Self-Hosted n8n vs n8n Cloud
Compare self-hosted n8n against n8n Cloud on cost, control, maintenance burden, compliance and scaling.
Self-hosting is cheaper on paper and more expensive in attention. The right choice depends on whether you have someone who can own a server.
How they compare
| Criterion | Self-hosted | n8n Cloud |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | ₹1,500–5,000 VPS | From €20, scaling with executions |
| Execution limits | Hardware-bound only | Plan-bound |
| Data residency | Fully your choice | n8n's regions |
| Maintenance | Yours — upgrades, backups, TLS | Handled for you |
| Scaling | Queue mode with workers | Upgrade the plan |
| Community nodes | Install anything | Restricted |
| Support | Community, or a partner like us | Included in the plan |
What we'd tell you on a call
Self-host when
Volume is high, data must stay in a specific jurisdiction, or you need community nodes. Budget for someone owning it — or a managed hosting retainer.
Use Cloud when
Volumes are moderate and you'd rather not think about infrastructure at all. It's a perfectly reasonable choice, and cheaper than it looks once you price your own time honestly.
Frequently asked questions
What's the hidden cost of self-hosting?
Attention. The server needs upgrades, backups need verifying, certificates need renewing, and someone must respond when it stops. That's a few hours a month when things go well, and a bad weekend when they don't.
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Still not sure which to pick?
Book the free audit. We'll look at your actual volumes and complexity and tell you which platform fits — including when the answer is to change nothing.
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