How to get started with n8n (two options; easy vs cheap)

n8n is a powerful workflow automation tool that allows you to drag-and-drop connect various apps, services, and APIs without coding knowledge. Unlike many automation platforms, n8n gives you complete data ownership and can be self-hosted or used as a cloud service.

Ready to automate your workflows? Then you have two options: choose n8n.io Cloud for ultimate convenience with zero setup, or save money with Hostinger’s self-hosting solution that offers unlimited workflows at a fraction of the cost. Whether you prioritize ease-of-use or budget, both n8n hosting options unlock n8n’s powerful automation capabilities.

Here is a walkthrough of getting started with n8n, using both of the above options. We recommend the second option ⇣ using Hostinger.

Why? Because using Hostinger is a lot cheaper (PLUS it comes with unlimited workflow executions and activations). Here is a cost breakdown:

Price Comparison	n8n Cloud	Hostinger
Monthly Costs
Starting Price	€20/month (~$22/month)	$4.99/month
Annual Costs
Annual Total	€240/year (~$264/year)	$59.88/year
Savings with Hostinger
Monthly Savings	$17.01/month 🤑
Annual Savings	$204.12/year 🤑
Percentage Savings	77% cost reduction
Long-Term Savings
2-Year Savings	$408.24 🤑

Option 1: The n8n Cloud Platform

Complexity: Easy
Cost: Plans from €20 per month
Setup Time: Near instant (1-2 minutes)
Maintenance: None (fully managed)
Workflow Limits: 2.5k executions/month, 5 active workflows
Free trial: 14-day free trial
Best For: Users wanting immediate start with no technical overhead

Setting up n8n on the cloud platform is the quickest way to start automating your workflows without any server configuration.

1. Sign Up for an n8n Cloud Account

• Go to n8n.io
• Click the “Sign Up” or “Get Started” button prominently displayed on the homepage
• You’ll be directed to the registration page

2. Create your account

• Enter your email address
• Create a secure password
• Agree to the terms of service
• Click “Sign Up” to proceed

3. Choose your subscription plan

• n8n offers several tiers, including:
• Free trial (access all features for 14 days)
• Team plan (starting from €20/month)
• Enterprise plan (custom pricing)
• Select the plan that best fits your needs
• Enter your payment information if selecting a paid plan

4. Complete your profile

• Fill in your name and organization details
• Set your timezone and preferences
• You may be asked about your automation goals or use cases

5. Access your n8n dashboard

• After completing registration, you’ll be redirected to your new n8n dashboard, where your username will be: username.app.n8n.cloud
• Take a moment to familiarize yourself with the interface
• You’ll see options to create new workflows, explore templates, and access documentation

The entire signup process only takes a minute, and you’ll have immediate access to the full platform features based on your chosen plan. With no server setup required, you can start building your first automation right away!

Option 2: Self-Host n8n on Hostinger

Complexity: Easy
Cost: Plans from $6.99 per month (or $4.99/mo if you sign up for a 2-year period)
Setup Time: Quick (less than 5 minutes)
Maintenance: Minimal (occasional updates)
Workflow Limits: Unlimited executions and workflows
Free trial: 30-day money-back guarantee
Best For: Cost-conscious users needing unlimited automation capacity

Hostinger offers a pre-configured “Ubuntu 24.04 with n8n” VPS template that makes setup incredibly straightforward – no manual Docker configuration required!

