Install your own n8n,
no coding required.

n8n (pronounced "n-eight-n") is a tool for building automations. It connects apps and services you already use, such as Gmail, Google Sheets, WhatsApp, CRMs and AI tools, so you can build workflows that run on their own, without writing code.

Instead of copying form details into a spreadsheet by hand, sending a thank-you email and updating your team, you build a chart of connected blocks (nodes) once, and n8n does the work every time.

Not sure n8n is the right tool for you? The n8n vs Make vs Zapier comparison will help you decide.

No need to memorise them. If you meet an unfamiliar word later, just come back here.

Docker

Software that runs other software inside a neat, sealed "box", without installing it directly on your computer. We use it to run n8n.

Container

The "box" itself: n8n running inside Docker. You start and stop it with one click.

Volume (data vault)

Storage that Docker keeps aside. Your workflows, settings and account live there, even if the container is deleted.

localhost:5678

"Your own computer’s address". Type it into your browser to reach the n8n running on your machine. 5678 is the "door" (port) n8n listens on.

VPS (virtual server)

A small computer in the cloud that you rent monthly. It is always on, so your automations run even when your computer is off.

Webhook

A "doorbell" another service rings when something happens, such as a form submission. To hear it, n8n needs an address reachable from the internet.

There is no single "right" way. The main trade-off is maximum convenience versus cost and control. Here is how it looks in practice:

Full comparison

Prices were checked on the official websites in October 2026 and may change. There is also a Node.js (npm) install, but it is aimed at developers and the official docs say it is deprecated from version 3.0, so it is not covered here.

Pick the sentence that sounds most like you and jump straight to the steps:

The easiest way: n8n runs the system for you, keeps it updated and backed up. You just sign in and build.

1. 1

   Go to the official website

   Visit n8n.io and click the sign-up or free trial button. According to the pricing page, the trial does not require a credit card.

2. 2

   Sign up and name your workspace

   Enter your name and email and choose a workspace name. It becomes your permanent address, for example yourname.app.n8n.cloud.

3. 3

   Confirm your email

   Open the email from n8n and confirm your sign-up. A minute or two later your workspace is ready and you are in.

4. 4

   Choose a plan before the trial ends

   Staying? Pick a plan in your account settings. Not staying? Download the workflows you built first (the ⋯ menu inside a workflow → Download) so nothing is lost.

This is the most detailed part of the guide, because here you do everything yourself. Don’t worry: copy, paste and press Enter. No programming skills needed.

Before you start

• A Windows 10 or 11 computer (64-bit, up to date), or a Mac with a recent version of macOS.
• Ideally at least 8GB of memory (RAM) and a few GB of free disk space.
• An internet connection and about half an hour of quiet.

1. 1

   Download Docker Desktop

   Go to the official website, docker.com, and click Download.

   Windows

   On most computers choose Download for Windows – AMD64. The ARM64 version is only for computers with an ARM processor, such as Snapdragon.

   Mac

   Choose by processor: Apple Silicon for M1 Macs and newer, or Intel. Not sure? Click the Apple menu → About This Mac and check what it says next to Chip.

2. 2

   Install it

   Windows

   1. Open the downloaded Docker Desktop Installer.exe file.
   2. Keep the Use WSL 2 option ticked and click OK.
   3. When it finishes, click Close. If asked, restart your computer.

   Mac

   1. Open the downloaded Docker.dmg file.
   2. Drag the Docker icon into your Applications folder.
   3. Open Docker from Applications and confirm that you want to open it.
3. 3

   Start Docker Desktop

   Open Docker Desktop and accept the terms. If it asks you to sign in, you can skip it. Wait until the bottom of the window shows Engine running with a green dot.

   A WSL message on Windows?

   Open PowerShell (the next step shows how), type wsl --update, press Enter and restart your computer.

4. 4

   Open a command window

   Windows

   Click Start, type PowerShell and open Windows PowerShell.

   Mac

   Press ⌘ + Space, type Terminal and press Enter.

   A dark window with text opens. Nothing scary: you only paste the commands from this guide and press Enter.

5. 5

   Create a data vault

   Click "Copy", paste into the command window (Ctrl+V, or ⌘+V on a Mac) and press Enter:

   PowerShell · Terminal

   docker volume create n8n_data

   If you see the word n8n_data printed back, it worked.

6. 6

   Start n8n

   Now the main command. It is long, and that is perfectly fine. Copy all of it, paste it and press Enter (replace Europe/London with your own time zone if you like):

   PowerShell · Terminal

   docker run -d --name n8n --restart unless-stopped -p 5678:5678 -e GENERIC_TIMEZONE="Europe/London" -e TZ="Europe/London" -e N8N_ENFORCE_SETTINGS_FILE_PERMISSIONS=true -v n8n_data:/home/node/.n8n n8nio/n8n

   The first time, Docker downloads n8n, which can take a few minutes. When a long line of letters and numbers appears, n8n is already running in the background.

