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Why Self-Host n8n in 2026?
If you are running a small or medium business and want to automate repetitive tasks — sending invoices, syncing customer data, posting to social media — you need a reliable automation tool that you actually control. Self-hosting n8n gives you 400+ integrations, unlimited workflows, and zero monthly per-task fees. You own the server, you own the data.
The alternative is paying for a cloud plan that charges per execution. For growing businesses, those costs add up fast. A self-hosted setup on a cheap VPS can cost as little as €5–€10 per month while handling thousands of automations.
What You Need Before You Start
- A VPS with at least 1 GB RAM and 20 GB storage (Ubuntu 22.04 or 24.04 recommended)
- A domain name pointed to your server's IP address
- Basic comfort with a terminal — you do not need to be a developer
For the VPS itself, Hostinger offers a one-click n8n template that pre-installs everything for you, which is a huge time-saver if this is your first server.
Step 1: Connect to Your VPS
Once your VPS is provisioned, connect via SSH from your computer:
ssh root@YOUR_SERVER_IP
If you are on Windows, use PuTTY or Windows Terminal. On Mac and Linux, the command above works directly in your terminal.
Step 2: Install Docker and Docker Compose
n8n runs best inside Docker, which packages it with all its dependencies. Run the following commands one by one:
- apt update && apt upgrade -y
- apt install docker.io docker-compose -y
- systemctl enable docker && systemctl start docker
Docker is now running on your server. Think of it as a clean container that keeps n8n isolated from everything else on your machine.
Step 3: Create Your n8n Docker Compose File
Create a new folder and a configuration file:
- mkdir ~/n8n && cd ~/n8n
- nano docker-compose.yml
Paste the following into the file:
version: