The Community edition of n8n is free if you install it on your own server. That is what draws many small businesses in, and also where trouble starts when nobody looks after the server afterwards. If you are new to the tool, read what n8n is first: it explains the license and the difference between the hosted and self-hosted versions.
This article is hands-on: where to install n8n, what the server costs, which steps to follow and what to plan so it keeps running. One note: the prices and specs below were taken from the providers' official pages on October 17, 2026. This is not a performance benchmark. The installation steps work the same with any VPS host.
Should you install n8n yourself at all?
There are two ways to use n8n:
- n8n Cloud, hosted by the vendor. Nothing to install. According to n8n's pricing page, the Starter plan costs €20 a month billed annually, for 2,500 executions a month.
- Self-hosting: you install n8n on a server you rent. The software is free in the Community edition (for internal use, under its license); you pay for the server and handle maintenance.
Self-hosting makes sense if you run many executions, want your data to stay on a server you control, or have a provider who handles maintenance. My n8n vs Make vs Zapier comparison goes through that math.
How do OVHcloud, Hostinger and Infomaniak compare for n8n?
Entry plans taken from the official French-market pages on October 17, 2026. Promotional prices change often: check them when you order.
| Criterion | OVHcloud | Hostinger | Infomaniak |
|---|---|---|---|
| Relevant offer | VPS ("n8n VPS" page) | "Self-hosted n8n" VPS | VPS Lite, or Node.js hosting |
| n8n preinstalled | Yes, on a selection of VPS plans | Yes, Ubuntu 24.04 with n8n template | Not on VPS; official guide for Node.js hosting |
| Entry plan | VPS-1: 2 vCores, 4 GB RAM, 40 GB NVMe | KVM 1: 1 vCPU, 4 GB RAM, 50 GB NVMe | 1 vCPU, 2 GB RAM, 20 GB |
| Listed price | From €3.81 a month excl. VAT (€4.57 incl. VAT) | €5.49 a month excl. VAT, paid upfront; renews at €11.99 a month | CHF 2.70 a month excl. VAT, annual commitment paid upfront |
| Next plan | VPS-2: 4 vCores, 8 GB, from €7.21 a month excl. VAT | KVM 2: 2 vCPU, 8 GB, €7.99 a month (renews at €14.99) | 2 vCPU, 4 GB, 60 GB: CHF 7.20 a month |
| Backups | Daily backup of the last 24 hours included | Check options when ordering | Check options when ordering |
| Location | Data center chosen at order | Data centers in Europe, the Americas and Asia | Hosted in Switzerland |
Three notes. At Hostinger, the page says the monthly price is the total plan price divided by the number of months: check the term you pick and the renewal price. At OVHcloud, the price is a "from" price: the commitment term is set in the configurator. At Infomaniak, the page I checked showed prices in Swiss francs; the currency may depend on your country.
What server size do you need for n8n?
n8n's official self-hosting page does not list minimum hardware figures. My advice for a small business getting started: at least 2 cores and 4 GB of RAM, to keep some headroom. What pushes the needs up:
- workflows that process large files (PDFs, images);
- many simultaneous executions, for example a busy web form;
- execution history kept for a long time, which fills the disk.
All three providers let you move up a plan. Start small, monitor, scale up if needed.
What are the steps to install n8n on a VPS?
n8n's documentation recommends Docker Compose for production. The npm install is presented as meant for development and testing, and marked as deprecated from n8n 3.0. Here are the steps in order; with a VPS where n8n is preinstalled, steps 4 and 5 are done for you, but not the others.
1. Order the VPS
Pick a data center in the region where your data must stay, and a recent Linux system (or the template with n8n preinstalled).
2. Set up a subdomain
In your domain's DNS zone, create a subdomain (for example n8n.yourcompany.com) pointing to the server's IP address. n8n webhooks need it to be reachable.
