Table of Contents
Introduction
Why free software still carries a monthly bill
Running n8n on a UK VPS is cheaper than most managed automation tools, but only if you’re happy to self-host and keep an eye on memory and storage. Here’s what you actually pay across VPS, storage, backups and bandwidth—and which corners you shouldn’t cut.
Where the £7 to £25 range comes from
A small VPS sits at the low end. Backups, a managed database and upkeep push the total cost of ownership toward the top.
What a UK VPS Costs to Run n8n
RAM and disk needs for a small business setup
Small self-hosted n8n setups run at roughly €4 to €12 a month. UK-focused pricing guides put a basic VPS at around £5.
The price moves with four things:
- RAM
- Disk size
- Backups
- Traffic
Start small and upgrade only when workflows demand it.
London data centres and UK data residency
Location matters if a contract says “UK only”. A VPS in a UK data centre, such as London, can meet that clause.
A server in Falkenstein, Germany, would not. Zapier stores data in the United States, and Make offers only US or EU regions.
The trade-off: you run, patch and back up the server yourself.
The Extra Costs Beyond the Server
Backups, managed database and domain
A server is only part of the bill. Production use needs a database, a domain, SSL and backups.
- Managed PostgreSQL: €10 to €30 a month
- Redis: €5 to €15 a month
- Backup storage: €5 to €10 a month
Most small setups skip Redis and managed PostgreSQL. Backup storage and a domain are the extras you will almost always pay for.
Setup and maintenance time
Your time counts as a cost. UK-focused guides put initial setup at a few hours.
After that, you keep the server running, patched and backed up. Price those hours into your total cost, because they often outweigh the hosting fee.
Self-Hosting Versus n8n Cloud
Cloud plan pricing in pounds
N8n Cloud costs $24 a month on Starter (2,500 executions) and $60 on Pro (10,000 executions). Every plan includes unlimited workflows and unlimited users.
UK-focused guides convert the full Cloud range of $20 to $120 a month to roughly £16 to £95.
When paying for Cloud makes sense
Self-hosting saves most teams $200 to $700 a year. Cloud still wins in some cases:
- Nobody on your team wants to patch servers
- Your volume is low enough that the plan price stays small
- No contract demands UK-only data
If a missed workflow costs you more than the hosting saving, pay for Cloud.
FAQ
How much does it cost to self-host n8n on a UK VPS?
Budget £7 to £25 a month. A basic VPS is around £5, and backups and a domain make up the rest.
Is n8n free to self-host?
The software is. The Community Edition has no licence fee, but you still pay for the server, backups and your own time.
Does self-hosting meet UK data residency requirements?
Yes, if the VPS sits in a UK data centre.
Conclusion
Self-hosted n8n is cheap, not free. Count the server, backups, a domain and your own hours before you compare it with Cloud.
