n8n Hosting Comparison

There is no single best provider for everyone. n8n Cloud suits you if you do not want to operate a server. For self-hosting, compare server resources, location, price, and the support your VPS plan includes.

Yes. You can self-host the Community Edition on your computer without a software subscription fee for permitted personal or internal uses. n8n uses the Sustainable Use License rather than an unrestricted open-source licence. Hardware, electricity, external APIs, and a rented server can still cost money. The local computer must remain available to run its workflows.

n8n Cloud is a better fit if you do not want to manage the server and its execution limits fit your workflows. With self-hosting, you choose and operate the infrastructure and handle updates, backups, and security. Connected services still process data under their own terms.

n8n does not publish one minimum that fits every installation. Resource needs depend on workflows, execution data, and concurrent runs. Measure CPU and memory under your real workload, then scale accordingly. The current Docker Compose guide for the additional n8n Assistant sandbox stack requires 2 vCPUs and 4 GB of RAM. That is not a general minimum for n8n.

Yes. n8n provides official guides for Docker and Docker Compose. The Docker Compose guide is for people who can manage servers and containers themselves. That includes HTTPS, persistent storage, updates, and backups. If you do not want that operational work, n8n recommends its Cloud service.

On November 1, 2026, n8n listed the Cloud Starter plan at EUR 20 per month billed annually (EUR 24 billed monthly) for 2,500 workflow executions, and Pro at EUR 50 (EUR 60) for 10,000 executions. Listed prices exclude taxes. For self-hosting, a VPS with preinstalled n8n costs, for example, USD 6.49 per month at Hostinger (KVM 1, 24-month term, renewing at USD 11.99), EUR 4.40 net at Contabo (Cloud VPS 4, first 24 months), and EUR 4 per month at IONOS for the first 3 months (then EUR 12, plus a EUR 10 setup fee). Hetzner lists the CX23 at EUR 5.49 net without IPv4 since June 15, 2026, but it is currently not orderable. Total cost depends on server, term, and whether you self-host or use a managed plan.

Self-hosting n8n on an EU server does not automatically make your specific setup GDPR-compliant. Review the personal data used by your workflows and connected services. Also check the legal basis, data-processing agreements, security measures, and any international transfers. Server location is one factor, not proof by itself.

Start with n8n’s security audit, which you can run from the command line with “n8n audit.” Keep the instance updated, use HTTPS, restrict public APIs and risky nodes, and store only the execution data you need. Back up the database and encryption key regularly. The audit detects common issues but is not a complete security review.

In the canvas, open the Workflow menu and choose “Download.” On the destination instance, use the same menu’s “Import from File” option. For many workflows, n8n CLI packages are available in Preview. Workflow JSON includes credential names and IDs, but not the secrets. Set up credentials on the destination and inspect JSON before sharing it, because cURL headers can contain authentication data.

There is no single best support option for every setup. n8n Cloud includes forum access in Starter, Pro, and Enterprise. Its pricing page lists email support and dedicated support with an SLA only for Enterprise. On a self-hosted VPS, check whether your hoster supports only the infrastructure or also the operating system and n8n.

There is no fixed workflow count. Capacity depends on workflow complexity, data volume, and concurrent executions. Measure CPU and memory under your expected load, and check how much storage execution data uses. For larger workloads, queue mode with Redis and multiple workers can scale execution capacity.

With n8n Cloud, the provider hosts the instance, and your plan sets support and execution limits. With self-hosting, you operate the server and handle updates, backups, and security yourself. External APIs and your time can add costs in either setup.