n8n Hosting, Explained Without the Sales Pitch
There are three real ways to run n8n: do it yourself on a VPS, use the official n8n Cloud, or get a dedicated server someone else manages for you. Here's what each one actually costs — in money and in time.
Three Ways to Run n8n
Same software either way. The difference is who owns the infrastructure and who's responsible when it breaks.
Self-hosted (DIY)
From ~$5/mo (VPS only)
You run the server. All of it.
- Cheapest sticker price
- Full root access and control
- You install Docker, Postgres, and Caddy yourself
- Updates, backups, and SSL renewal are your job
- No one to call when it breaks at 2am
Best for: People who already run servers and want to keep every dollar
n8n Cloud (official)
From €24/mo (~$26)
Run by the n8n team, on shared infrastructure.
- Zero setup, official support
- Always on the latest version automatically
- Execution caps — 2,500/mo on Starter
- Shared servers, not your own resources
- No root access, no custom infrastructure control
Best for: Small, low-volume workflows where hitting a cap is unlikely
Managed dedicated (us)
From $7/mo
Your own server, we handle everything on it.
- Dedicated server — nothing shared with other customers
- Unlimited workflows and executions
- We handle updates, backups, SSL, and monitoring
- Slightly less hands-off than n8n Cloud's zero-config
- You pick a server size instead of a flat subscription tier
Best for: Anyone who wants dedicated resources without babysitting a VPS
What Actually Decides Your n8n Hosting Bill
It's rarely the sticker price. It's these three things.
How many executions you actually run
A workflow polling every 5 minutes burns 8,640 executions a month by itself. If you're anywhere near n8n Cloud's 2,500/mo Starter cap, a dedicated server with no execution limit is usually the cheaper option within the first month, not just long-term.
Who's on the hook when something breaks
Self-hosting means you're the one debugging a stuck container or an expired cert at midnight. Managed hosting means someone else is watching disk usage, applying security patches, and restoring from backup if a workflow corrupts data.
How much setup time you're willing to spend
A working Docker + Postgres + reverse-proxy setup takes a few hours if you've done it before, longer if you haven't. That time has a real cost — weigh it against what a managed plan costs per month.
Set on doing it yourself?
Nothing wrong with that — here are the guides we'd actually follow, written the way we'd want them written.
Or the provider-agnostic VPS guide if you're not locked into either.
If You'd Rather Not Set It Up Yourself
Dedicated servers, fully managed. Every plan includes automatic updates, backups, and a 10-day free trial.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the actual difference between n8n Cloud and self-hosted n8n?
n8n Cloud is the official hosted product — you sign up, get an instance on shared infrastructure, and pay per execution tier. Self-hosted n8n is the same open-source software (n8n Community Edition) running on a server you control, whether that's your own VPS or a managed dedicated server like ours. The workflow editor and node library are identical either way — what differs is who owns the infrastructure underneath.
Do I need a dedicated server, or is shared hosting fine for n8n?
It depends on volume. Light, occasional workflows run fine on n8n Cloud's shared plans. Once you're running scheduled polling, webhooks, or anything that fires more than a few thousand times a month, shared infrastructure starts working against you — either through execution caps or unpredictable performance when other tenants spike.
Is n8n hosting the same thing as n8n Cloud?
No — n8n Cloud is one specific hosting option among several. "n8n hosting" more broadly covers any way of running an n8n instance: n8n Cloud, a VPS you set up yourself, or a managed provider that gives you a dedicated server without the DIY setup.
Is self-hosting n8n actually free?
The software is free (n8n Community Edition, open source). The server isn't — a barebones VPS starts around $5/mo, and production-grade specs with backups and monitoring push that higher. The bigger hidden cost is time: someone has to keep Docker images updated, renew SSL certs, and respond when the instance goes down.
Can I move my workflows if I pick the wrong hosting option?
Yes. Workflows, credentials, and n8n's export format aren't locked to any specific host. We have a one-click migration tool that pulls workflows, tags, and folders from any existing n8n instance — n8n Cloud or self-hosted — into a new instance here.
What does a managed dedicated n8n server actually include?
On our plans: a DigitalOcean or Hetzner server that's yours alone, automatic n8n updates, daily encrypted backups (free above $20/mo, a small add-on below that), free SSL on a custom domain, live execution logs, and queue mode with Redis + Postgres on plans with 4 GB RAM or more.
Skip the Server Management
Get a dedicated n8n server, fully managed, from $7/mo. Try it free for 10 days — no charge until you're ready.
No credit card charge for 10 days. Cancel anytime.