Self-Host n8n on a Hostinger VPS: Step by Step

Why self-host n8n on a VPS?

n8n Cloud charges by executions. On your own VPS the Community Edition has no execution limits — you pay for the server and nothing else. Hostinger is popular in India because VPS plans are billed in rupees, have data centres in Asia and offer an n8n template that removes most of the setup work. See n8n pricing for when self-hosting makes sense.

Choosing the right VPS plan

• 2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM — fine for a few dozen workflows and light AI calls.
• 2–4 vCPU, 8 GB RAM — better if you process files, run many workflows or several users build at once.
• Location — pick the data centre closest to your users and the APIs you call.

Shared hosting cannot run n8n; you need a VPS where you control the server.

Install n8n with the Hostinger template

The fastest route for most businesses.

• Time: 30 minutes

You'll need: Hostinger KVM VPS · A domain you control · hPanel login

1. Choose the n8n OS template

   In hPanel, open your VPS, go to the operating system settings and pick the n8n application template. Reinstalling wipes the server, so do this on a fresh VPS.

2. Point a subdomain to the VPS

   In your DNS, add an A record such as n8n pointing to the VPS IP address. Wait for DNS to update — usually minutes, sometimes a few hours.

3. Set the hostname and HTTPS

   Configure the template with your subdomain so n8n generates correct webhook URLs, and enable the SSL certificate.

4. Create the owner account

   Open https://n8n.yourdomain.in and create the first user with a strong password. This account controls everything.

5. Test a webhook

   Create a simple workflow with a Webhook node and call it from your browser to confirm external URLs work.

Alternative: install with Docker on Ubuntu

If you prefer full control, start with a plain Ubuntu VPS, install Docker, and run n8n in a container with a persistent volume:

docker volume create n8n_data
docker run -d --restart unless-stopped --name n8n -p 5678:5678 \
  -e N8N_HOST=n8n.yourdomain.in -e N8N_PROTOCOL=https \
  -e WEBHOOK_URL=https://n8n.yourdomain.in/ \
  -v n8n_data:/home/node/.n8n docker.n8n.io/n8nio/n8n

Put a reverse proxy such as Caddy, Nginx or Traefik in front to handle HTTPS, and do not expose port 5678 directly to the internet. Docker Compose makes upgrades and adding a Postgres database easier for larger setups.

Securing your n8n server

• Use SSH keys instead of passwords for server login, and disable root password login.
• Enable the VPS firewall: allow only SSH, HTTP and HTTPS.
• Keep the n8n owner password strong and enable two-factor authentication for users.
• Store API keys in n8n credentials, never inside workflow text.
• Set an encryption key environment variable and keep a copy safely — you need it to restore credentials.

Backups and updates

Turn on Hostinger VPS snapshots or backups, and also export workflows regularly. For Docker installs, back up the n8n_data volume and the encryption key. Update n8n monthly: pull the new image and recreate the container, or use the template’s update method. Read the release notes before major version jumps, and test critical workflows after updating.

Common problems

First workflows worth building

• Website enquiry → Google Sheet + WhatsApp alert to sales.
• New order → GST invoice PDF → email to customer.
• Appointment booked → reminder the day before.
• Payment received → update CRM and thank-you message.

Compare tools before committing: n8n vs Zapier vs Make.

Want it done for you?

Kode Studio in Gachibowli, Hyderabad sets up n8n on Hostinger or any VPS with domain, SSL, backups and monitoring, then builds the workflows your team needs and maintains them. Automation work is quoted per requirement; website packages start at ₹6,999.

Frequently asked questions

What people ask AI about this

Questions people type into ChatGPT, Gemini and Google — answered directly.