{"id":16209,"date":"2025-11-27T06:14:53","date_gmt":"2025-11-27T06:14:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kb.cloudhostgeek.com\/docs\/hosting-faq\/n8n-vps-hosting\/how-do-i-install-n8n-on-my-vps\/"},"modified":"2026-02-11T18:56:01","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T18:56:01","slug":"how-do-i-install-n8n-on-my-vps","status":"publish","type":"docs","link":"https:\/\/www.bigcloudy.com\/knowledge-base\/docs\/hosting-faq\/n8n-vps-hosting\/how-do-i-install-n8n-on-my-vps\/","title":{"rendered":"How do I install n8n on my VPS?"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"16209\" class=\"elementor elementor-16209\" data-elementor-post-type=\"docs\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5c160ddd e-flex e-con-boxed wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"5c160ddd\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6402921 e-con-full e-flex wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no e-con e-child\" data-id=\"6402921\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d088bab elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d088bab\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2><b>Introduction<br \/><\/b><\/h2><p>Installing n8n on your Virtual Private Server (VPS) is one of the most efficient ways to gain full control over your workflow automation environment. If you are looking for a reliable and high-performance VPS, you can explore the available plans on<a style=\"text-decoration: none; color: #a57ef5;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bigcloudy.com\/\">\u00a0BigCloudy<\/a>\u00a0to get started quickly. With a self-hosted VPS setup, you can customize configurations, improve security, and run powerful automations without relying on third-party platforms.<\/p><p>This guide walks you through everything you need to install n8n on your VPS \u2014 whether you\u2019re using Ubuntu, Linux, or a similar system \u2014 and helps you create a secure, production-ready automation platform.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-80ea30b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"80ea30b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Once you\u2019ve chosen your plan, click the button to begin your registration.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3e2b0554 e-con-full e-flex wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no e-con e-child\" data-id=\"3e2b0554\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2ba1324b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2ba1324b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2><b>What You Need Before Installing n8n<\/b><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c77ffcb elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c77ffcb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>Basic Requirements<\/h3><ul><li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Operating System:<\/b>\u00a0Ubuntu 20.04 or later (Linux recommended)<\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><b>CPU &amp; RAM:<\/b>\u00a0Minimum 1 vCPU and 1\u20132 GB RAM<\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Access:<\/b>\u00a0Root or sudo access via SSH<\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Internet Connection:<\/b> Required for installing dependencies and pulling packages<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-61a82492 e-con-full e-flex wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no e-con e-child\" data-id=\"61a82492\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-627e1057 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"627e1057\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3><b>Recommended Tools<br \/><\/b><\/h3><ul><li aria-level=\"1\"><b>SSH Client:<\/b>\u00a0PuTTY (Windows) or Terminal (macOS\/Linux)<\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Package Manager:<\/b>\u00a0apt or yum<\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Firewall Control:<\/b>\u00a0ufw or firewalld<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-471c2c88 e-con-full e-flex wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no e-con e-child\" data-id=\"471c2c88\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1bbcf1bb elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1bbcf1bb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2><b>Step 1: Connect to Your VPS<br \/><\/b><\/h2><p>Connect to your VPS using SSH (login details provided by your hosting provider, such as\u00a0BigCloudy VPS services\u00a0available at\u00a0<a style=\"text-decoration: none; color: #a57ef5;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bigcloudy.com\/n8n-vps-hosting\">www.bigcloudy.com<\/a>:<\/p><pre><strong>ssh root@your_vps_ip<\/strong><\/pre><p>Update