I’m currently running n8n workflows through Docker on my local machine with Cloudflare tunneling for public access. The main issue is that my computer needs to stay powered on constantly to maintain the service.
I’m exploring cloud deployment alternatives like Render’s premium plans, but I want to confirm if these services actually provide true 24/7 uptime for automated workflows.
My specific scenario involves:
A workflow triggered by webhooks
A frontend form interface that users can submit
Need for reliable communication between the web form and the n8n automation
Want to eliminate dependency on local hardware running continuously
Basically looking for a fully managed solution where the workflow stays active without any local infrastructure requirements. Has anyone successfully migrated from self-hosted Docker to a cloud platform that guarantees persistent availability?
Been running n8n on Heroku for six months and wish I’d switched sooner. Free tier sleeps after 30 minutes which kills webhooks, but paid dynos keep everything running 24/7. Main benefit over self-hosting? Dead simple deployment - just push to git and you’re done. I was worried about database persistence since workflows store tons of state data, but their Postgres add-on works perfectly. Watch your memory usage though - n8n gets hungry with complex workflows. You’ll probably need standard-2x dynos for anything serious. Built-in logging beats digging through Docker logs too.
Switched from local Docker to DigitalOcean’s App Platform eight months ago - best decision I made. Just connect your GitHub repo and it handles everything automatically. Their 99.95% uptime guarantee actually holds up, and webhook reliability is rock solid even when traffic spikes. I’ve got the same setup as you - forms triggering workflows - and response times crush what I had running locally. Costs me $12-15/month for basic tier, but it’s worth not dealing with power outages or home internet drops. Auto-scaling kicks in automatically when load increases.
railway is a great choice! I’ve had mine up for a while too, and it’s super reliable. def way cheaper than those render options. webhook triggers have been spot on without any downtime. no need to have your PC on all the time, which is a huge relief!