n8n Cloud vs self-hosted n8n: which one should you use?
Most offices should start on n8n Cloud: n8n hosts it, you sign up and build in your browser, and nothing needs installing or patching. Self-hosted n8n is free software you run on your own server, which saves the subscription but makes you responsible for setup, security, updates and backups. n8n's own docs recommend n8n Cloud if you don't have the technical expertise to run a server.
This page is for office managers, operations leads and small-business owners deciding how to run n8n. Prices are as listed on n8n's pricing page as of October 2026. Every free Stepthrough n8n lesson works the same way on either, and the AI Social Media Idea Agent lesson starts with signing up for n8n Cloud.
How do they compare at a glance?
| n8n Cloud | Self-hosted n8n | |
|---|---|---|
| Who runs the server | n8n | You, on a server you rent or own |
| Price | Starter €20 a month billed annually (2,500 executions); Pro €50 a month billed annually (10,000 executions) | Community Edition free; you pay for the server. n8n lists its Business plan (€667 a month billed annually) as self-hosted |
| Setup | Sign up in the browser; free trial, no credit card required | Install with Docker, npm or on a server; n8n says technical expertise is required |
| Updates, security and backups | Handled by n8n | Your responsibility |
| Execution limits | Set by your plan | No execution limit listed for the Community Edition; your server sets the practical limit |
| AI model costs | Separate, for example the OpenAI API | Separate, for example the OpenAI API |
| Free Stepthrough lessons | Yes, every n8n lesson | The same lessons apply once it is running; a setup lesson is coming |
What is the difference between n8n Cloud and self-hosted n8n?
The difference is who runs the computer that n8n lives on. With n8n Cloud, n8n gives you a workspace at a web address and keeps the software running. With self-hosting, you install n8n on a server you control, such as a rented cloud server, and keep it running yourself. The workflow editor, nodes and AI Agent are the same in both, so what you learn transfers either way.
How much does each option really cost?
n8n Cloud is a predictable monthly bill: n8n lists Starter at €20 a month and Pro at €50 a month, both billed annually, with 2,500 and 10,000 executions. An execution is one run of the whole workflow, however many steps it has. Prices on the pricing page are shown in euros, and monthly billing costs more than annual.
Self-hosting has no license fee for the Community Edition, but it isn't free to run. You pay your hosting provider for a server, and you spend time on installation, updates, security and backups. For a small office without IT staff, that time is usually the bigger cost. In both cases, AI steps need a model behind them: the OpenAI API is billed separately, pay as you go, and is not part of a ChatGPT plan.
Who should self-host n8n?
Self-hosting suits teams with someone comfortable running servers, and organizations that need full control over where their data lives. n8n's docs describe it as offering full control over deployment, and also say it takes longer to set up and requires technical expertise. If nobody on your team has run a server before, start on n8n Cloud and revisit self-hosting once your workflows prove their value.
If client confidentiality is the reason you are considering self-hosting, as it often is for accounting and law firms, talk to whoever handles your IT and compliance first. A self-hosted server that isn't patched can be riskier than a managed service.
Can I move from n8n Cloud to self-hosted later?
Yes. n8n workflows can be downloaded and imported as files, so you can rebuild your setup on a self-hosted server later. Credentials such as your Gmail sign-in and API keys need to be set up again on the new server. Starting on n8n Cloud doesn't lock you in.
Who is each one for?
n8n Cloud
For office managers, firms and small teams who want automations running this week without touching a server. Every free Stepthrough n8n lesson, such as the AI Email Responder and the AI Receipt Extractor, fits this path.
Self-hosted n8n
For teams with IT skills in-house, or a clear data-control requirement, who are ready to own updates, security and backups. A free Stepthrough lesson on self-hosting is coming.
Which of these tools have a free Stepthrough lesson?
- n8n Cloud: free lesson: n8n AI Agent Tutorial: Save Social Media Ideas to Google Sheets
- Self-hosted n8n: a free Stepthrough lesson is coming.
Practice it free, step by step
n8n AI Agent Tutorial: Save Social Media Ideas to Google Sheets. Build an AI agent for BrightPath Marketing that generates social media post ideas and saves them to Google Sheets — chat trigger, AI Agent, system prompt, model, memory, and the Sheets tool. You do every step yourself in a practice copy of n8n, it checks your work as you go, and “Do it for me” finishes any step you get stuck on. Free, and nothing touches your real accounts.
Start the free lessonKey takeaways
- n8n Cloud is hosted by n8n and listed at €20 a month (Starter) or €50 a month (Pro), billed annually, as of October 2026.
- The self-hosted n8n Community Edition is free software, but you pay for the server and own setup, security, updates and backups.
- n8n's own docs recommend n8n Cloud for people without the technical expertise to run a server.
- AI model costs, such as the OpenAI API, are separate from both options.
Frequently asked questions
Is self-hosted n8n really free?
The Community Edition software is free to download from GitHub, and n8n's pricing page lists no execution limit for it. Running it is not free: you pay for hosting and spend time on maintenance and security.
Does n8n Cloud have a free trial?
Yes. n8n lists a free trial for its cloud plans with no credit card required, as of October 2026.
Are workflows different on n8n Cloud and self-hosted n8n?
No. The editor, nodes and AI Agent work the same way, so any free Stepthrough n8n lesson applies to both.
Where do these prices and features come from?
Every price and feature on this page was checked against the vendor's own page, as of October 2026. No numbers here are estimates or third-party figures. The example businesses in the Stepthrough lessons are made up.