your system:<\/p><pre><strong>sudo apt update &amp;&amp; sudo apt upgrade -y<\/strong><\/pre>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-20c5ffd elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"20c5ffd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2><b>Step 2: Install Node.js and npm<\/b><\/h2><p>n8n requires Node.js. Install it using NodeSource:<\/p><pre><strong>curl -fsSL https:\/\/deb.nodesource.com\/setup_18.x | sudo -E bash \u2013<\/strong><\/pre><p><strong>sudo apt install -y nodejs<\/strong><\/p><p>Verify the installation:<\/p><pre><strong>node -v<\/strong><\/pre><p><strong>npm -v<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ce7e318 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ce7e318\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2><b>Step 3: Install n8n Globally<\/b><\/h2><p>Install n8n using npm:<\/p><pre><strong>sudo npm install n8n -g<\/strong><\/pre><p>Check the installed version:<\/p><pre><strong>n8n \u2013version<\/strong><\/pre>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e65b6b9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e65b6b9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2><b>Step 4: Run n8n<br \/><\/b><\/h2><p>Start n8n:<\/p><pre><strong>n8n start<\/strong><\/pre><p>By default, n8n runs on port\u00a0<b>5678<\/b>.<\/p><p>Open your browser and visit:<\/p><pre><strong>http:\/\/your_vps_ip:5678<\/strong><\/pre><p>You should now see the n8n dashboard.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-36e5ef9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"36e5ef9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"705\" height=\"598\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bigcloudy.com\/knowledge-base\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/n8n-login-dashboard.webp\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-18588\" alt=\"n8n-login-dashboard\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bigcloudy.com\/knowledge-base\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/n8n-login-dashboard.webp 705w, https:\/\/www.bigcloudy.com\/knowledge-base\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/n8n-login-dashboard-300x254.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.bigcloudy.com\/knowledge-base\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/n8n-login-dashboard-20x17.webp 20w, https:\/\/www.bigcloudy.com\/knowledge-base\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/n8n-login-dashboard-32x27.webp 32w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 705px) 100vw, 705px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5a4ff81 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5a4ff81\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2><b>Step 5: Keep n8n Running in the Background<\/b><\/h2><p>Closing your SSH session will stop n8n unless it runs as a background service.<\/p><h3 id=\"option-1-using-pm2-recommended-for-node-js-installations\"><b>Option 1: Using PM2 (Recommended for Node.js Installations)<\/b><\/h3><p>Install PM2:<\/p><pre><strong>sudo npm install pm2 -g<\/strong><\/pre><p>Start n8n with PM2:<\/p><pre><strong>pm2 start n8n<\/strong><\/pre><p><strong>pm2 save<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>pm2 startup<\/strong><\/p><p>This ensures n8n restarts automatically after server reboots.<\/p><h3 id=\"option-2-using-docker-recommended-for-production\"><b>Option 2: Using Docker (Recommended for Production)<\/b><\/h3><p>Install Docker and Docker Compose:<\/p><pre><strong>sudo apt install -y docker.io docker-compose<\/strong><\/pre><p>Create a\u00a0docker-compose.yml\u00a0file:<\/p><pre>version: \u20183\u2019<\/pre><p>services:<\/p><p>n8n:<\/p><p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0image: n8nio\/n8n<\/p><p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0ports:<\/p><p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 \u201c5678:5678\u201d<\/p><p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0environment:<\/p><p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 N8N_BASIC_AUTH_ACTIVE=true<\/p><p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 N8N_BASIC_AUTH_USER=admin<\/p><p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 N8N_BASIC_AUTH_PASSWORD=yourpassword<\/p><p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0volumes:<\/p><p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 ~\/.n8n:\/home\/node\/.n8n<\/p><p>Start the container:<\/p><pre><strong>docker-compose up -d<\/strong><\/pre><p>n8n will now run continuously in the background.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-09fc62a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"09fc62a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2><b>Step 6: Secure Your n8n Installation<br \/><\/b><\/h2><h3 id=\"1-enable-https\">1. Enable HTTPS<\/h3><p>Use\u00a0<b>NGINX<\/b>\u00a0with\u00a0<b>Let\u2019s Encrypt<\/b>\u00a0to secure your n8n instance using SSL certificates.