   What does this command actually say?

   Part of the command	What it does
   docker run -d	Starts n8n in the background, so you can close the command window.
   --name n8n	Gives the container a fixed name: n8n.
   --restart unless-stopped	n8n starts again by itself whenever Docker starts, unless you stopped it.
   -p 5678:5678	Opens "door" 5678 so you can reach n8n from your browser.
   -e GENERIC_TIMEZONE / -e TZ	Your time zone, so scheduled workflows run on your local clock.
   -e N8N_ENFORCE_SETTINGS_FILE_PERMISSIONS=true	A recommended security setting for n8n’s settings file.
   -v n8n_data:/home/node/.n8n	Connects the data vault so your data is kept for good.
   n8nio/n8n	The software itself: the latest stable version of n8n.

7. 7

   Open n8n

   Open your browser and go to http://localhost:5678. If the page does not load, wait another minute and refresh: n8n needs a moment to start the first time.

   http://localhost:5678

   Set up owner account

8. 8

   Create the owner account

   On the first screen, enter your email, name and a password. This is the main (Owner) account of your n8n, so keep the password somewhere safe.

   That’s it, n8n is installed!

   From now on, whenever Docker Desktop is open, n8n starts by itself and waits for you at localhost:5678.

Everyday use

• To stop or start n8n: in Docker Desktop, open Containers and click the stop or start button next to n8n.
• Want n8n ready as soon as your computer starts? In Docker Desktop: Settings → General → Start Docker Desktop when you sign in.
• Remember: when your computer is off or asleep, your automations do not run.

Want automations that run all the time, even when your computer is off, with no execution limits? Rent a small server in the cloud. The good news: some providers offer a ready-made n8n template, so the installation itself is mostly a few clicks.

1. 1

   Choose a provider and a plan

   Look for a VPS provider with a ready-made (one-click) n8n template. Hostinger, for example, offers one, and other providers do too. For most uses, a server with 2 CPUs (vCPU) and at least 2GB of memory is enough.

2. 2

   Pick the n8n template

   When setting up the server, choose the n8n template instead of a "blank" operating system. Pick a server location close to you.

3. 3

   Set a strong password for the server

   The provider asks for an admin (root) password. Choose a long, unique one and keep it in a password manager.

4. 4

   Open n8n and create your account, right away

   After a few minutes of installation, the provider’s dashboard shows an address or button for opening n8n. Open it and create the owner account immediately: whoever reaches the address first gets to create it.

5. 5

   Add your own domain (recommended)

   An address like n8n.your-business.com looks professional and is easy to remember. Most providers explain how to connect a domain and enable HTTPS. Make sure the address starts with https:// and the browser shows a padlock.

1. 1

   Activate the free license

   When you self-host (Docker or VPS), n8n gives you a free license key that unlocks extra features: folders to organise workflows, debugging in the editor and saving extra execution data.

   You can request it during sign-up, or later: open the ⋯ menu in the bottom corner, then Settings → Usage and plan → Unlock. The key arrives by email; click the button inside it.

2. 2

   Build your first workflow in two minutes

   1. Click Create Workflow.
   2. Add a Trigger manually trigger, which runs the workflow when you click.
   3. Click + and add a node called Edit Fields (Set).
   4. Add a field named message with the value Hello from n8n!.
   5. Click Execute workflow and watch the result appear in the node.

   That is the whole idea

   A trigger that starts the workflow, nodes that take actions, and data flowing between them. From here you can swap the trigger for a form, a new email or a schedule, and the nodes for Gmail, Google Sheets or an AI tool.

3. 3

   Save and switch it on

   Save (Ctrl+S, or ⌘+S on a Mac). For a workflow to run by itself from its trigger, you need to switch it on: in newer versions that is the Publish button, in older versions the Active toggle.

n8n is updated often. Here is how to update without losing anything, because your data lives safely in the n8n_data vault:

1. 1

   Download the new version

   PowerShell · Terminal

   docker pull n8nio/n8n

2. 2

   Remove the old container (your data stays)

   PowerShell · Terminal

   docker rm -f n8n

3. 3

   Start it again with the same command from step 6

   PowerShell · Terminal

   docker run -d --name n8n --restart unless-stopped -p 5678:5678 -e GENERIC_TIMEZONE="Europe/London" -e TZ="Europe/London" -e N8N_ENFORCE_SETTINGS_FILE_PERMISSIONS=true -v n8n_data:/home/node/.n8n n8nio/n8n