How to Install n8n on Hetzner
The Docker CE app image, which CX or CPX size actually fits n8n, and the firewall setup Hetzner handles a little differently than most providers.
The Setup, Step by Step
- 1
Create a project and server in the Hetzner Cloud Console
New Server → under the Apps tab, pick "Docker CE" as the image instead of a bare OS. It ships Docker pre-installed, which skips the manual install step you'd need on a plain Ubuntu image.
- 2
Pick a size — CX for shared vCPU, CPX for dedicated
The CX line is Hetzner's shared-vCPU tier and is genuinely inexpensive — a CX11-class box runs under €5/month and is enough for light n8n workloads. Move to CPX (dedicated vCPU) once you need consistent performance under load.
- 3
Choose an EU datacenter
Hetzner's cloud regions are Falkenstein, Nuremberg, and Helsinki — all EU. If data residency inside the EU matters for your use case, that's Hetzner's main structural advantage over US-based providers.
- 4
Create a Cloud Firewall and attach it
Hetzner Firewalls are a separate resource you attach to the server, not an inline setting. Allow inbound TCP 22, 80, and 443; leave outbound open so n8n can reach the APIs your workflows call.
- 5
Point DNS, then bring up n8n with Docker Compose
Same compose setup as any other VPS — n8n, Postgres, and Caddy for automatic SSL. Nothing Hetzner-specific changes here once Docker is running.
Need the actual compose file? Our Docker guide has n8n, Postgres, and Caddy ready to copy.
Why People Pick Hetzner Specifically
Price-to-performance
The CX line is consistently cheaper per GB of RAM than most comparable providers — a real factor once you're running multiple instances.
EU-only datacenters
Falkenstein, Nuremberg, and Helsinki — useful if your workflow data needs to stay inside the EU for compliance reasons.
ARM (Ampere) option
Hetzner offers Ampere ARM instances alongside standard Intel/AMD — worth checking if you want the extra price-per-core efficiency and your setup doesn't need x86-only images.
We run managed Hetzner instances too
Same EU zones (Falkenstein, Nuremberg, Helsinki), available with annual billing on our pricing page. It's a live catalog — availability shifts since these are in-demand resources, so we show real-time status rather than a fixed list.
Check live Hetzner availabilityOr Our Standard Monthly Plans
Managed, updated, and backed up from $7/mo — DigitalOcean-based, month-to-month billing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do people choose Hetzner over DigitalOcean for n8n?
Mainly price-to-performance — Hetzner's shared-vCPU CX line is consistently cheaper for the same RAM than most competitors, and its dedicated-vCPU CPX line is competitively priced too. The trade-off is fewer regions (EU-only cloud datacenters) versus DigitalOcean's broader global footprint.
What Hetzner server size should I use for n8n?
A CX-tier box with 2 GB RAM covers light-to-moderate workflows comfortably. As with any VPS, RAM is what n8n runs into first — move up in RAM before you worry about vCPU count.
Does Hetzner have a 1-click n8n app like DigitalOcean's Marketplace?
Not an n8n-specific one — Hetzner's Apps tab includes a "Docker CE" image (Docker pre-installed) rather than a full n8n stack. You'll still write your own compose file, which takes a few extra minutes but gives you the same database and SSL control as a manual install anywhere else.
Which Hetzner datacenter should I pick?
Falkenstein, Nuremberg, and Helsinki are functionally identical in terms of server specs and n8n performance — pick whichever is geographically closest to your team or the third-party APIs your workflows call most often.
Is Hetzner a good choice for GDPR or EU data residency requirements?
Hetzner is a German company with EU-only cloud datacenters, which is why it comes up often in GDPR-conscious hosting discussions. Server location is one piece of GDPR compliance, not the whole picture — see our GDPR-compliant n8n hosting guide for what else actually matters.
Can I get a managed Hetzner-hosted n8n instance instead of setting this up myself?
Yes — we run managed n8n on Hetzner ourselves, available with annual billing, across the same EU zones (Falkenstein, Nuremberg, Helsinki). Check current availability on our pricing page — capacity varies since these are in-demand resources.
Skip the Firewall Console Entirely
Managed n8n on Hetzner or DigitalOcean, already configured. Free for 10 days on our monthly plans.
Weighing self-hosted against managed generally? See all n8n hosting options →