Free Visual builderSelf-hostedNo per-task pricing

n8n

Build automations visually, host them yourself. The Zapier replacement where you don't pay per task.

20 min setup ◆◆◇ Some copy-pasting Reversible

What it does

Drag and drop 400+ integrations into workflows. Connect your CRM to your email, your forms to your database, your calendar to your Slack. Run unlimited workflows - no per-task charges.

Why we like it

Zapier charges $0.01-$0.10 per task. A moderate automation that runs 50,000 tasks/month costs $250+ on Zapier. On n8n self-hosted, it costs $5/month for the VPS. The visual builder is genuinely better than Zapier's, and you can write custom JavaScript nodes when the built-in ones aren't enough.

What it replaces

Zapier, Make (Integromat), Pipedream, Workato

Setup guide

Here's the setup, step by step. Drag and drop 400+ integrations into workflows. Connect your CRM to your email, your forms to your database, your calendar to your Slack. Run unlimited workflows - no per-task charges.

Steps

  1. Install Docker on your VPS
  2. Create a docker-compose.yml with the n8n image
  3. Set your domain, webhook URL, and a secure encryption key
  4. Run docker-compose up -d
  5. Visit your domain and create your admin account

The code

This is the actual configuration you'll use. Lines you need to edit are highlighted.

What this doesThe minimal n8n setup. Add Nginx + SSL for production.
docker-compose.yml
services:  n8n:    image: n8nio/n8n:latest    ports: ["5678:5678"]    environment:      - N8N_HOST=n8n.yourdomain.com  ← your domain      - N8N_ENCRYPTION_KEY=change-this  ← generate a secret      - WEBHOOK_URL=https://n8n.yourdomain.com  ← same domain, https    volumes:      - n8n_data:/home/node/.n8nvolumes:  n8n_data:
⚠ Before you run thisn8n uses the 'Sustainable Use License' - not strictly OSI open source, but free to self-host and use. You just can't resell it as a hosted product.

Resource cost

Runs on a $5/month VPS (1GB RAM) for light use. 2GB recommended for heavy workflows.

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