Tutorial
How to Self-Host n8n: Get Unlimited Automations for $5/Month
n8n is an automation workflow service that lets you set up repetitive tasks once and have them run for you over and over. Think of it like a smarter, more versatile version of the old macro recorders.
It allows you to connect various services like LINE, Discord, Notion, Airtable, and Google's Sheets, Drive, Gmail, and more.
💬 We've seen many users save over 200 hours per month with automation! The n8nCoder team will keep sharing use cases and tutorials, so you'll definitely find ways to apply what you learn.
What's the Difference Between Self-Hosting n8n and the Official Plan?
Official Plan: €20/month, limited to 2,500 executions, relatively hassle-free with no maintenance required - Official Link
Self-Hosted Plan: $5/month, unlimited executions, requires some basic setup.
However, self-hosting with Zeabur is much simpler. The setup process has just a few extra preliminary steps compared to the official plan. You only need to set it up once, and after that, it's pretty much the same. So, we'll use Zeabur to demonstrate how to get it set up.
n8n Deployment Tutorial
Step 1: Sign Up for a Zeabur Account
Zeabur offers many pre-configured templates that allow for one-click deployment, letting you skip the tedious setup and environment configuration. That's why we recommend installing n8n on Zeabur.
First, click the link below to sign up for a Zeabur account. Create Account on Zeabur
Use our referral link to sign up, and you'll get a $5 credit when you upgrade to the Developer Plan.
By signing up with our referral code and upgrading to a paid plan, you'll receive a free $5 credit, which means your first month is free, perfect for start learning n8n!
After signing up, choose the Developer Plan. It's a pay-as-you-go plan, so with the $5 discount, your first month is free as long as you stay under that amount. You'll only need to add funds if your service usage exceeds the credit.
Since you're just starting, you're unlikely to use more than $5 worth of resources. You'd need a significant number of workflows to run up a higher bill (and by then, you'll be an n8n expert!).
Step 2: Create a Project
After upgrading to the Developer Plan, go back to the [Dashboard](https://dash.zeabur.com/projects) and click "Create Project".
Select the area near your location.
Choose "Deploy from Template".
Search for "n8n" and select the first one, which is the most deployed version. Other versions have slightly different parameter settings, so it's best to stick with this one unless you have specific needs.
Step 3: Set Up Your Domain
Zeabur gives you a free subdomain to use. Just pick one that looks good; you can always change it later, so no worries!
After deployment, you'll need to wait about 3 minutes for it to be ready. Click on "n8n" on the left, and once it shows "Running," click the domain to get started!
Step 4: Create Your Account
Next is setting up your account, just like any other service.
Step 5: Unlock Additional Features
Once you've registered and reached this page, your installation is complete! Now, let's unlock its paid features for free!
Go into Settings and you'll see "Usage and plan." Click "Unlock."
You only need to set this up once to unlock the following features:
Workflow History: Restore settings from the past 24 hours.
Advanced Debugging: Reproduce errors when a workflow fails, making it easier to fix them.
Execution Search: Search through past execution records.
Folders: Organize your workflows using folders.
After entering your email and the activation code you receive, you're all set! Welcome to the world of automated workflows!
And that's it, you're successful! Welcome to the world of automated workflows!
Now that you have unlimited automation power, the real fun begins: building your first workflow. But what if you could make that process even faster and more intuitive, without constantly switching tabs to look up tutorials?
That’s exactly why I built n8nCoder, a free AI-powered browser extension that acts as your personal n8n assistant, right inside the canvas. It's designed to help you:
Build with Natural Language: Simply describe the workflow you need, and let AI generate it for you.
Find Templates Instantly: Search over 3,000 official n8n templates without ever leaving your workflow.
Get Answers on the Spot: Stop guessing and ask n8n-related questions directly in the chat interface.
It’s the perfect companion to your new self-hosted n8n instance. Boost your efficiency and start building smarter, not harder.