n8n Cloud vs Self-Hosted: Which Should You Choose?
7 min read · By Hamza Amir · Updated November 2, 2026
n8n Cloud is the managed version of n8n, the workflow automation platform: n8n hosts it, updates it, and keeps it running, and you pay a monthly plan. The alternative is self-hosting the free Community Edition on your own server, where you control everything but also maintain everything.
As of n8n's official pricing page (checked October 30, 2026), cloud plans start with Starter at €20 per month for 2,500 workflow executions and Pro at €50 per month for 10,000, both billed annually. We run client automations both ways, so here is how to choose.
Key takeaways
- n8n Cloud: managed hosting, updates, and uptime handled by n8n.
- Starter €20/month (2,500 executions) and Pro €50/month (10,000), billed annually.
- Self-hosted Community Edition is free for internal business use; you pay for a server and upkeep.
- Cloud suits teams without DevOps; self-hosting suits volume, data control, or compliance needs.
- One execution is one full workflow run, whatever its length.
n8n Cloud vs self-hosted at a glance
Figures from n8n's pricing page, checked October 30, 2026:
| n8n Cloud | Self-hosted Community Edition | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | From €20/month (Starter, annual) | Free license; you pay for hosting |
| Executions | 2,500 (Starter) or 10,000 (Pro) per month | No n8n cap; limited by your server |
| Max run time | 5 minutes (Starter), 40 minutes (Pro) | Set by your configuration |
| Updates and uptime | Handled by n8n | Your responsibility |
| Data location | n8n's infrastructure | Your server and region |
| Best for | Teams without DevOps, quick start | Volume, data control, compliance |
n8n Cloud plans and limits
Starter (€20 per month, billed annually) includes 2,500 executions, 5 concurrent executions, a 5-minute maximum run time, and 7 days of execution logs. Pro (€50 per month, billed annually) includes 10,000 executions, longer runs up to 40 minutes, 30 days of logs, and workflow history. Both include unlimited active workflows and users. n8n also lists a free cloud trial with 1,000 executions and no credit card. Full details are in our n8n pricing guide.
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What self-hosting n8n really costs
The license is free under n8n's Sustainable Use License for your own internal business use. The real costs are:
- A server: a small cloud server handles many small business workloads.
- Setup: domain, SSL, database, backups, and queue mode for heavier loads.
- Maintenance: updates, security patches, monitoring, and restores.
- Your time: someone has to respond when a workflow or the server breaks.
Self-hosting wins on cost at high volume and on data control, but only if someone owns it.
Security and compliance
Cloud means trusting n8n's infrastructure and terms. Self-hosting keeps data on infrastructure you choose, which matters for regulated data. For health data, for example, HIPAA requires a business associate agreement with vendors that handle protected health information, so self-hosting inside a covered environment is a common route. See Zapier alternatives for HIPAA options and private AI for business.
Which should you choose?
A simple rule of thumb:
- Choose n8n Cloud if you want to start today, have no DevOps support, and run modest volumes.
- Choose self-hosted if you run high volumes, need data residency or compliance control, or want long-running jobs.
- Choose managed self-hosting if you want self-hosting benefits without the upkeep.
We host and maintain n8n for clients as part of our workflow automation service. New to the tool? Start with what is n8n or claim a free automation.
n8n Cloud is the managed, hosted version of n8n. n8n runs the infrastructure, updates, and uptime, and you pay a monthly plan based on workflow executions.
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