<\/p><h3 id=\"2-enable-authentication\">2. Enable Authentication<\/h3><p>Protect your dashboard with login credentials:<\/p><pre>export N8N_BASIC_AUTH_ACTIVE=true<\/pre><p>export N8N_BASIC_AUTH_USER=admin<\/p><p>export N8N_BASIC_AUTH_PASSWORD=securepassword<\/p><h3 id=\"3-configure-a-firewall\">3. Configure a Firewall<\/h3><p>Allow only essential ports:<\/p><pre><strong>sudo ufw allow 22<\/strong><\/pre><p><strong>sudo ufw allow 80<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>sudo ufw allow 443<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>sudo ufw enable<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9f2bd9a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9f2bd9a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2><b>Step 7: Access and Use n8n<br \/><\/b><\/h2><p>After installation and security setup, access your n8n dashboard via:<\/p><pre><strong>https:\/\/yourdomain.com<\/strong><\/pre><p>You can now build workflows, connect APIs, automate tasks, and manage integrations directly from your VPS<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3bae031 e-con-full e-flex wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no e-con e-child\" data-id=\"3bae031\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-22ca6678 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"22ca6678\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2><b>Conclusion<\/b><\/h2><p>Installing n8n on your VPS gives you complete control, enhanced security, and flexibility to build powerful automation workflows. Choosing a dependable VPS provider like<a style=\"text-decoration: none; color: #a57ef5;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bigcloudy.com\/\">\u00a0BigCloudy<\/a>\u00a0makes it easier to scale resources, maintain uptime, and run n8n smoothly in production. By following this guide \u2014 from SSH access and Node.js installation to background execution and security hardening \u2014 you\u2019ll have a robust, self-hosted automation platform.<\/p><p>Whether you\u2019re automating business processes, integrating APIs, or managing complex data flows, n8n on a VPS provides the perfect balance of power, privacy, and scalability.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6d318e7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6d318e7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2><b>Need Help?\n<\/b><\/h2>\nIf you face any issues updating your nameservers or need further assistance, our support team is always available:\n<ul>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"emoji\" role=\"img\" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/16.0.1\/svg\/1f4e7.svg\" alt=\"mail\" \/>\u00a0<b>Email:<\/b>\u00a0support@bigcloudy.com<\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"emoji\" role=\"img\" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/16.0.1\/svg\/1f310.svg\" alt=\"website\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bigcloudy.com\/contact-us\">\u00a0<b>Submit a support ticket<\/b><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ece5e03 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ece5e03\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2><b>FAQ<\/b><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6d393b11 elementor-widget elementor-widget-eael-adv-accordion\" data-id=\"6d393b11\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"eael-adv-accordion.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t        <div class=\"eael-adv-accordion\" id=\"eael-adv-accordion-6d393b11\" data-scroll-on-click=\"no\" data-scroll-speed=\"300\" data-accordion-id=\"6d393b11\" data-accordion-type=\"accordion\" data-toogle-speed=\"300\">\n    <div class=\"eael-accordion-list\">\n                <div id=\"is-n8n-free-to-use-on-a-vps\" class=\"elementor-tab-title eael-accordion-header\" tabindex=\"0\" data-tab=\"1\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1831\"><span class=\"eael-advanced-accordion-icon-closed\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fa-accordion-icon e-font-icon-svg e-fas-angle-down\" viewBox=\"0 0 320 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M143 352.3L7 216.3c-9.4-9.4-9.4-24.6 0-33.9l22.6-22.6c9.4-9.4 24.6-9.4 33.9 0l96.4 96.4 96.4-96.4c9.4-9.4 24.6-9.4 33.9 0l22.6 22.6c9.4 9.4 9.4 24.6 0 33.9l-136 136c-9.2 9.4-24.4 9.4-33.8 0z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><span class=\"eael-advanced-accordion-icon-opened\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fa-accordion-icon e-font-icon-svg e-fas-angle-up\" viewBox=\"0 0 320 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M177 159.7l136 136c9.4 9.4 9.4 24.6 0 33.9l-22.6 22.6c-9.4 9.4-24.6 9.4-33.9 0L160 255.9l-96.4 96.4c-9.4 9.4-24.6 9.4-33.9 0L7 329.7c-9.4-9.4-9.4-24.6 0-33.9l136-136c9.4-9.5 24.6-9.5 34-.1z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><span class=\"eael-accordion-tab-title\">Is n8n free to use on a VPS?