# Self-hosted n8n for workflows and AI agents

> Run self-hosted n8n on your own server: the Community Edition with AI agents, webhooks on your own domain, queue mode with workers and PostgreSQL.

Connect your apps, APIs and databases, add AI agents with tools and memory, and run your workflows on a server you control. The Community Edition runs on a HyperDC server with full root access, preinstalled with Docker Compose and PostgreSQL as an app option, or set up with our guide.

- Community Edition on a server with full root access
- AI agents with tools, memory and MCP
- PostgreSQL and queue mode with workers when you grow
- Webhooks on your own domain with HTTPS

See plans Compare server sizes

Stack Node.js, n8n 2.x, Docker Compose\
Default port Only the n8n port should be open; the task broker and the sandbox runner stay inside the Docker network. 5678\
Minimum n8n’s Docker Compose guide asks for at least 4 GB and 2 vCPU because the sandbox that runs AI-generated code uses Docker-in-Docker. 2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM (Docker Compose)\
Your data PostgreSQL (SQLite by default)\
Official docs docs.n8n.io

Editions and features

- Community Edition
- Registered Community
- AI agents
- MCP
- Queue mode
- Webhooks
- Code nodes
- PostgreSQL

Facts from the project’s official website, documentation and repository, checked in October 2026.

## Plans are being prepared

We are preparing ready-to-use plans for n8n. Tell us how you will use it and how many users you expect, and we will reply with a server that fits. You can also start today on a Linux VPS and install it with our guide.

[Contact sales](https://hyperdc.com/contact-us) [Open a ticket](https://hyperdc.com/support/new-ticket)

## Which server size fits?

Starting points for vCPU, memory and disk. Grow the server when your data and users grow.

| Feature | **Starter** Personal and team workflows | Recommended **Business** Busy webhooks and AI agents | **Scale** Queue mode with several workers |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| vCPUVirtual processor cores of the server. | 2 | 4 | 8 |
| MemoryMemory for the app, its database and the operating system. | 4 GB | 8 GB | 16 GB |
| DiskExecution history, binary data and the database. | 40 GB | 80 GB | 160 GB+ |
| Setup | n8n with PostgreSQL | n8n, PostgreSQL, larger history | Main, workers, Redis, PostgreSQL |
| Server type | Linux VPS | VPS or VDS | VDS or dedicated |

- ### Starter
  Personal and team workflows
  vCPUVirtual processor cores of the server. 2\
  MemoryMemory for the app, its database and the operating system. 4 GB\
  DiskExecution history, binary data and the database. 40 GB\
  Setup n8n with PostgreSQL\
  Server type Linux VPS
- Recommended
  ### Business
  Busy webhooks and AI agents
  vCPUVirtual processor cores of the server. 4\
  MemoryMemory for the app, its database and the operating system. 8 GB\
  DiskExecution history, binary data and the database. 80 GB\
  Setup n8n, PostgreSQL, larger history\
  Server type VPS or VDS
- ### Scale
  Queue mode with several workers
  vCPUVirtual processor cores of the server. 8\
  MemoryMemory for the app, its database and the operating system. 16 GB\
  DiskExecution history, binary data and the database. 160 GB+\
  Setup Main, workers, Redis, PostgreSQL\
  Server type VDS or dedicated

n8n’s Docker Compose guide asks for at least 4 GB of RAM and 2 vCPU. The larger columns are conservative starting points; long execution histories, large files and many parallel workflows need more. Prune old executions to keep the database small.

See plans

## What you can automate with n8n

From a webhook that files form entries to agents that answer customers.

### AI agents

Give an agent a model, memory, tools and MCP servers, and let it work inside your workflows with OpenAI, Anthropic, Google or your own Ollama.

### Apps, APIs and webhooks

Use the built-in nodes for common apps, call any REST API, and receive webhooks on your own domain.

### Code when you need it

Write JavaScript or Python in code nodes for anything the visual nodes do not cover.

### Queue mode for scale

Move to PostgreSQL and Redis, then add workers that share the load; queue mode is part of the Community Edition.

### Your data stays yours

Prompts, files and databases stay on a server you control, in the location you choose, instead of a shared SaaS account.

### Full root access

Install what the app needs, change any setting and run more services next to it. Nothing is locked behind a panel.

### App option or step-by-step guide

Order the server with the app installed as an option, or set it up yourself on a clean Linux server with our guide.

