n8n Cloud vs Self-Hosting in 2025: Which One Is Right for You?
🚀 Introduction
n8n is one of the most powerful open-source automation tools available — and when it’s time to deploy it for real work, the big question is:
Should you go with n8n Cloud, or self-host it on your own server?
This guide breaks down the pros, cons, pricing, and use cases for each. Whether you’re a solo developer, a startup, or a growing team, you’ll know exactly which option fits best by the end.
☁️ What Is n8n Cloud?
n8n Cloud is the official hosted version maintained by the n8n team. You just sign up and start building — no setup, no servers.
✅ Pros:
- No installation or maintenance
- Automatic updates, backups, and scaling
- User management and permissions built-in
- Backed by the creators of n8n
❌ Cons:
- Limited flexibility with custom integrations
- Higher long-term cost for power users
- Can’t fully access file system or database
- Data hosted on third-party infrastructure
🧰 What Is Self-Hosting n8n?
Self-hosting n8n means running it on your own VPS, laptop, or cloud provider — like DigitalOcean, AWS, or Hetzner.
✅ Pros:
- Full control over data, performance, and stack
- Can integrate custom domains, DBs, proxies, and SSL
- Lower cost at scale
- Option to modify the source code
❌ Cons:
- Requires basic DevOps and security knowledge
- Manual responsibility for backups, updates, and uptime
- Initial setup takes more time
⚖️ Feature Comparison Table
| Feature | n8n Cloud | Self-Hosted |
|---|---|---|
| Setup Time | ✅ Instant | 🛠 ~30–90 min |
| Cost | 💰 $20–50/month | 💸 From $5/month (VPS) |
| Custom Domain + SSL | ❌ Limited | ✅ Full support |
| Workflow Limits | 🚫 Plan-based | ✅ Unlimited (hardware-based) |
| DB + File Access | ❌ | ✅ Yes |
| Maintenance Effort | None | 🧠 Manual (but customizable) |
| Data Sovereignty | ❓ Hosted in EU/US | ✅ You choose the region |
| Source Code Access | ❌ | ✅ Full access |
👤 Who Should Use n8n Cloud?
Choose n8n Cloud if you:
- Want the fastest way to start automating
- Don’t want to deal with technical setup
- Are okay with fixed pricing plans
- Prefer official support and managed uptime
Great for startups, marketers, and non-tech teams that value speed over customization.
👨💻 Who Should Self-Host n8n?
Go with self-hosted n8n if you:
- Are a developer or power user
- Need custom domains, proxies, or integrations
- Want to control your data and costs
- Have a VPS or want to use local infrastructure
Ideal for freelancers, agencies, and privacy-conscious teams.
🔄 Hybrid Approach?
Some teams prototype on n8n Cloud, then migrate to self-hosted for production. Others run both — using self-hosted for core workflows and Cloud for experiments.
Migration is totally possible between the two.
📌 Summary
- Use n8n Cloud if you want the easiest path, with no setup and managed hosting.
- Choose self-hosting if you want full control, lower cost, and custom setup.
💡 Bonus: Try Before You Commit
Still not sure? Try n8n Cloud for 14 days and then decide if you want to switch to a self-hosted deployment — or run both side by side.
👋 Need Help Self-Hosting n8n?
I offer a complete n8n installation service, including:
- ✅ VPS setup (Ubuntu/Windows/local)
- ✅ Domain + SSL + reverse proxy
- ✅ Optional Postgres & backup configuration
👉 Get started now — typically completed in just a few hours.