n8n Self-Hosting Requirements: What You Actually Need
Before you self-host, know the real costs. Hardware specs, database, SSL, backups, monitoring, and DevOps hours. We cover what's required and what's optional. Then decide: DIY or managed.
Self-Hosting n8n: What It Takes
n8n is open source and free to install. But free software is not free to run.
A €6/month VPS can host n8n. You just need to:
- Provision the server (1 hour)
- Install Docker and n8n (30 minutes)
- Set up PostgreSQL for production data (1 hour)
- Configure SSL with Let's Encrypt (30 minutes)
- Route traffic through NGINX or Caddy (1 hour)
- Back up your database daily (setup + monitoring)
- Patch security updates monthly (1-2 hours)
- Monitor uptime and logs yourself (ongoing)
That's 4-6 hours just to start. Then 1-2 hours every month, forever.
Most teams hire this out: €500-2,000 for initial setup, €50-330/month ongoing (at €50-100/hour freelance rates).
So your "€6/month" server actually costs €55-330/month in total cost of ownership.
Worth it if you're running 10+ workflows and need data residency control. Not worth it if you just want automation without the ops burden.
The Self-Hosting Path: Step by Step
The self-hosting requirements path: hardware, database, SSL, backups, monitoring. Here's what you need to run n8n yourself.
A VPS: Hetzner, Linode, DigitalOcean, or AWS. Min spec: 2 vCPU, 2GB RAM, 20GB SSD. ~€5-15/month.
Follow n8n docs. One curl script works for dev. Production requires Docker Compose with PostgreSQL, NGINX, SSL certificates. Plan 2-3 hours.
SQLite works in testing only. Production needs PostgreSQL: install, secure it, initialize n8n tables, back it up nightly. DevOps knowledge required.
A VPS: Hetzner, Linode, DigitalOcean, or AWS. Min spec: 2 vCPU, 2GB RAM, 20GB SSD. ~€5-15/month.
Follow n8n docs. One curl script works for dev. Production requires Docker Compose with PostgreSQL, NGINX, SSL certificates. Plan 2-3 hours.
SQLite works in testing only. Production needs PostgreSQL: install, secure it, initialize n8n tables, back it up nightly. DevOps knowledge required.
Pick a Server
A VPS: Hetzner, Linode, DigitalOcean, or AWS. Min spec: 2 vCPU, 2GB RAM, 20GB SSD. ~€5-15/month.
Install Docker & n8n
Follow n8n docs. One curl script works for dev. Production requires Docker Compose with PostgreSQL, NGINX, SSL certificates. Plan 2-3 hours.
Database Setup
SQLite works in testing only. Production needs PostgreSQL: install, secure it, initialize n8n tables, back it up nightly. DevOps knowledge required.
SSL, Monitoring, Backups
Automated SSL (Let's Encrypt via reverse proxy). Manual monitoring via logs or a tool like Prometheus. Your database backups your responsibility. Forever.
Why Teams Choose Managed Hosting
You get n8n running without the DevOps debt.
Automated Everything
PostgreSQL is provisioned. SSL renews itself. n8n patches roll out automatically. Database backs up daily. You don't touch any of it. Just build workflows.
24/7 Monitoring & Alerts
If your instance goes down, we know before you do. Real uptime SLA, not best-effort. You sleep. We monitor.
No Vendor Lock-In
Your workflows export as JSON. Your database is standard PostgreSQL. Leave anytime. n8n is open source: 204K GitHub stars, active community. You own your data.
Built for teams who need reliability
Everything Included
No tiers. No guessing. Every plan gets the same foundation.
Opsily's n8n Pricing
Pay for what you use. No setup fees. Cancel anytime. All plans include PostgreSQL, backups, monitoring, and unlimited workflows.
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Security & Compliance Built In
Your data stays yours.
GDPR Compliant
EU data residency available. Data never leaves the region you choose. Full audit trails.
Encrypted Backups
Daily automated backups, encrypted at rest. Restore in minutes if needed.
24/7 Monitoring
Real-time uptime monitoring. Alerts before issues affect you. SLA-backed.
No Vendor Lock-In
Export workflows as JSON anytime. PostgreSQL is standard. Open-source n8n (204K GitHub stars). You own your infrastructure choices.
Common Questions About Self-Hosting n8n
Thinking about DIY? Here's what to expect.
n8n needs at minimum: 2 vCPU cores, 2GB RAM, 20GB SSD storage, and Linux (Ubuntu 22.04 LTS or newer recommended). This works for testing and small workflows. For production with multiple users or AI/LLM workloads, plan on 4+ vCPU, 8GB+ RAM, and 50GB+ SSD. Database: SQLite for dev only; PostgreSQL required for production. You also need: Docker (the official deployment path), a domain name, SSL certificate (free via Let's Encrypt), and a reverse proxy like NGINX or Caddy.
Done Calculating the DIY Costs?
Opsily handles the infrastructure. You focus on building workflows. n8n self-hosting done right.