I’m trying to set up n8n for workflow automation and wondering what the most cost-effective self-hosting solutions are out there. I’ve got a Raspberry Pi 4B sitting around that I could potentially use, but I’m not really keen on keeping it running 24/7 with a constant internet connection.
What hosting approaches have worked well for other people here? I’m mainly looking for something that won’t break the bank (ideally free) and doesn’t require too much technical setup. Any recommendations for platforms or methods that have proven reliable for running n8n instances?
honestly oracle cloud free tier has been solid for me running n8n for months now. you get decent specs and its actually free forever not just trial. setup isnt too bad if you follow their docs, way easier than dealing with pi reliability issues imo
I’ve been running n8n on a VPS from Contabo for about a year now and it’s worked out well. Their cheapest plan runs around 4-5 euros monthly which is pretty reasonable compared to other providers. The performance has been stable and you get root access to configure everything exactly how you need it. Docker makes the installation straightforward even if you’re not super technical - just pull the n8n image and you’re mostly there. One thing I learned is to set up automated backups early since losing your workflows after spending time building them is frustrating. The monthly cost ends up being less than what I’d spend on electricity running hardware at home constantly.
Digital Ocean’s droplet worked perfectly for my n8n setup and their $6/month basic plan handles everything smoothly. What really sold me was their one-click marketplace apps - they actually have n8n pre-configured which saves tons of setup headaches. Been running for eight months without any downtime issues. The interface is beginner friendly and their documentation walks you through domain setup and SSL certificates step by step. I was hesitant about monthly costs initially but realized my Raspberry Pi was consuming more power than expected when factoring in cooling and storage upgrades. Plus having proper backups and snapshots through their platform gives peace of mind that home hosting never really provided.