n8n is one of the most popular open-source workflow automation tools, with 400+ integrations and full code extensibility. But choosing how to host it can be confusing—n8n offers its own cloud service, several third-party managed hosts exist, and self-hosting is always an option.
This guide compares every major option so you can pick the right one for your needs.
Hosting Options at a Glance
| Provider | Type | Starting Price | Execution Limits | Data Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| n8n Cloud | Official SaaS | €20/mo | 2,500 executions | EU (Germany) |
| DanubeData | Managed App | €9.99/mo | Unlimited | EU (Germany) |
| Elestio | Managed hosting | ~$32/mo | Unlimited | Multiple |
| Railway | PaaS | Usage-based | Unlimited | US |
| Self-hosted (VPS) | DIY | €4.49+/mo | Unlimited | Your choice |
n8n Cloud (Official)
n8n's own hosted service is the simplest option. You get an n8n instance managed by the n8n team with automatic updates and support.
Pricing
- Starter: €20/month — 2,500 executions, 5 active workflows
- Pro: €50/month — 10,000 executions, 15 active workflows
- Enterprise: Custom pricing — unlimited executions
Pros
- Managed by the n8n team—guaranteed compatibility
- Automatic updates to latest version
- Built-in debugging tools
- EU data hosting (Germany)
Cons
- Execution limits on Starter and Pro plans
- Active workflow limits restrict how many automations you can run
- Gets expensive at scale ($50/month for just 10,000 executions)
- No access to underlying infrastructure
DanubeData Managed n8n
DanubeData deploys n8n as a managed app with a dedicated PostgreSQL database and Redis queue backend. No execution limits, no workflow limits.
Pricing
- Starter: €9.99/month — 0.5 vCPU, 512 MB, 5 GB storage
- Professional: €19.99/month — 1 vCPU, 1 GB, 10 GB storage
- Business: €39.99/month — 2 vCPU, 2 GB, 20 GB storage
- Enterprise: €79.99/month — 4 vCPU, 4 GB, 40 GB storage
Pros
- No execution limits—run as many workflows as your resources handle
- No workflow limits—create as many active workflows as you need
- Queue mode enabled—Redis-backed parallel execution out of the box
- PostgreSQL included—proper database backend (not SQLite)
- Automated daily backups with offsite storage
- Custom domains with automatic TLS
- Real-time CPU, memory, and network metrics
- EU data hosting (Germany)
- €50 signup credit for new accounts
Cons
- No SSH access to the underlying container
- Cannot install custom system-level tools (e.g., FFmpeg)
- Single datacenter (Germany)
Elestio
Elestio is a managed open-source hosting platform that supports n8n alongside 350+ other applications. They deploy on various cloud providers.
Pros
- Multiple cloud provider options (Hetzner, AWS, DigitalOcean, etc.)
- SSH access to the server
- Supports custom Docker configurations
Cons
- Higher starting price (~$32/month)
- You're essentially paying for managed Docker hosting
- Less specialized n8n optimization
Railway
You can deploy n8n on Railway as a Docker container. Railway handles the infrastructure, but you configure n8n yourself.
Pros
- Git-push deployment
- Easy to add PostgreSQL and Redis as plugins
- Usage-based pricing can be cheap for light use
Cons
- You must configure n8n, PostgreSQL, and Redis yourself
- US-based infrastructure
- Usage-based pricing is unpredictable for always-on services
- No automated backups included
Self-Hosted on VPS
You can run n8n on any VPS using Docker Compose. This gives you maximum control at the lowest cost.
Pros
- Cheapest option (€4.49/month for a VPS)
- Full control over everything
- Install any tools you need (FFmpeg, Puppeteer, etc.)
- No limits of any kind
Cons
- You manage PostgreSQL, Redis, TLS, backups, and updates yourself
- 8-16 hours of initial setup time
- 2-3 hours monthly maintenance
- You're on call when things break
Cost Comparison by Usage
Light Usage (1,000 executions/month, 5 workflows)
| Provider | Monthly Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| n8n Cloud Starter | €20 | Within limits |
| DanubeData Starter | €9.99 | No limits |
| Self-hosted VPS | €4.49 + your time | Setup required |
Heavy Usage (50,000 executions/month, 20+ workflows)
| Provider | Monthly Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| n8n Cloud | Enterprise (custom) | Exceeds Pro limits |
| DanubeData Business | €39.99 | No limits, 2 vCPU |
| Self-hosted VPS | €14.99 + your time | Need larger VPS |
Recommendation by Use Case
| Use Case | Best Option | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Testing / evaluation | n8n Cloud (free trial) | No setup, instant access |
| Personal automations | DanubeData Starter | €9.99/mo, no execution limits |
| Business automations (EU) | DanubeData Professional | €19.99/mo, GDPR compliant |
| Heavy workflows + custom tools | Self-hosted on VPS | Install anything, full control |
| Enterprise with support | n8n Cloud Enterprise | Official support, SLA |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest way to host n8n?
Self-hosting on a VPS is cheapest at €4.49/month, but requires managing PostgreSQL, Redis, backups, and updates yourself. The cheapest managed option is DanubeData at €9.99/month with PostgreSQL, Redis, and backups included.
Does n8n Cloud have execution limits?
Yes. n8n Cloud Starter allows 2,500 executions/month and 5 active workflows. Pro allows 10,000 executions and 15 workflows. Only Enterprise has unlimited executions. Self-hosted and third-party managed options have no execution limits.
Can I use n8n for free?
n8n is open source and free to self-host. You only pay for the server it runs on. n8n Cloud offers a free trial. DanubeData provides €50 in signup credit that covers several months of the Starter plan.
What database does n8n need?
n8n supports SQLite (default, for testing only) and PostgreSQL (recommended for production). DanubeData's managed n8n includes a dedicated PostgreSQL 17 instance.
Why does n8n need Redis?
Redis enables n8n's queue mode, which processes workflows in parallel instead of sequentially. Without Redis, n8n runs in "regular" mode where one slow workflow blocks everything else. Queue mode is recommended for any production deployment.
Ready to deploy n8n? Get started on DanubeData with €50 in free credit.
