How to self-host N8N in the cloud for FREE for UNLIMITED automations

Introduction

This tutorial will guide you through the process of self-hosting N8N, an open-source automation platform, in the cloud for free. N8N allows you to create unlimited automations and integrates with various services, making it a versatile tool for streamlining your workflows.

Step 1: Set Up Your Cloud Environment

To self-host N8N in the cloud, you need to choose a cloud service provider. Here are some popular options:

• DigitalOcean
• AWS Free Tier
• Google Cloud Free Tier
• Heroku (Free Tier)

Practical Advice

• Sign up for an account on your chosen cloud provider.
• Familiarize yourself with the dashboard and create a new virtual machine or app instance.

Step 2: Install Docker

N8N runs on Docker, so you'll need to install Docker on your cloud server.

Installation Steps

1. Connect to your cloud instance using SSH.
2. Update the package index:

   sudo apt-get update
   

3. Install Docker:

   sudo apt-get install docker.io
   

4. Start Docker and enable it to run on boot:

   sudo systemctl start docker
   sudo systemctl enable docker
   

Practical Tip

Ensure your cloud instance meets the minimum requirements for running Docker effectively.

Step 3: Pull the N8N Docker Image

Now that Docker is installed, you need to download the N8N image.

Steps to Pull the Image

1. Pull the N8N image from Docker Hub:

   sudo docker pull n8n
   

Step 4: Run N8N Container

You will now create and run an N8N container.

Command to Run the Container

1. Execute the following command in your terminal:

   sudo docker run -d --name n8n -p 5678:5678 n8n
   

2. This command starts N8N in detached mode, mapping port 5678 of the container to port 5678 on your host.

Common Pitfall

• Ensure that the port you are using is open in your cloud provider's firewall settings.

Step 5: Access N8N Interface

After running the container, you can access the N8N interface via your web browser.

Access Steps

1. Open your browser and navigate to:

   http://<your-cloud-instance-ip>:5678
   

2. You should see the N8N dashboard where you can start creating automations.

Step 6: Configure N8N for Persistence

To ensure your N8N data is preserved between container restarts, you should set up a volume.

Steps to Set Up a Volume

1. Stop the existing N8N container:

   sudo docker stop n8n
   

2. Create a new volume and run N8N with it:

   sudo docker run -d --name n8n -p 5678:5678 -v n8n_data:/home/n8n/.n8n n8n
   

3. This command creates a persistent storage volume named n8n_data.

Conclusion

You have successfully set up N8N on your cloud server, allowing you to create unlimited automations for free. Explore the platform’s capabilities and consider integrating it with other tools for enhanced functionality. Next, you may want to look into creating workflows or connecting N8N to various APIs to maximize its potential.