Choosing between n8n Self-Hosting and n8n Cloud is a critical decision that hinges on your technical expertise, budget, control requirements, and scalability needs. n8n Cloud offers a managed, hassle-free experience with predictable pricing and a near-instant setup, making it ideal for teams who want to focus purely on building automations. Conversely, n8n’s self-hosted options provide maximum control, unparalleled data privacy, and significant cost-effectiveness for high-volume use, but demand technical knowledge for setup, maintenance, and security.
The Core Dilemma: Control vs. Convenience
So, you’ve discovered the incredible power of n8n and you’re ready to automate everything. Fantastic! But right at the start, you face a foundational choice: do you want the keys to the entire factory, or do you just want the finished product delivered to your door? This is the essence of the n8n self-hosting vs cloud debate.
n8n Cloud is like buying a high-performance, pre-built computer. You unbox it, plug it in, and it just works. The manufacturer handles all the complex internal wiring, updates, and maintenance. On the other hand, self-hosting is like building your own custom PC. You choose every component—the processor, the memory, the storage—giving you ultimate power and control, but you’re also the one who has to assemble it, install the operating system, and fix it if something goes wrong.
There’s no universally “correct” answer, only the answer that’s correct for you. Let’s break it down.
A Closer Look at n8n Cloud: The Managed Approach
n8n Cloud is the Software as a Service (SaaS) offering. It’s designed for simplicity and speed, removing the infrastructural burden so you can get straight to building workflows.
Who is n8n Cloud For?
This option is a perfect fit for startups, marketing teams, small businesses, and any user who doesn’t have a dedicated IT or DevOps team. If your primary goal is to automate business processes without getting bogged down in server management, n8n Cloud is your champion.
Pros:
- Effortless Setup: You can go from signing up to building your first workflow in under five minutes. No Docker commands, no server configuration, no fuss.
- Managed Maintenance: The n8n team handles all platform updates, security patches, and infrastructure scaling. You’re always on the latest, most secure version without lifting a finger.
- Predictable Costs: The pricing plans (like Starter and Pro) are tiered based on usage metrics like workflow executions and active workflows. This makes budgeting straightforward.
- Premium Features Included: Depending on your plan, you get immediate access to valuable features like global variables, workflow history, and execution search without any complex setup.
Cons:
- Less Environmental Control: You can’t tweak the underlying server environment or install custom OS-level dependencies for nodes like the
Execute Commandnode. - Usage-Based Limits: Your plan will have limits on active workflows and executions. While generous, very high-volume users might find this more expensive than a self-hosted alternative.
- Data Residency: Although n8n stores data securely in the EU (a big plus for privacy), your data still resides on third-party infrastructure. This can be a non-starter for organizations with extremely strict data sovereignty policies.
Diving into n8n Self-Hosting: The DIY Powerhouse
Self-hosting n8n means you run the application on your own infrastructure, whether that’s a server in your office, a virtual private server (VPS) from DigitalOcean or Hetzner, or a container on AWS.
Who Should Self-Host n8n?
This path is for the tech-savvy. Developers, agencies with a DevOps team, businesses with stringent data compliance requirements (like healthcare or finance), and power users who anticipate running millions of executions will feel right at home here.
Pros:
- Complete Control & Customization: You control the entire stack. You can allocate as many resources as you need, configure the database, and run n8n in an air-gapped environment.
- Unmatched Data Privacy: Your workflow data and credentials never leave your servers. This is a critical requirement for many industries.
- Incredibly Cost-Effective at Scale: The n8n Community Edition is free. Your only cost is the server itself. For high-volume automations, this can translate to thousands of dollars in savings compared to cloud plans.
- No Hard Limits: Unlimited active workflows and unlimited executions are yours for the taking. Your only bottleneck is the power of your server.
Cons:
- Significant Technical Overhead: Let’s be honest about this—you are the IT department. You are responsible for the initial setup (usually with Docker), security hardening, applying updates, performing backups, and troubleshooting any issues that arise. Mistakes can lead to downtime or data loss.
- Community Edition is “Basic”: A common point of confusion is what the free self-hosted version includes. While the core engine is identical, you miss out on the advanced enterprise-grade features found in paid plans. This includes things like SSO, Git-based version control, team collaboration features, and dedicated support.
Feature Comparison: Self-Hosted vs. Cloud Plans
To make it crystal clear, here’s how the options stack up. We’ll compare the free Community version, a typical Cloud plan (Pro), and the paid Enterprise Self-Hosted plan.
| Feature | Community (Self-Hosted) | n8n Cloud (Pro Plan) | Enterprise (Self-Hosted) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost Model | Free (Pay for server) | Monthly Subscription | Annual Contract |
| Setup & Maintenance | User Responsibility | Managed by n8n | User Responsibility |
| Core Engine | Unlimited Workflows/Executions | Limited Active Workflows/Executions | Unlimited Workflows/Executions |
| Collaboration | Single User Focus | Shared Projects, Admin Roles | Unlimited Projects, Advanced RBAC |
| User Management | Basic (User/Pass) | Basic | SSO (SAML, LDAP) |
| DevOps Features | None | Limited (Workflow History) | Git Sync, Environments, Log Streaming |
| Support | Community Forum | Forum & Email Support | Dedicated Support with SLA |
Making Your Final Decision
Still on the fence? Ask yourself these questions:
- What’s my technical skill level? Be brutally honest. Do you know your way around a command line, Docker, and server security? If not, Cloud is the safer bet.
- What is my budget? Factor in not just the subscription cost but the cost of your own time (or your team’s) to manage a self-hosted instance.
- How critical is data privacy? Do your company policies or industry regulations mandate that data stays on your own servers? If yes, self-hosting is your only option.
- Do I need advanced team or DevOps features? If you need SSO, version control with Git, or different deployment environments (dev/prod), you’ll need to look at the paid Enterprise plan, whether hosted by n8n or on your own infrastructure.
Ultimately, the n8n self-hosting vs cloud choice isn’t about which is better, but which is the better fit for your specific context. The beauty of n8n is that it provides a powerful, flexible platform for everyone—from the solo creator who just wants things to work, to the enterprise that demands granular control and security.
