Self-hosted autonomous agents that monitor the web and act on your behalf
n8n lets you build complex, multi-step automated workflows with custom JavaScript/Python transforms, LangChain-powered AI nodes, and granular error handling without paying per task.
Recommended VPS & Hardware Sizing
Estimated Hosting: $4 - $6/mo (e.g. Hetzner CX22 or DigitalOcean)n8n vs Zapier Comparison Matrix
| Evaluation Criteria | n8n (Open Source) | Zapier (Proprietary) |
|---|---|---|
| Task Run Limits | Unlimited (Compute bound) | Steep charges per 10k tasks |
| Multi-Step Automation | 100% Free & Unlimited | Paywall on Starter plan |
| Data Residency | Runs inside private VPC | Third-party cloud processing |
Financial Impact: Migrating from Zapier to Self-Hosted n8n
* Excludes enterprise SSO add-ons & usage overages
* Commodity Hetzner / DigitalOcean compute instance
Compare n8n Head-to-Head
Comprehensive benchmark comparing n8n against proprietary Zapier licensing and features.
Advanced Node Flow Engine vs Lightweight TypeScript Integration Builder
Declarative Code-as-Config YAML Workflows vs Interactive Visual Node Canvas
Core Capabilities & Features
Self-Host n8n with Docker Compose
Tweak configuration ports, secrets, and volumes live. Download or copy your ready-to-run container file:
1-Click Docker Compose Generator
Generate production-ready container definitions with customizable ports and volumes.
Fair-code workflow automation platform with 400+ nodes and native AI agents
version: "3.8"
services:
n8n:
image: docker.n8n.io/n8nio/n8n:latest
container_name: n8n
restart: unless-stopped
ports:
- "${PORT:-5678}:5678"
environment:
- N8N_HOST=${DOMAIN:-localhost}
- N8N_PORT=5678
- N8N_PROTOCOL=http
- WEBHOOK_URL=http://${DOMAIN:-localhost}:${PORT:-5678}/
- DB_TYPE=postgresdb
- DB_POSTGRESDB_HOST=postgres
- DB_POSTGRESDB_PORT=5432
- DB_POSTGRESDB_DATABASE=n8n
- DB_POSTGRESDB_USER=n8n
- DB_POSTGRESDB_PASSWORD=${DB_PASSWORD:-n8n_secure_pass}
volumes:
- n8n_data:/home/node/.n8n
depends_on:
- postgres
postgres:
image: postgres:15-alpine
container_name: n8n-postgres
restart: unless-stopped
environment:
POSTGRES_USER: n8n
POSTGRES_PASSWORD: ${DB_PASSWORD:-n8n_secure_pass}
POSTGRES_DB: n8n
volumes:
- n8n_pg_data:/var/lib/postgresql/data
volumes:
n8n_data:
n8n_pg_data:Frequently Asked Questions: Self-Hosting n8n
How do I self-host n8n using Docker Compose?
You can deploy n8n (n8n-io/n8n) on any Linux server by copying the docker-compose.yml template on this page, configuring your desired host port and persistent volume directory, and running 'docker compose up -d'.
How does n8n compare to Zapier?
n8n is an open-source, self-hosted alternative to Zapier built with TypeScript, Node.js, Vue. Unlike Zapier ($29.99 - $100+ / month), n8n has zero per-user licensing fees and keeps 100% of your data on your own infrastructure.
What are the minimum VPS RAM and CPU requirements for n8n?
For production self-hosting (Easy difficulty tier), we recommend at least 2 GB RAM (minimum 1 GB), 1 vCPU, and 10 GB SSD storage, which typically costs $4 - $6/mo (e.g. Hetzner CX22 or DigitalOcean).
Is n8n free for commercial business use under the Sustainable Use License license?
Yes. Distributed under the Sustainable Use License license, n8n can be self-hosted internally by businesses and engineering teams of any size without per-seat royalties.
Embed Official n8n Badge in GitHub README
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