Host n8n

You can self-host n8n on your own infrastructure, on-premises, or in a private cloud, using Docker Compose, one-line setup, or other deployment methods. Not sure if self-hosting is right for you? See Choose how to use n8n.

Don't want to read the docs? Run this:

curl -fsSL https://get.n8n.io | sh

Requires Docker on Linux or macOS (or WSL on Windows). Sets up n8n locally in one step. See the one-line setup guide for what it does, or keep reading to compare every installation method.

All self-hosted installations use the same core product. Without a license key, n8n runs as the free Community edition. Adding a Business or Enterprise license key enables those editions. See Compare editions for the differences between the self-hosted editions.

In this section

• Install options: set up n8n with Docker, npm, Docker Compose, or a cloud provider.

• Configure n8n: manage databases, environment variables, users, licenses, and security settings.

• Keep n8n running: monitor, log, trace, and update your instance.

• Understand the architecture: learn how n8n works and how it structures its database.

• Deploy as an OEM integration: embed n8n's interface inside your own product's UI.

• Deploy with the AI starter kit: use n8n's curated self-hosted AI Starter Kit.

• Compare editions: compare the self-hosted Community, Business, and Enterprise editions.

Choose your installation method

Select the installation method that best fits your technical requirements and infrastructure:

• One-line setup

  Best for: Quick setup with minimal configuration.

  Requirements: Linux or macOS system with curl installed.

  Automated installation script that handles all dependencies and configuration for you.

  One-line setup guide

• Docker Compose

  Best for: Production deployments with databases and additional services.

  Requirements: Docker and Docker Compose installed on your system.

  Multi-container setup ideal for robust deployments with persistent data and scalability.

  Docker Compose guide

• AWS

  Deploy on Amazon Web Services using EC2, ECS, or other AWS services.

  AWS setup guide

• Azure

  Host n8n on Microsoft Azure with container instances or virtual machines.

  Azure setup guide

• Google Cloud

  Run n8n on Google Cloud using Cloud Run or Kubernetes Engine.

  Google Cloud Run | Kubernetes Engine

• DigitalOcean

  Simple droplet-based hosting ideal for small to medium deployments.

  DigitalOcean setup guide

• Hetzner

  Cost-effective European hosting option with excellent performance.

  Hetzner setup guide

• Heroku

  Platform-as-a-service option for quick deployment with minimal configuration.

  Heroku setup guide

• OpenShift

  Enterprise Kubernetes platform for containerized applications.

  OpenShift setup guide

• npm

  Best for: Local development or testing.

  Requirements: Node.js installed on your system.

  npm installation is deprecated from n8n 3.0. Consider using Docker Compose or one-line setup instead.

  Installs n8n directly using Node Package Manager. Quick to set up but requires managing Node.js versions and dependencies yourself.

  npm installation guide

Related resources

• Deploy

• Use n8n Cloud