<\/span><\/div><div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1831\" class=\"eael-accordion-content clearfix\" data-tab=\"1\" aria-labelledby=\"is-n8n-free-to-use-on-a-vps\"><p>Yes. n8n is open-source and free to self-host on your VPS. You only pay for your server infrastructure.<\/p><\/div>\n                <\/div><div class=\"eael-accordion-list\">\n                <div id=\"what-is-the-recommended-way-to-run-n8n-in-production\" class=\"elementor-tab-title eael-accordion-header\" tabindex=\"0\" data-tab=\"2\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1832\"><span class=\"eael-advanced-accordion-icon-closed\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fa-accordion-icon e-font-icon-svg e-fas-angle-down\" viewBox=\"0 0 320 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M143 352.3L7 216.3c-9.4-9.4-9.4-24.6 0-33.9l22.6-22.6c9.4-9.4 24.6-9.4 33.9 0l96.4 96.4 96.4-96.4c9.4-9.4 24.6-9.4 33.9 0l22.6 22.6c9.4 9.4 9.4 24.6 0 33.9l-136 136c-9.2 9.4-24.4 9.4-33.8 0z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><span class=\"eael-advanced-accordion-icon-opened\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fa-accordion-icon e-font-icon-svg e-fas-angle-up\" viewBox=\"0 0 320 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M177 159.7l136 136c9.4 9.4 9.4 24.6 0 33.9l-22.6 22.6c-9.4 9.4-24.6 9.4-33.9 0L160 255.9l-96.4 96.4c-9.4 9.4-24.6 9.4-33.9 0L7 329.7c-9.4-9.4-9.4-24.6 0-33.9l136-136c9.4-9.5 24.6-9.5 34-.1z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><span class=\"eael-accordion-tab-title\">What is the recommended way to run n8n in production?<\/span><\/div><div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1832\" class=\"eael-accordion-content clearfix\" data-tab=\"2\" aria-labelledby=\"what-is-the-recommended-way-to-run-n8n-in-production\"><p>Using\u00a0<b>Docker with Docker Compose<\/b>\u00a0is the most reliable and scalable option for production environments.<\/p><\/div>\n                <\/div><div class=\"eael-accordion-list\">\n                <div id=\"-can-i-run-n8n-without-docker\" class=\"elementor-tab-title eael-accordion-header\" tabindex=\"0\" data-tab=\"3\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1833\"><span class=\"eael-advanced-accordion-icon-closed\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fa-accordion-icon e-font-icon-svg e-fas-angle-down\" viewBox=\"0 0 320 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M143 352.3L7 216.3c-9.4-9.4-9.4-24.6 0-33.9l22.6-22.6c9.4-9.4 24.6-9.4 33.9 0l96.4 96.4 96.4-96.4c9.4-9.4 24.6-9.4 33.9 0l22.6 22.6c9.4 9.4 9.4 24.6 0 33.9l-136 136c-9.2 9.4-24.4 9.4-33.8 0z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><span class=\"eael-advanced-accordion-icon-opened\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fa-accordion-icon e-font-icon-svg e-fas-angle-up\" viewBox=\"0 0 320 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M177 159.7l136 136c9.4 9.4 9.4 24.6 0 33.9l-22.6 22.6c-9.4 9.4-24.6 9.4-33.9 0L160 255.9l-96.4 96.4c-9.4 9.4-24.6 9.4-33.9 0L7 329.7c-9.4-9.4-9.4-24.6 0-33.9l136-136c9.4-9.5 24.6-9.5 34-.1z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><span class=\"eael-accordion-tab-title\"> Can I run n8n without Docker?<\/span><\/div><div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1833\" class=\"eael-accordion-content clearfix\" data-tab=\"3\" aria-labelledby=\"-can-i-run-n8n-without-docker\"><p>Yes. You can install n8n directly using Node.js and manage it with PM2 for background execution.<\/p><\/div>\n                <\/div><div class=\"eael-accordion-list\">\n                <div id=\"how-much-ram-does-n8n-need\" class=\"elementor-tab-title eael-accordion-header\" tabindex=\"0\" data-tab=\"4\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1834\"><span class=\"eael-advanced-accordion-icon-closed\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fa-accordion-icon e-font-icon-svg e-fas-angle-down\" viewBox=\"0 0 320 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M143 352.3L7 216.3c-9.4-9.4-9.4-24.6 0-33.9l22.6-22.6c9.4-9.4 24.6-9.4 33.9 0l96.4 96.4 96.4-96.4c9.4-9.4 24.6-9.4 33.9 0l22.6 22.6c9.4 9.4 9.4 24.6 0 33.9l-136 136c-9.2 9.4-24.4 9.4-33.8 0z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><span class=\"eael-advanced-accordion-icon-opened\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fa-accordion-icon e-font-icon-svg e-fas-angle-up\" viewBox=\"0 0 320 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M177 159.7l136 136c9.4 9.4 9.4 24.6 0 33.9l-22.6 22.6c-9.4 9.4-24.6 9.4-33.9 0L160 255.9l-96.4 96.4c-9.4 9.4-24.6 9.4-33.9 0L7 329.7c-9.4-9.4-9.4-24.6 0-33.9l136-136c9.4-9.5 24.6-9.5 34-.1z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><span class=\"eael-accordion-tab-title\">How much RAM does n8n need?