n8n self-hosted pricing: what is free and what you still pay for
Separate n8n's software fee from hosting and upkeep, then work out whether existing resources, a new server or n8n Cloud fit your business task.
In this guide
n8n Community Edition has no software subscription fee. Running it still needs a computer, storage and someone to look after it. You can use resources you already pay for, rent a server, or pay for n8n Cloud and let n8n handle the hosting.
Self-hosting does not make every n8n feature free. Business and Enterprise offer paid features on your own infrastructure; their software fees are separate from the server bill. Cloud bundles hosting with a subscription, but connected services can still have their own charges.
The useful question is: what would this automation add to your bills and your workload? Start there before buying anything.
For a quick comparison, jump to the same task on existing hosting, a new server and n8n Cloud. Community has no subscription fee; hosting depends on what you already have. The Cloud example uses the checked EUR monthly price, while the server amounts are clearly marked as illustrations.
What does “free” cover?
Community Edition can run your own internal business automations without an n8n subscription. It is not merely a trial. However, it lacks some team features, including shared workflows and credentials, company single sign-on, and Git-based version management. Check the edition comparison if several people need to maintain the same automation.
Free software is not permission for every business model. The Sustainable Use License permits internal business use, with restrictions on providing the software to others. Running your own follow-up process is different from selling access to a hosted n8n service. If you will host clients’ workflows or embed n8n in a product, check n8n’s licensing guidance before budgeting around Community Edition.
For one person maintaining a simple internal workflow, start by checking Community’s features. You do not need a paid self-hosted edition just because your business earns money.
Separate the five parts of the cost
A workflow is the sequence of actions you create in n8n. An execution is one run of that sequence, not a separate charge for each step.
| Cost | Self-hosted | n8n Cloud |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Community has no subscription fee. A paid edition is an ongoing cost only if its features or licensing are needed. | The recurring subscription covers the selected plan and execution allowance. |
| Hosting | Required, but a new bill is conditional. Check spare capacity on existing hosting, or budget for a new server. | Hosting is included. Do not add a second server bill for the same n8n instance. |
| Storage and recovery | Use included disk space and suitable existing backup capacity first. Extra storage or a backup service can add recurring charges. | Platform backups are included. Your plan still limits saved execution data; additional archival needs may cost extra. |
| Connected services | Check the services the workflow uses: your email, CRM, AI or SMS provider. Existing allowances may cover the task; extra usage can cost money on either hosting option. | |
| Setup and upkeep | One-time installation and workflow setup, then recurring server updates, backups and workflow checks. | Workflow setup and checks still take time. You avoid running the server, but must still review results and maintain connections to your apps. |
Keep money and your own time separate. If you maintain the system yourself, record the hours without pretending they are an invoice. If you hire someone, include their actual setup fee and ongoing agreement.
Backups also need a clear purpose. n8n describes daily Cloud backups for disaster recovery; that is not a promise to restore any past edit on demand. For self-hosting, a recoverable copy needs the database and the key used to protect saved credentials—not just exported workflow files. Use the backup guide to check what your existing arrangement covers.
One example: a daily follow-up list
Suppose you want an email each morning listing sales enquiries that still need a reply. The workflow reads your existing customer-management app, often called a CRM, filters the records and sends one internal email. You get a useful list without opening the CRM to hunt for overdue follow-ups.
For this cost example, assume:
- One person manages one daily workflow, with a small text-only set of records.
- Your existing CRM plan permits API access—the way n8n reads its data—and your email plan permits these automated messages within its allowance.
- There is no AI service, SMS, attachment processing or customer-facing access to n8n.
- Self-hosted administration uses secure private access. The workflow makes outgoing connections, so we are not adding a domain or a public incoming connection.
- Self-hosted n8n uses its default SQLite database, stored on the same machine. A separately billed database is not required for this example.
One scheduled run a day gives 30 executions in a 30-day month, or 31 in a 31-day month. Allowing ten additional production runs for retries gives 40 or 41. Reading several records inside that one workflow does not, by itself, mean one execution per record.
Those assumptions matter more than a “from” price. If your CRM requires a plan upgrade for API access, add that upgrade to both hosting options. If you already pay for n8n Cloud and have enough unused allowance, check that before adding another subscription or server.
Compare the extra monthly cash
The amounts below use EUR before tax, keeping existing CRM/email subscriptions outside the additional-cost column because they are unchanged.
For the self-hosted arithmetic, €10/month for a server and €2/month for backups are illustrative budget inputs, not a provider quote or a capacity recommendation. Replace them with verified costs for your own suitable setup before buying.
| Situation | Additional monthly cash | What must be true |
|---|---|---|
| Community on an existing server | €0, if no upgrade or extra backup charge is needed. | The already-paid server and backup arrangement have spare capacity; you can maintain n8n there. The original hosting bill still exists. |
| Community on a new server | Illustration: €0 software + €10 server + €2 backups = €12. | Your checked quote and workload must fit. Included disk/network capacity is sufficient; no paid software feature or other add-on is required. |
| A new n8n Cloud Starter subscription | €24 per month, paid monthly, at the checked price. | The workflow fits Starter's features and resource limits, and you remain within the 2,500 monthly execution allowance. |
Cloud price checked 24 September 2026: the official pricing page showed Starter at €24 billed monthly, or €20 per month billed annually. The annual option means €240 paid in advance for 12 months, not twelve €20 payments. Prices exclude applicable taxes. The subscription terms describe the annual payment as non-refundable, while preserving mandatory consumer rights. Confirm your checkout currency and tax before paying.
Starter allows five executions at once. Its saved execution history is limited by seven days, 2,500 saved executions and 2.5 GB, whichever limit is reached first. That history is the record used to investigate runs; it is not a permanent archive of your business data. The example is comfortably below the execution allowance, but that alone does not prove a workflow fits its memory or other resource limits.
Under the illustrative self-hosted inputs, the cash difference is €24 − €12 = €12 per month. That does not establish that self-hosting is cheaper overall: no maintenance hours or equal recovery guarantees have been assumed. Conversely, do not add a paid backup subscription to Cloud simply to make the columns match when its included service already meets your needs.
Choose the option that fits your situation
You already have suitable hosting and can maintain it: check its spare memory, disk space, backup coverage and permission to run n8n continuously. Budget only additional charges when deciding whether to add this workflow; keep the full existing bill in your wider business budget. A laptop that sleeps through the scheduled run does not meet the example’s requirement.
You need a server and are comfortable maintaining one: obtain a quote that includes required networking and recoverable storage, then replace the example’s €10 and €2. Check any paid edition requirements before ordering. The official self-hosting options explain the next technical step. Our Ubuntu VPS guide covers creating a server and first login only; it does not install n8n or establish the right server size for your workflow.
You want the result without managing a server: check the workflow’s features and expected runs against n8n Cloud’s plans. Use the trial to check the task, then choose the required paid tier; trial features are not necessarily included in Starter. Cloud handles infrastructure and offers managed updates, while you still check that the follow-up email arrives and contains the right records.
Before committing, write down three things: the extra monthly bill, any upfront payment, and who will keep the workflow working. If an existing setup meets all three requirements, there may be nothing new to buy.
Sources and useful links
- n8n editions and licensing guidance — separate feature availability from permission to use n8n in a business model.
- n8n plans and pricing — current execution limits, features and billing-period choices.
- Subscription terms — upfront payments, taxes, cancellation and separate third-party charges.
- Self-hosted backups and Cloud security — understand what is protected before adding backup costs.
- Cloud updates — what n8n manages and which update settings remain under your control.