Self-host n8n in 10 minutes: the foundation for every AI automation workflow
TL;DR
n8n is a self-hostable “fair-code” workflow automation platform. To try it: create an n8n_data volume and docker run the n8n image on port 5678. For production: use Postgres, put it behind an HTTPS reverse proxy, set a fixed N8N_ENCRYPTION_KEY, back up regularly.
Try it
docker volume create n8n_data
docker run -it --rm --name n8n -p 5678:5678 \
-v n8n_data:/home/node/.n8n docker.n8n.io/n8nio/n8n
# open http://localhost:5678Production checklist
| Item | What to do |
|---|---|
| Database | Move from SQLite to Postgres as workflows grow |
| HTTPS + domain | Caddy / Nginx / Cloudflare Tunnel; set WEBHOOK_URL correctly |
| Credential encryption | Set a fixed N8N_ENCRYPTION_KEY and store it safely |
| Backups | Daily volume + DB backups, test restores |
| Updates | Pin image versions, read release notes before upgrading |
| Access | Don't expose it to the Internet unnecessarily; enable 2FA |
Self-host or n8n Cloud?
- Self-host: data stays on your infrastructure, low cost, but you run it.
- Cloud: fast, no servers — good for small teams without DevOps.