually wins, provided someone keeps it maintained.

Is self-hosting n8n hard?

The initial Docker setup is straightforward if you are comfortable with a server; the ongoing part, backups, updates, security, is what teams underestimate. Many agencies have it set up and maintained for them so they get the flat-cost, data-owned benefits without running infrastructure themselves.