Which hosting provider works best for running n8n workflows?
I’m looking for advice on where to deploy my n8n instance. I’ve been testing different cloud providers but running into some issues.
DigitalOcean seemed promising at first because it’s simple to configure, but they restrict SMTP ports for new accounts. You have to wait 2 months before requesting access, which creates problems when my workflows need to send emails.
Google Cloud Platform feels overly complex for my needs, and I’m worried about unexpected costs. I also looked at AWS Lightsail but don’t have much experience with Amazon’s ecosystem.
I need something that’s beginner-friendly like DigitalOcean but without the email delivery restrictions.
- What hosting service are you using for your n8n setup?
- Any workarounds for SMTP port limitations you’d recommend?
Thanks for any suggestions!
I’ve been running n8n on Vultr for 8 months - it’s been rock solid. Their pricing’s transparent and they don’t block SMTP ports like DigitalOcean does. Setup’s easy too - use their one-click Docker app or grab a basic Ubuntu instance and install n8n yourself. For emails, I ditched SMTP entirely and went with SendGrid’s API instead. Way more reliable plus you get 100 free emails daily. The n8n HTTP Request node works great with their API and you skip all the port restrictions and IP reputation headaches. Their $6/month plan handles my workflows fine unless you’re doing something crazy intensive. Interface is clean and beginner-friendly - sits right between DigitalOcean’s simplicity and GCP’s complexity.
Honestly, linode’s where it’s at - I’ve been using them for 2 years with no major issues. Their $10 plan has plenty of power for n8n and they don’t block SMTP like DigitalOcean does. But seriously, just use a third-party email service like Mailjet or Postmark instead of sending through your server - way less headache and better deliverability.
Hetzner Cloud’s been great for me this past year. Their pricing kicks ass - way more resources for your buck than most providers. I’m running n8n on their CX21 instance for about $5/month and it handles everything I throw at it. The interface is clean without being dumbed down, and they don’t hit you with SMTP restrictions like DigitalOcean does. For email though, I’d still use Mailgun or Amazon SES instead of server SMTP. Those services are built for transactional emails and deliver way better. Their docs are solid and support gets back to you fast. Only catch is they’re Europe-based, so if you specifically need US data centers, look elsewhere. But for most stuff, performance and reliability have been rock solid.