Guides / Self-host n8n vs n8n Cloud
Self-host n8n vs n8n Cloud
n8n Cloud is run by n8n. Self-hosting means you run n8n on your own server. Here is what each one costs you in money and in time.
Side by side
| n8n Cloud | Self-hosted (Community edition) | |
|---|---|---|
| Software cost | $20/mo on the Starter plan, billed annually | Free |
| Executions | 2.5k workflow executions a month | No execution limit from n8n. Your server sets the limit. |
| Server cost | Included | You pay for a server. See the cheapest options below. |
| Updates | n8n runs the updates | You update n8n yourself |
| Backups | See n8n's terms | You set them up |
| Security fixes | Applied by n8n | You apply them. Watch the patch status page. |
| Setup time | Sign up and start | You set up a server, Docker and a domain first |
n8n Cloud price checked 2026-10-17 on n8n's pricing page. The page shows euros to some visitors and dollars to others.
What a server costs
These are the cheapest plain servers we track with at least 4 GB of RAM:
- Contabo: €4.40/mo for 4 vCPU, 8 GB RAM, 100 GB SSD. Price for the first 24 months. The page shows EUR 5.50 crossed out. The page switches between 'including VAT' and 'excluding VAT' with a script, so check the VAT at checkout. US visitors see $5.28.
- Hetzner Cloud: €5.49/mo for 2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM, 40 GB disk. Germany and Finland price. Excludes VAT and the IPv4 address. Hetzner's own price list, new prices since 15 June 2026. On 2026-10-17 the Hetzner site showed CX23 as 'currently unavailable'.
Want less work but still self-hosted? Managed hosts like Elestio or PikaPods run n8n for you on their servers. See the full price list.
Pick n8n Cloud if
- You do not want to run a server.
- Your workflow count fits inside the execution limit.
- You want n8n to handle updates and security fixes.
Pick self-hosting if
- You run a lot of executions and do not want a cap.
- You need your data on your own server or in a set country.
- You are fine with updating n8n and keeping backups.
The hidden cost of self-hosting
n8n ships new versions often. The latest stable release right now is 2.43.7. Some releases fix security bugs. If you self-host, you need to update on a schedule. n8n's docs suggest at least once a month. Our guide on how to update self-hosted n8n walks you through it.
Get price drops and n8n patch alerts
One short email a week. What changed in n8n hosting, and which hosts have patched.