If you're looking to automate your business without paying monthly cloud subscription fees, self-hosting n8n is a great choice. In this guide, we'll show you how to deploy n8n on a Hostinger VPS in just a few simple steps.

Why Self-Host n8n?

Self-hosting gives you complete control over your workflows, data, and integrations. It's ideal for businesses, developers, and anyone building AI automations.

• Full ownership of your data
• Lower long-term costs
• Install community nodes
• Run unlimited workflows (depending on your server resources)
• Perfect for AI agents and business automation

What You'll Need

• A Hostinger VPS
• A domain or subdomain (recommended)
• Basic SSH knowledge
• Docker and Docker Compose installed

If you don't have a VPS yet, we recommend using Hostinger VPS. It's beginner-friendly, affordable, and performs exceptionally well for Docker-based applications like n8n.

Step 1: Purchase Your VPS

Choose a VPS plan with at least 2 vCPU, 4GB RAM, and 80GB SSD. This is more than enough for most personal projects and small business automations.

Step 2: Connect to Your Server

Connect to your VPS using SSH:

ssh root@YOUR_SERVER_IP

Then update your server:

apt update && apt upgrade -y

Step 3: Install Docker

Install Docker and Docker Compose on your VPS. Once installed, verify everything is working:

docker --version
docker compose version

Step 4: Create Your n8n Project

Create a new directory for n8n and add the official docker-compose.yml file from the n8n documentation.

mkdir n8n
cd n8n

Step 5: Start n8n

Run the following command:

docker compose up -d

Docker will automatically download the required images and start your n8n instance.

Step 6: Configure a Domain

Point a subdomain such as automation.yourdomain.com to your VPS and configure HTTPS using Nginx Proxy Manager, Traefik, or Caddy. This ensures secure access to your workflows.

Step 7: Start Building Workflows

Open your browser and visit your domain (or VPS IP if you're testing locally). Create your administrator account and you're ready to build powerful automations.

Why We Recommend Hostinger VPS

We've deployed multiple automation projects on Hostinger VPS because it offers reliable performance, fast NVMe SSD storage, simple VPS management, and excellent value for money.

👉 Launch Your Hostinger VPS Here

Final Thoughts

Self-hosting n8n is one of the best ways to automate your business while keeping costs low. Whether you're building AI agents, connecting your apps, or automating repetitive tasks, a VPS gives you the flexibility and control you need.

If you'd rather skip the technical setup, Webefy Today can deploy, secure, and configure a production-ready n8n server for your business.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is n8n free to self-host?

Yes. n8n is open source. You only pay for your VPS hosting.

How much RAM do I need?

For most users, 2-4GB RAM is enough. Larger AI workflows may require additional resources.

Can I run AI agents on the same VPS?

Yes. Many businesses run n8n alongside AI services, databases, and other Docker containers on a single VPS.