Implementing Single Sign-On (SSO) natively in the n8n Community Edition is not a built-in feature, as official SSO support for protocols like SAML and OIDC is reserved for n8n’s Enterprise plans. However, you can achieve a very similar level of access control and centralized authentication for your self-hosted n8n instance by using a reverse proxy with an authentication layer. This powerful workaround allows you to protect your n8n dashboard behind your existing Identity Provider (IdP) like Okta, Azure AD, or an open-source solution like Keycloak, adding a critical layer of security.
The Official Stance: SSO is an Enterprise Feature
Let’s get the official word out of the way first, so there’s no confusion. In the world of open-core software like n8n, it’s common to have certain features reserved for paid, enterprise-grade tiers. For n8n, advanced user management—which includes native SSO (SAML/LDAP), role-based access control (RBAC), and detailed audit logs—is a cornerstone of the Enterprise offering.
Why? Because these features are typically required by larger organizations with strict security and compliance needs. They need to provision and de-provision users automatically, assign specific permissions (e.g., this user can only view workflows, while another can edit them), and track every action. This is what the native n8n Enterprise SSO integration provides.
So, if you’re looking for a button inside the n8n Community dashboard to connect to your IdP, you won’t find one. But don’t close the tab just yet!
Is n8n Community SSO a Lost Cause?
Not at all! It just requires a different, and frankly, more creative approach. The goal of SSO is often to ensure that only authenticated users from your organization can access a tool. We can absolutely achieve that.
Instead of managing access inside n8n, we’ll manage access to n8n. Think of it like this: your n8n instance is an exclusive club. Native Enterprise SSO is like having a membership list at the front desk. Our workaround, using a reverse proxy, is like putting a friendly but very firm bouncer at the front door who checks everyone’s ID (your SSO login) before they can even get near the club.
This method puts a protective shield around your entire n8n instance.
The Reverse Proxy Workaround: A Practical Guide
This is where the magic happens. By placing a reverse proxy in front of your n8n instance, you can intercept all traffic and require authentication before it ever reaches n8n. It’s a fantastic security practice for any self-hosted application.
What You’ll Need
- A self-hosted n8n Community instance running on a server.
- An Identity Provider (IdP) you already use (e.g., Google Workspace, Microsoft Entra ID, Okta, Keycloak, Authentik).
- A reverse proxy tool that can integrate with your IdP.
Choosing Your Reverse Proxy “Bouncer”
You have several great options, ranging from simple to incredibly powerful. Here’s a quick comparison:
| Tool | Best For | Complexity | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cloudflare Zero Trust | Beginners & simplicity | Low | Generous Free Tier |
| Nginx Proxy Manager | Visual setup & SSL | Medium | Free |
| Traefik + Authelia/Authentik | Power users & home labs | High | Free (Self-hosted) |
| Caddy | Automatic HTTPS & simplicity | Medium | Free |
I’ve personally found that Cloudflare Zero Trust (formerly Access) is the easiest entry point for most people. It has a free plan that’s more than enough for protecting your n8n instance.
Real-World Example: Securing n8n with Cloudflare Zero Trust
Let’s walk through a high-level example. Imagine you want to secure n8n.mycompany.com and only allow employees with a @mycompany.com Google account to access it.
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Point Your Domain to Cloudflare: First, you need to manage your domain’s DNS through Cloudflare. This is a standard step for any Cloudflare service.
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Set Up a Cloudflare Tunnel: This is the modern, secure way to connect your server to Cloudflare without opening firewall ports. You’ll install a small service on your n8n server that establishes a secure, outbound-only connection to Cloudflare.
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Create a Zero Trust Application: In your Cloudflare dashboard, you’ll go to
Zero Trust > Access > Applications. Here, you’ll add a new self-hosted application. You’ll tell it the local address of your n8n instance (e.g.,http://localhost:5678). -
Build an Access Policy: This is the most important part. You create a policy for your new application. You can set the rule to something like “Allow access if the user’s email ends in
@mycompany.comand they have successfully authenticated with Google.” You can even require MFA!
Now, when anyone tries to visit n8n.mycompany.com, Cloudflare steps in. It redirects them to a Google login page. If they successfully log in with a valid company account, Cloudflare lets them through to the n8n login page. If not, they’re blocked. Your n8n instance was never even touched by the unauthorized user.
Let’s Be Honest: The Limitations of This Workaround
This method is fantastic for security, but it’s not a true replacement for the Enterprise feature. It’s important to be transparent about what it doesn’t do.
- No User Provisioning: This method only protects the front door. It doesn’t create, sync, or manage users inside n8n. You will still need to create a local user account in n8n (e.g., an
adminuser). - The “Double Login”: A user will authenticate with your IdP (like Google) and then, upon being passed through, will still need to enter their n8n-specific username and password. For a single-user instance, you can just use a password manager to make this seamless.
- No Granular Permissions: This is the biggest difference. The reverse proxy is an on/off switch—it either grants access to the entire n8n instance or it doesn’t. You can’t use it to give different users different permissions within n8n. That capability, along with workflow sharing between non-admin users, remains a core strength of the Enterprise Edition.
When Should You Upgrade to Enterprise?
This workaround is perfect for individuals, startups, and small teams who want to add a robust security layer to their self-hosted instance. However, you should start considering n8n Enterprise if:
- You need to manage more than a handful of users.
- You need to automatically provision and de-provision users based on your IdP.
- You require granular permissions and role-based access control.
- You need comprehensive audit logs for compliance.
Ultimately, the reverse proxy workaround is a powerful, highly recommended strategy for securing your n8n Community SSO setup. It bridges the gap beautifully, giving you enterprise-grade access control for the best price of all: free.
