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  • Automation
  • Linux VPS
  • Ubuntu 24.04

Self-host n8n on a VPS

n8n runs well on a GhostRDP Linux VPS Basic plan with 2 vCPU and 6 GB RAM in Germany or the Netherlands, from €5.99/mo.

n8n is a workflow automation tool you can host yourself, so your credentials and workflow data stay on your own server. This guide runs it with Docker and reaches the editor privately through an SSH tunnel.

Order Basic · €5.99/moInstall steps

  • Visual workflows

    Connect apps and APIs in n8n's editor.

  • Your data stays here

    Credentials and runs are stored on your own server.

  • Private editor

    Reach the editor through an SSH tunnel, no open port.

Plans for n8n

n8n's Docker image runs comfortably on Basic. Pick Standard if you run many workflows at once or process large files.

  • Linux VPS Basic

    Recommended

    €5.99/mo

    €5.09/mo billed yearly, save €10/year

    • 2 vCPU
    • 6 GB ECC RAM
    • 40 GB NVMe
    • 1 Gbps port
    Order Basic

  • Linux VPS Standard

    €12.99/mo

    €11.04/mo billed yearly, save €23/year

    • 4 vCPU
    • 8 GB ECC RAM
    • 70 GB NVMe
    • 1 Gbps port
    Order Standard

  • Linux VPS Pro

    €25.99/mo

    €22.09/mo billed yearly, save €46/year

    • 6 vCPU
    • 12 GB ECC RAM
    • 90 GB NVMe
    • 1 Gbps port
    Order Pro

What you need

  • Operating system
    Linux VPS with Ubuntu 24.04
  • Minimum resources
    1 vCPU and 2 GB RAM
  • Software
    Docker (installed in step 3)

Official site: docs.n8n.io

How to install n8n

Written for Ubuntu 24.04 from the official instructions. Run the commands as root and replace YOUR_SERVER_IP with your server's address.

  1. 1

    Connect to your server over SSH

    Use the IP address and root password from your welcome email (the server page has a Copy SSH command button). Windows 10 and 11, macOS and Linux all include an SSH client in the terminal.

    Shell
    ssh root@YOUR_SERVER_IP
  2. 2

    Update the system

    Install the latest security updates before you add anything else.

    Shell
    apt update && apt -y upgrade
  3. 3

    Install Docker

    Docker's official convenience script adds Docker's own package repository and installs Docker Engine with the Compose plugin.

    Shell
    curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com -o get-docker.sh
sh get-docker.sh
docker --version
  4. 4

    Start n8n

    Creates a volume for your data and starts n8n on port 5678, listening on the server itself only.

    Shell
    docker volume create n8n_data
docker run -d --name n8n --restart unless-stopped \
  -p 127.0.0.1:5678:5678 \
  -e GENERIC_TIMEZONE=Europe/Berlin -e TZ=Europe/Berlin \
  -v n8n_data:/home/node/.n8n \
  docker.n8n.io/n8nio/n8n
  5. 5

    Open the editor through an SSH tunnel

    Run this on your PC and keep the window open, then open http://localhost:5678 in your browser and create the owner account.

    Shell
    ssh -L 5678:localhost:5678 root@YOUR_SERVER_IP

After installing

  • Public webhooks
    To receive webhooks from other services, put n8n behind a domain with HTTPS (for example Caddy or nginx as a reverse proxy) and set WEBHOOK_URL to that address.
  • Updating
    docker pull docker.n8n.io/n8nio/n8n, then remove and start the container again with the same command. Your data stays in the n8n_data volume.
  • Backups
    Server backups are not included. Export your workflows or copy the n8n_data volume somewhere safe.

n8n questions

Which plan do I need for n8n?

Basic for personal and small team use. Standard for many parallel executions or big data transformations.

Why use an SSH tunnel?

It keeps the editor off the public internet without setting up a domain and certificate. Only someone with your SSH login can reach it.

Is n8n free to self-host?

n8n offers a free self-hosted Community Edition under its Sustainable Use License. Check n8n's license terms for business use.

Where is my data stored?

In the n8n_data Docker volume on your server in Germany or the Netherlands.

Stuck on a step? Our team answers on live chat and in tickets.

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