How to Self-host n8n in under 3 minutes for just $4/month

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Self-Host n8n on DigitalOcean with Custom Domain

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Step 1: Create a DigitalOcean Account

  • Go to https://www.digitalocean.com (Free $200 in credit over 60 days using this link)
  • Sign up or log in.
  • Add your payment method if required.

Step 2: Find the n8n One-Click App

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  1. Go to DigitalOcean Marketplace
  2. Search for n8n in the search bar
  3. Click on the n8n Automation Tool one-click app
  4. Hit Create n8n Droplet

Step 3: Configure Your Server

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  1. Choose a Plan:
  • Use Basic Shared CPU, $4/month (cheapest)
  1. Choose Datacenter Region:
  • Select the location closest to your users (e.g., Bangalore, NYC, Frankfurt)
  1. Authentication:
  • Choose a strong root password
    4.(Make it memorable or use a password manager)*
  1. Leave other options as default

Click Create Droplet

Step 4: Access Your n8n Instance

  • :hourglass_not_done: Wait 1–2 minutes for the droplet to be created.
  • :magnifying_glass_tilted_left: Once deployed, note your droplet’s public IP address.

:globe_with_meridians: Set Up DNS for Your Domain

  1. Go to your domain’s DNS manager (like Namecheap, GoDaddy, etc).
  2. Create an A record:
  • Host/Name: n8n
  • Type: A
  • Value: your droplet’s IP address
  • TTL: You can leave this as default (or set to 30 mins / automatic)

:white_check_mark: This points n8n.yourdomain.com to your droplet.

:laptop: Access the Droplet

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  1. Back in DigitalOcean, click on the “Console” button to open a terminal window.
  2. You’ll now have access to your root server (no need to install anything).
  3. You’ll be asked to enter:
  • Subdomain: n8n
  • Domain: yourdomain.com
  • Email: your email address (for SSL certificate setup)

Once done, n8n will install an SSL certificate and make your instance live at:

https://n8n.yourdomain.com

Step 5: Set Up Your n8n Account

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  1. When the n8n editor loads, it’ll ask you to create an account
  2. Fill in your:
  • Name
  • Email
  • Password
  1. Hit Next and complete onboarding

Boom :collision: — you now have a fully self-hosted version of n8n running on your own DigitalOcean server.

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