n8n Cloud vs Self-Hosted: Full Comparison
Every decision factor compared — pick the option that fits your team.
| Factor | n8n Cloud | Self-Hosted | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setup time | Minutes — sign up and build | Hours to days (server, Docker, SSL) | Cloud |
| Monthly cost | From $20/mo; scales with usage | $12–24/mo server, unlimited executions | Self-hosted |
| Data privacy | Data on n8n's servers | All data on your own infrastructure | Self-hosted |
| GDPR / HIPAA compliance | Requires trust in n8n's DPA | Full internal control — easier to certify | Self-hosted |
| Maintenance | Zero — n8n handles updates and uptime | You manage (or hire someone to) | Cloud |
| Workflow limits | Active workflow caps per plan | Unlimited workflows and executions | Self-hosted |
| Custom nodes / npm packages | Community nodes supported | Full access — install any npm package | Self-hosted |
| Performance | Shared infrastructure (varies) | Dedicated server — predictable speed | Self-hosted |
| Technical requirement | None — no server knowledge needed | Docker, Linux basics, DNS/SSL setup | Cloud |
When n8n Cloud Makes Sense
Cloud is the right starting point for most teams. Sign up, connect your first app, and have an automation running in under an hour. No server, no SSL certificates, no Docker. n8n handles updates, uptime, and backups. The Starter plan ($20/month, 2,500 executions) covers early-stage teams validating workflows before committing to infrastructure.
When Self-Hosted Is the Smarter Move
Self-hosting becomes clearly better at a few inflection points: high execution volume (where server costs beat per-plan pricing), data compliance requirements (GDPR, HIPAA, financial records that can't leave your infrastructure), and the need for unlimited custom node installation. A $12–24/month DigitalOcean Droplet handles most production workloads and runs unlimited executions.
What Self-Hosted Setup Actually Involves
A production-ready self-hosted n8n instance needs: a Linux VPS (Ubuntu 22.04), Docker + Docker Compose, PostgreSQL database, Nginx with SSL via Let's Encrypt, automated daily backups, and uptime monitoring. Setup time: 4–8 hours for someone comfortable with Linux. I handle this entire setup — infrastructure configured, SSL live, backups scheduled, monitoring active — before the first workflow is built.
Start on n8n Cloud if you need to move fast or lack server resources. Budget 60 days on Cloud to validate your workflows and understand execution volume. Once you know what you're running, migrate to self-hosted — the server setup is a one-time cost, and the savings compound every month after.
Self-Hosted n8n — Properly Done
Not just installed — fully configured, monitored, documented, and ready for your team to build on from day one.
What My Self-Hosted Setup Includes
Everything configured and running before the first workflow is built.
Your Own n8n.
Fully Configured.
I set up self-hosted n8n instances end-to-end — server, SSL, database, monitoring, and documentation. Ready to build on from day one.
n8n Self-Hosted vs n8n Cloud: A Practical Guide to Choosing Your Deployment
The choice between n8n self-hosted and n8n Cloud is one of the first decisions teams face when adopting n8n. Both run the same n8n software. Both give you the same workflow builder, the same node library, the same AI integration capabilities. The difference is infrastructure ownership: Cloud means n8n Inc. manages the server; self-hosted means you — or a consultant — manages it. That single difference has significant downstream implications for cost, data control, customization, and maintenance overhead.
n8n Cloud: What You're Actually Paying For
n8n Cloud is managed infrastructure. When you sign up for Starter or Pro, you get an n8n instance with automatic updates, managed uptime, support, and no server configuration required. The Starter plan ($20/month) gives you 2,500 workflow executions and up to 5 active workflows. The Pro plan ($50/month) provides 10,000 executions and 15 active workflows. The execution limits and workflow caps are the main constraints that drive teams toward self-hosted as their automation needs grow.
Self-Hosted n8n: What the Setup Actually Involves
Self-hosting means running n8n on a server you control. The minimal production-ready setup involves: a Linux VPS (Ubuntu 22.04 LTS recommended), Docker and Docker Compose, an Nginx reverse proxy, SSL via Let's Encrypt, a PostgreSQL database, and automated backup scripts for the database and workflow exports. A well-configured self-hosted setup takes 4–8 hours for someone comfortable with Linux server administration.
Server cost: $12–24/month for a DigitalOcean Droplet or AWS t3.small that handles most teams' workflow volume comfortably. The self-hosted advantage compounds over time: you control the update schedule, you can install any community nodes or npm packages freely, and you own everything outright.
- Minimum specs: 2 vCPU, 2GB RAM (handles most production workloads)
- Recommended: 4 vCPU, 4GB RAM for AI-augmented or high-frequency workflows
- Database: PostgreSQL 14+ for production (SQLite is not suitable for production)
- Proxy: Nginx or Caddy for SSL termination
Data Privacy and Compliance: The Self-Hosted Advantage
n8n Cloud processes all workflow data — inputs, outputs, execution logs — on n8n's infrastructure. For workflows handling customer PII, financial transactions, healthcare records, or data subject to GDPR or HIPAA, this creates a compliance dependency on n8n's Data Processing Agreement and security posture. Self-hosted n8n keeps all workflow data on infrastructure you control. Execution logs, credential storage, and all data flowing through your workflows stays within your security perimeter — easier to audit, certify, and demonstrate compliance.
Many teams start on n8n Cloud then migrate to self-hosted when a compliance requirement surfaces. The migration is technically straightforward: n8n exports all workflows as JSON, which can be imported to any n8n instance. I set up the self-hosted instance while you're still on Cloud, import workflows, reconnect credentials, test for a week, then cut over. See full service at n8n consulting.