1. Sign Up for Hostinger VPS

• Visit Hostinger.com (sign up using this link for a guided step-by-step signup process)
• Select a VPS hosting plan (the KVM-2 plan is recommended)
• Complete the registration and payment process

2. Deploy the n8n Template

• Log in to your Hostinger hPanel
• Navigate to the VPS section in the right-side menu
• Select your VPS and click the “Manage” button

3. Install the n8n template

• In the VPS dashboard, open the “OS & Panel” dropdown menu
• Select “Operating System”
• Search for “n8n” in the search bar
• Select the “Ubuntu 24.04 with n8n” template
• Set a password for the root user and confirm
• Wait for the installation to complete (progress bar will show at the top)

4. Access your n8n instance

• From the VPS dashboard’s overview page, click “Manage App”
• Click on the “Login URL” provided
• You’ll see the n8n registration screen to set up an n8n community edition owner account
• Enter your details and create a password
• Click through any additional setup screens

5. Log in to n8n

• You’ll arrive at the n8n Overview page, ready to create workflows!
• Tip: Opt in to receive an activation key for lifetime-access free advanced features

This one-click installation method saves you time and headache from having to manually configure Docker, set up reverse proxies, or handle other technical aspects of the installation. Everything comes pre-configured and ready to use!

Tips for n8n Success

Whether you’re just getting started or looking to take your n8n workflows to the next level, these proven strategies will help you build more reliable, efficient, and powerful automations. By following these best practices, you’ll avoid common pitfalls and unlock the full potential of n8n’s capabilities.

• Start simple: Begin with basic workflows before attempting complex automations. Create single-purpose workflows that solve one specific problem, like automatically saving email attachments to Google Drive or sending Slack notifications for new Trello cards. As you gain confidence, you can gradually combine these smaller workflows into more sophisticated automation systems.

• Use pre-made templates: Browse our directory of n8n workflow templates for inspiration and quick starts. Why reinvent the wheel? The template library contains dozens of production-ready workflows for common business scenarios like lead generation, social media management, and customer support. Simply import a template, customize it to your needs, and activate it in minutes instead of building from scratch.

• Join the community: The n8n forum and Discord are excellent resources for troubleshooting and discovering creative workflow ideas. With over 20,000 active members, you’ll find users who have likely solved similar challenges to yours. Share your workflows, ask questions, and learn from automation experts who regularly contribute their knowledge and best practices.

• Monitor resource usage: If you are self-hosting n8n, keep an eye on server resources. Set up basic monitoring for CPU, memory, and disk usage to ensure your workflows run smoothly. Heavy workflows processing large datasets might require additional resources, so consider scheduling resource-intensive tasks during off-peak hours to maintain optimal performance.

• Regular backups: Export your workflows regularly to prevent data loss. Develop a habit of exporting critical workflows after significant changes and store these backups in a secure location. For self-hosted instances, consider automating this process with a simple backup workflow that exports all your workflows weekly and sends them to cloud storage.

• Explore the documentation: n8n has excellent docs and how-to guides for advanced features. The documentation covers everything from basic concepts to advanced techniques like using expressions, working with binary data, and implementing error handling. Set aside time to read through key sections—this investment will dramatically improve your automation capabilities and workflow efficiency.

• Master expressions: Learn to use n8n expressions to manipulate data between nodes. Expressions allow you to transform, filter, and route data dynamically, making your workflows more powerful and flexible. Start with simple expressions like {{$json.data}} to access data, then progress to more complex transformations using JavaScript functions.

• Test thoroughly: Use the built-in testing features to debug your workflows before activation. Run individual nodes to verify their output, and use the “Execute Workflow” button to test the entire sequence. This practice helps identify and fix issues before they affect your production processes.

Remember, automation is a journey, not a destination. As you implement these tips, you’ll develop your own automation style and discover creative ways to streamline your work. The time you invest in mastering n8n today will pay dividends through countless hours saved tomorrow.

Wrap up

Whether you choose the convenience of n8n.io’s cloud service or the cost-effectiveness of self-hosting on Hostinger, n8n offers powerful automation capabilities that can save you time and streamline your workflows. Start with simple automations, then gradually build more complex systems as you become familiar with the platform.

The beauty of n8n lies in its flexibility and the control it gives you over your data and processes. As you grow more comfortable with the platform, you’ll discover countless ways to automate repetitive tasks and integrate your favorite services.