Why Self-Host?
The Stack
Step 1: Get a VPS
Step 2: Initial Setup (5 min)
Step 3: Install Docker (2 min)
Step 4: Run n8n (1 min)
Step 5: Add HTTPS with Caddy (2 min)
Step 6: Keep It Running
Step 7: Import Ready-Made Workflows
Total Cost Running n8n in the cloud costs $20+/month. Running it yourself costs $4.15/month. Here's the exact setup I use. n8n Cloud is great but: Self-hosting gives you unlimited workflows, unlimited executions, and full control — for the price of a coffee. Best options by price:
| Provider | Spec | Price ||---|---|---|| Hetzner CX22 | 2 vCPU, 4GB | €3.79/mo || DigitalOcean Basic | 1 vCPU, 1GB | $6/mo |
| Oracle Free Tier | 4 OCPU, 24GB | Free | I use Hetzner. Best price/performance in Europe. After signing up, create an Ubuntu 22.04 server, add your SSH key. n8n is now running on port 5678. But we need HTTPS. Edit /etc/caddy/Caddyfile: Point your domain's A record to your server IP, then: Caddy automatically gets and renews Let's Encrypt certificates. Your n8n is now at https://n8n.yourdomain.com with valid SSL. Once n8n is running, you can import workflow JSON files directly: I've packaged several production-ready workflows for free: All free (PWYW). Just import and add your OpenAI API key. vs n8n Cloud at $20-50/month. Any questions about specific steps? Comment below and I'll help you debug. Templates let you quickly answer FAQs or store snippets for re-use. Hide child comments as well For further actions, you may consider blocking this person and/or reporting abuse
# Connect
ssh root@your-server-ip # Update packages
-weight: 500;">apt -weight: 500;">update && -weight: 500;">apt -weight: 500;">upgrade -y # Create non-root user
adduser n8nuser
usermod -aG -weight: 600;">sudo n8nuser # Basic firewall
ufw allow 22/tcp
ufw allow 80/tcp ufw allow 443/tcp
ufw -weight: 500;">enable
# Connect
ssh root@your-server-ip # Update packages
-weight: 500;">apt -weight: 500;">update && -weight: 500;">apt -weight: 500;">upgrade -y # Create non-root user
adduser n8nuser
usermod -aG -weight: 600;">sudo n8nuser # Basic firewall
ufw allow 22/tcp
ufw allow 80/tcp ufw allow 443/tcp
ufw -weight: 500;">enable
# Connect
ssh root@your-server-ip # Update packages
-weight: 500;">apt -weight: 500;">update && -weight: 500;">apt -weight: 500;">upgrade -y # Create non-root user
adduser n8nuser
usermod -aG -weight: 600;">sudo n8nuser # Basic firewall
ufw allow 22/tcp
ufw allow 80/tcp ufw allow 443/tcp
ufw -weight: 500;">enable
-weight: 500;">curl -fsSL https://get.-weight: 500;">docker.com | sh
usermod -aG -weight: 500;">docker n8nuser
-weight: 500;">curl -fsSL https://get.-weight: 500;">docker.com | sh
usermod -aG -weight: 500;">docker n8nuser
-weight: 500;">curl -fsSL https://get.-weight: 500;">docker.com | sh
usermod -aG -weight: 500;">docker n8nuser
-weight: 500;">docker volume create n8n_data -weight: 500;">docker run -d --name n8n ---weight: 500;">restart always -p 5678:5678 -v n8n_data:/home/node/.n8n -e N8N_BASIC_AUTH_ACTIVE=true -e N8N_BASIC_AUTH_USER=admin -e N8N_BASIC_AUTH_PASSWORD=your_secure_password -e GENERIC_TIMEZONE=Europe/Rome -e EXECUTIONS_DATA_PRUNE=true -e EXECUTIONS_DATA_MAX_AGE=168 n8nio/n8n