<\/span><\/div><div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1834\" class=\"eael-accordion-content clearfix\" data-tab=\"4\" aria-labelledby=\"how-much-ram-does-n8n-need\"><p>For small workflows,\u00a0<b>1 GB RAM<\/b>\u00a0is sufficient. For heavy automation or multiple workflows,\u00a0<b>2 GB or more<\/b>\u00a0is recommended.<\/p><\/div>\n                <\/div><div class=\"eael-accordion-list\">\n                <div id=\"is-it-safe-to-expose-port-5678-to-the-internet\" class=\"elementor-tab-title eael-accordion-header\" tabindex=\"0\" data-tab=\"5\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1835\"><span class=\"eael-advanced-accordion-icon-closed\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fa-accordion-icon e-font-icon-svg e-fas-angle-down\" viewBox=\"0 0 320 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M143 352.3L7 216.3c-9.4-9.4-9.4-24.6 0-33.9l22.6-22.6c9.4-9.4 24.6-9.4 33.9 0l96.4 96.4 96.4-96.4c9.4-9.4 24.6-9.4 33.9 0l22.6 22.6c9.4 9.4 9.4 24.6 0 33.9l-136 136c-9.2 9.4-24.4 9.4-33.8 0z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><span class=\"eael-advanced-accordion-icon-opened\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fa-accordion-icon e-font-icon-svg e-fas-angle-up\" viewBox=\"0 0 320 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M177 159.7l136 136c9.4 9.4 9.4 24.6 0 33.9l-22.6 22.6c-9.4 9.4-24.6 9.4-33.9 0L160 255.9l-96.4 96.4c-9.4 9.4-24.6 9.4-33.9 0L7 329.7c-9.4-9.4-9.4-24.6 0-33.9l136-136c9.4-9.5 24.6-9.5 34-.1z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><span class=\"eael-accordion-tab-title\">Is it safe to expose port 5678 to the internet?<\/span><\/div><div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1835\" class=\"eael-accordion-content clearfix\" data-tab=\"5\" aria-labelledby=\"is-it-safe-to-expose-port-5678-to-the-internet\"><p>No. It\u2019s best to secure n8n behind\u00a0<b>NGINX<\/b>, enable\u00a0<b>HTTPS<\/b>, and restrict direct access using a firewall.<\/p><\/div>\n                <\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Introduction Installing n8n on your Virtual Private Server (VPS) is one of the most efficient ways to gain full control over your workflow automation environment. If you are looking for a reliable and high-performance VPS, you can explore the available plans on\u00a0BigCloudy\u00a0to get started quickly. With a self-hosted VPS setup, you can customize configurations, improve security, and run powerful automations without relying on third-party platforms. This guide walks you through everything you need to install n8n on your VPS \u2014 whether you\u2019re using Ubuntu, Linux, or a similar system \u2014 and helps you create a secure, production-ready automation platform. Once you\u2019ve chosen your plan, click the button to begin your registration. What You Need Before Installing n8n Basic Requirements Operating System:\u00a0Ubuntu 20.04 or later (Linux recommended) CPU &amp; RAM:\u00a0Minimum 1 vCPU and 1\u20132 GB RAM Access:\u00a0Root or sudo access via SSH Internet Connection: Required for installing dependencies and pulling packages Recommended Tools SSH Client:\u00a0PuTTY (Windows) or Terminal (macOS\/Linux) Package Manager:\u00a0apt or yum Firewall Control:\u00a0ufw or firewalld Step 1: Connect to Your VPS Connect to your VPS using SSH (login details provided by your hosting provider, such as\u00a0BigCloudy VPS services\u00a0available at\u00a0www.bigcloudy.com: ssh root@your_vps_ip Update your system: sudo apt update &amp;&amp; sudo apt upgrade -y Step 2: Install Node.js and npm n8n requires Node.js. Install it using NodeSource: curl -fsSL https:\/\/deb.nodesource.com\/setup_18.x | sudo -E bash \u2013 sudo apt install -y nodejs Verify the installation: node -v npm -v Step 3: Install n8n Globally Install n8n using npm: sudo npm install n8n -g Check the installed version: n8n \u2013version Step 4: Run n8n Start n8n: n8n start By default, n8n runs on port\u00a05678. Open your browser and visit: http:\/\/your_vps_ip:5678 You should now see the n8n dashboard. Step 5: Keep n8n Running in the Background Closing your SSH session will stop n8n unless it runs as a background service. Option 1: Using PM2 (Recommended for Node.js Installations) Install PM2: sudo npm install pm2 -g Start n8n with PM2: pm2 start n8n pm2 save pm2 startup This ensures n8n restarts automatically after server reboots. Option 2: Using