### Backups on VPS and VDS

Free weekly and monthly backups come with VPS and VDS plans. Keep your own copies of databases and app data as well.

## From order to first login

Order the app preinstalled on your server, or install it yourself with our guide.

[Browse our guides](https://hyperdc.com/guides)

1. ### Pick the server
   Choose a size from the table above and the data center closest to the people who will use the app.
2. ### Add n8n
   Select n8n as an app option when you order, or install it on a clean Ubuntu or Debian server with our guide.
3. ### Point a domain and enable HTTPS
   Create a DNS record such as app.example.com for the server and put a reverse proxy with a free Let’s Encrypt certificate in front of the app.
4. ### Create the owner account
   Open n8n, create the owner account right away, then back up the encryption key from the data folder.

## Step-by-step setup guides

Install, secure and update the app with our guides, written for current Ubuntu and Debian releases.

[More guides](https://hyperdc.com/guides/search?q=n8n)

- Tutorials [How to install n8n with Docker Compose, PostgreSQL and HTTPS](https://hyperdc.com/guides/tutorials/install-n8n)
  Run n8n on your own server with PostgreSQL, the official task-runner sidecar and Caddy for HTTPS. Covers the encryption key, queue mode with Redis workers, backups, restores and updates.
  40 min Intermediate

## Related solutions

[All solutions](https://hyperdc.com/solutions)

### Activepieces Hosting

Open-source automation with AI agents and MCP

[Learn more](https://hyperdc.com/activepieces-hosting)

### Node-RED Hosting

Flow-based automation for IoT, APIs and MQTT

[Learn more](https://hyperdc.com/node-red-hosting)

### AI Agent Hosting

OpenClaw, Hermes Agent and your own agents, always on

[Learn more](https://hyperdc.com/ai-agents-hosting)

### Ollama Hosting

Open LLMs with a private, OpenAI-compatible API

[Learn more](https://hyperdc.com/ollama-hosting)

### Dify Hosting

AI apps, agents, RAG and workflows in one studio

[Learn more](https://hyperdc.com/dify-hosting)

### Docker Hosting

Containers and Compose stacks with full root access

[Learn more](https://hyperdc.com/docker-hosting)

## Frequently asked questions

Still have a question? Send us a message and our team will reply by email.

[Contact us](https://hyperdc.com/contact-us) [Open a ticket](https://hyperdc.com/support/new-ticket)

### What does the Community Edition include?

Workflows, webhooks, code nodes, AI agents and queue mode with workers, all on your own server. Features such as SSO, projects, environments, log streaming and Git version control belong to n8n’s Business and Enterprise editions.

### What does the Registered Community Edition add?

Registering your instance with an email address adds folders, debugging in the editor and custom execution data. It still runs entirely on your server.

### How much server does n8n need?

n8n’s Docker Compose guide asks for at least 4 GB of RAM and 2 vCPU, because the sandbox runner for AI-generated code uses Docker-in-Docker. Busy webhooks, large files and long execution histories need more memory and disk; queue mode lets you add workers.

### SQLite or PostgreSQL?

n8n uses SQLite by default, which is fine for trying it out. For production use PostgreSQL, as the official Docker Compose setup does; queue mode requires PostgreSQL and Redis.

### Why must I back up the encryption key?

n8n encrypts your saved credentials with N8N\_ENCRYPTION\_KEY. If you do not set it, n8n creates a random key in its data folder on first start. Without that key a restored database cannot decrypt the credentials, and every worker in queue mode needs the same key.

### Can I use my own AI models with n8n?

Yes. AI nodes work with hosted providers such as OpenAI, Anthropic and Google, and with an Ollama server you run yourself, for example on a GPU server next to n8n.

### Can n8n send email?

Yes, with the Send Email node over SMTP or with the nodes of email services such as Gmail or Microsoft Outlook. Outbound port 25 is closed by default on HyperDC VPS. For services bought for a term of 3 months or longer, it is opened on request through a support ticket; until then, or instead, send through an SMTP relay on port 587.

### How do I update n8n?

Back up the database and the data folder, change the image tag in your compose file to the new stable version and run docker compose up -d. n8n marks stable and beta releases, so stay on stable for production.

## Automate on your own server

Tell us the app, how many people will use it and where they are, and we will suggest a server for it.

See plans [Contact sales](https://hyperdc.com/contact-us)

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Source: <https://hyperdc.com/n8n-hosting>\
Updated: 2026-10-09