-weight: 500;">docker volume create n8n_data -weight: 500;">docker run -d --name n8n ---weight: 500;">restart always -p 5678:5678 -v n8n_data:/home/node/.n8n -e N8N_BASIC_AUTH_ACTIVE=true -e N8N_BASIC_AUTH_USER=admin -e N8N_BASIC_AUTH_PASSWORD=your_secure_password -e GENERIC_TIMEZONE=Europe/Rome -e EXECUTIONS_DATA_PRUNE=true -e EXECUTIONS_DATA_MAX_AGE=168 n8nio/n8n
-weight: 500;">docker volume create n8n_data -weight: 500;">docker run -d --name n8n ---weight: 500;">restart always -p 5678:5678 -v n8n_data:/home/node/.n8n -e N8N_BASIC_AUTH_ACTIVE=true -e N8N_BASIC_AUTH_USER=admin -e N8N_BASIC_AUTH_PASSWORD=your_secure_password -e GENERIC_TIMEZONE=Europe/Rome -e EXECUTIONS_DATA_PRUNE=true -e EXECUTIONS_DATA_MAX_AGE=168 n8nio/n8n
-weight: 500;">apt -weight: 500;">install -y caddy
-weight: 500;">apt -weight: 500;">install -y caddy
-weight: 500;">apt -weight: 500;">install -y caddy
n8n.yourdomain.com { reverse_proxy localhost:5678
}
n8n.yourdomain.com { reverse_proxy localhost:5678
}
n8n.yourdomain.com { reverse_proxy localhost:5678
}
-weight: 500;">systemctl -weight: 500;">restart caddy
-weight: 500;">systemctl -weight: 500;">restart caddy
-weight: 500;">systemctl -weight: 500;">restart caddy
# Check -weight: 500;">status
-weight: 500;">docker ps
-weight: 500;">docker logs n8n --tail 50 # Update n8n
-weight: 500;">docker pull n8nio/n8n
-weight: 500;">docker -weight: 500;">stop n8n && -weight: 500;">docker rm n8n
# run the -weight: 500;">docker run command again # Backup (add to cron)
-weight: 500;">docker cp n8n:/home/node/.n8n ./n8n_backup_$(date +%Y%m%d)
# Check -weight: 500;">status
-weight: 500;">docker ps
-weight: 500;">docker logs n8n --tail 50 # Update n8n
-weight: 500;">docker pull n8nio/n8n
-weight: 500;">docker -weight: 500;">stop n8n && -weight: 500;">docker rm n8n
# run the -weight: 500;">docker run command again # Backup (add to cron)
-weight: 500;">docker cp n8n:/home/node/.n8n ./n8n_backup_$(date +%Y%m%d)
# Check -weight: 500;">status
-weight: 500;">docker ps
-weight: 500;">docker logs n8n --tail 50 # Update n8n
-weight: 500;">docker pull n8nio/n8n
-weight: 500;">docker -weight: 500;">stop n8n && -weight: 500;">docker rm n8n
# run the -weight: 500;">docker run command again # Backup (add to cron)
-weight: 500;">docker cp n8n:/home/node/.n8n ./n8n_backup_$(date +%Y%m%d) - $20/month for 5 active workflows
- $50/month for 15 workflows
- Your data lives on their servers
- Can't -weight: 500;">install community nodes freely - Hetzner CX22 — €3.79/month, 2 vCPU, 4GB RAM, 40GB SSD (more than enough for n8n)
- Docker — for easy n8n management
- Caddy — automatic HTTPS with zero config
- n8n — the automation engine - Menu → Import from File → select .json
- Add your API keys in the credentials section
- Activate the workflow - 🔗 Social Media Pack — Twitter autoposter, Reddit scraper, Instagram DM (5 workflows)
- 🔗 Lead Generation Pack — LinkedIn scraper, Google Maps, CRM follow-up (5 workflows)
- 🔗 Self-Host Cheat Sheet PDF — This guide as a printable PDF