3. Lock down access
SSH login with a key, system updates, and a firewall that only opens the ports you need (SSH, HTTP, HTTPS). OVHcloud's n8n page puts it plainly: you are responsible for securing the operating system and the n8n application.
4. Install Docker and Docker Compose
Follow Docker's official documentation for your distribution.
5. Run n8n with Docker Compose
A configuration file describes the n8n container, its persistent data volume (otherwise everything disappears on restart), the time zone (GENERIC_TIMEZONE and TZ, so scheduled triggers fire at the right time) and the public address. A reverse proxy handles the HTTPS certificate. Start from the template in n8n's documentation rather than an old tutorial: variables change between versions.
6. Create the owner account
Open the subdomain address: n8n asks you to create the owner account. Do it right away, with a strong password, before anyone else stumbles on the page.
7. Test with a simple workflow
A webhook that returns "ok", a scheduled trigger that emails you in 5 minutes. If both work, the public address and time zone are right.
Infomaniak case: Infomaniak's official guide (updated October 5, 2026) installs n8n on a Node.js site in its hosting, with a build command and port 5678. It is simple to set up, but it relies on npm: keep n8n's warning about that method for future versions in mind.
How do you handle backups and updates?
This is the part everyone forgets on install day and regrets six months later.
| Task | Suggested frequency | Why |
|---|---|---|
Back up the n8n volume (database and .n8n folder) | Daily, copied off the server | Workflows, history and encrypted credentials |
| Keep the encryption key | Once, in a password manager | Without it, backed-up credentials cannot be read |
| Update n8n | Monthly, after reading the release notes | Security fixes, node compatibility |
| Update the system | At least monthly | Operating system vulnerabilities |
| Restore test | Once a quarter | A backup you never restored is not a backup |
With Docker Compose, n8n's documentation describes an update in three commands: pull the new image, stop, start again. Take a backup just before.
When is it better not to self-host n8n?
- Nobody will look after the server. An n8n instance that is never updated, exposed to the internet, holding access to your email and your bank, is a real risk. In that case, n8n Cloud is the safer choice.
- You run few executions. A few hundred a month fit in n8n Cloud's Starter plan, with no maintenance.
- You want your clients to build workflows. The Community license forbids hosting n8n as a service where your clients build their own workflows.
- Your workflows are critical. If an outage blocks your orders, you need monitoring and someone who can step in fast.
If you want the benefits of self-hosting without the upkeep, I handle it in my n8n automation work: I set up the server, walk you through maintenance at the launch meeting, and offer a 6-month maintenance plan, extendable, with the first month free. Once the server is ready, a good first workflow is automated unpaid invoice reminders.
Sources checked on October 17, 2026
- OVHcloud, n8n VPS page and VPS page (French)
- Hostinger, VPS with self-hosted n8n (French)
- Infomaniak, VPS Lite and n8n installation guide (French)
- n8n, self-hosting documentation and Docker installation
- n8n, pricing page and license FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is the best VPS for n8n?
There is no single best. OVHcloud and Hostinger offer n8n preinstalled, and Infomaniak hosts in Switzerland. For a small business, aim for at least 2 cores and 4 GB of RAM, a data center in your region, and backups that are included or easy to add.
How much does a server for n8n cost?
Entry plans checked on October 17, 2026 range from a few euros to around ten euros a month excluding VAT, depending on the provider and the commitment term. The real cost is maintenance time: backups, updates, monitoring.
Can you install n8n on shared hosting?
Usually not, because n8n has to run all the time. Infomaniak offers a guide to install it on a Node.js site in its hosting, which is an exception. Otherwise, you need a VPS.
Is self-hosted n8n really free?
The Community edition software is free for internal use, under its license. You pay for the server, the domain name and the time spent maintaining it.
Do you need to use a terminal to install n8n?
Yes, at least a little: SSH, Docker, a domain name and an HTTPS certificate. VPS plans with n8n preinstalled reduce the work, but backups and updates are still on you.