Docker (Recommended for Production) Install Docker and Docker Compose: sudo apt install -y docker.io docker-compose Create a\u00a0docker-compose.yml\u00a0file: version: \u20183\u2019 services: n8n: \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0image: n8nio\/n8n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0ports: \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 \u201c5678:5678\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0environment: \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 N8N_BASIC_AUTH_ACTIVE=true \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 N8N_BASIC_AUTH_USER=admin \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 N8N_BASIC_AUTH_PASSWORD=yourpassword \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0volumes: \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 ~\/.n8n:\/home\/node\/.n8n Start the container: docker-compose up -d n8n will now run continuously in the background. Step 6: Secure Your n8n Installation 1. Enable HTTPS Use\u00a0NGINX\u00a0with\u00a0Let\u2019s Encrypt\u00a0to secure your n8n instance using SSL certificates. 2. Enable Authentication Protect your dashboard with login credentials: export N8N_BASIC_AUTH_ACTIVE=true export N8N_BASIC_AUTH_USER=admin export N8N_BASIC_AUTH_PASSWORD=securepassword 3. Configure a Firewall Allow only essential ports: sudo ufw allow 22 sudo ufw allow 80 sudo ufw allow 443 sudo ufw enable Step 7: Access and Use n8n After installation and security setup, access your n8n dashboard via: https:\/\/yourdomain.com You can now build workflows, connect APIs, automate tasks, and manage integrations directly from your VPS Conclusion Installing n8n on your VPS gives you complete control, enhanced security, and flexibility to build powerful automation workflows. Choosing a dependable VPS provider like\u00a0BigCloudy\u00a0makes it easier to scale resources, maintain uptime, and run n8n smoothly in production. By following this guide \u2014 from SSH access and Node.js installation to background execution and security hardening \u2014 you\u2019ll have a robust, self-hosted automation platform. Whether you\u2019re automating business processes, integrating APIs, or managing complex data flows, n8n on a VPS provides the perfect balance of power, privacy, and scalability. Need Help? If you face any issues updating your nameservers or need further assistance, our support team is always available: \u00a0Email:\u00a0support@bigcloudy.com \u00a0Submit a support ticket FAQ Is n8n free to use on a VPS? Yes. n8n is open-source and free to self-host on your VPS. You only pay for your server infrastructure. What is the recommended way to run n8n in production? Using\u00a0Docker with Docker Compose\u00a0is the most reliable and scalable option for production environments. Can I run n8n without Docker? Yes. You can install n8n directly using Node.js and manage it with PM2 for background execution. How much RAM does n8n need? For small workflows,\u00a01 GB RAM\u00a0is sufficient. For heavy automation or multiple workflows,\u00a02 GB or more\u00a0is recommended. Is it safe to expose port 5678 to the internet? No. It\u2019s best to secure n8n behind\u00a0NGINX, enable\u00a0HTTPS, and restrict direct access using a firewall.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":16203,"menu_order":19,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","doc_tag":[],"class_list":["post-16209","docs","type-docs","status-publish","hentry","no-post-thumbnail"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.7 (Yoast SEO v26.8) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How to Install n8n on Your VPS (Step-by-Step Guide)<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn how to install n8n on your VPS with step-by-step instructions for workflow automation on BigCloudy hosting.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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VPS?","og_description":"Learn how to install n8n on your VPS with step-by-step instructions for workflow automation on BigCloudy hosting.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.bigcloudy.com\/knowledge-base\/docs\/hosting-faq\/n8n-vps-hosting\/how-do-i-install-n8n-on-my-vps\/","og_site_name":"CloudHostGeek Help Center","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BigCloudyHosting\/","article_modified_time":"2026-02-11T18:56:01+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"https:\/\/kb.cloudhostgeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/n8n-login-dashboard.webp","type":"","width":"","height":""}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_site":"@bigcloudypvtltd","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"4 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