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How to Self-Host n8n

Rob Cheung
Rob Cheung
XLinkedIn

If you’re searching for a Zapier alternative (especially an open source Zapier alternative), you usually want three things:

  • More control (your workflows and credentials aren’t locked into a SaaS)

  • Lower, predictable cost (no per-task or per-execution pricing)

  • The ability to integrate with anything—even your own internal services

n8n is one of the best answers: it’s open-source workflow automation (think Zapier / Make), but you can self-host it.

The problem is that “self-host n8n” guides often turn into a DevOps project: Docker, reverse proxies, SSL, keeping the service alive, and making webhooks reachable from the internet.

Zo Computer makes this dramatically simpler.

The fastest way to self-host n8n (without Docker)

With Zo Computer, you get a personal cloud server with an AI assistant that can set up services for you.

To self-host n8n, ask Zo to run the n8n setup prompt:

Your AI will:

  1. Install n8n on your server

  2. Configure it as a managed service that auto-restarts

  3. Set up a public URL (like n8n-yourname.zocomputer.io)

  4. Configure webhooks, so external services can trigger your workflows

Result: a working n8n instance you can use from anywhere.

Why this is a practical Zapier alternative

You actually own the runtime

Zapier is convenient, but it’s a hosted product with platform limits and pricing that ramps up as you automate more.

Self-hosted n8n runs on your server, with:

  • Full access to your filesystem

  • Ability to call internal services on localhost

  • Ability to add custom nodes / custom scripts

  • A stable environment that doesn’t disappear when your laptop sleeps

Webhooks “just work”

A lot of people try n8n and get stuck on webhooks because local-only setups (like localhost) can’t receive events from Stripe, GitHub, or a form provider.

Zo is designed to run always-on services with a public URL—so webhook workflows are straightforward.

What you can build with n8n

n8n connects to 400+ apps and services. Common automations:

  • Lead capture: Form submission → CRM → Slack notification → Email sequence

  • Content pipeline: RSS feed → AI summarization → social posting

  • DevOps alerts: GitHub PR → checks → team notifications

  • Data sync: Airtable changes → Google Sheets backup → dashboard update

  • Customer support: Email received → sentiment analysis → ticket routing

The visual workflow builder makes it easy to create complex automations without writing code—though you can add JavaScript or Python nodes when you need custom logic.

Why self-host instead of n8n Cloud?

Self-hosting on Zo is a clean fit if you care about:

  • Unlimited workflow executions (you’re bounded by your server, not a SaaS plan)

  • Data custody (workflows + credentials stay on your server)

  • Custom node support

  • A built-in AI assistant to help build and debug workflows

If “Zapier pricing” is what pushed you to look for alternatives, self-hosting is usually the long-term solution. Zo just removes most of the setup pain.

n8n pricing: what people mean (and how to make it predictable)

When someone searches “n8n pricing” or “n8n cloud pricing”, they’re usually not asking for a static price list (those change). They’re trying to answer:

  • Will my bill grow as I automate more?

  • What’s the cheapest way to run serious workflows?

  • Do I need cloud hosting, or can I run n8n myself?

A simple way to make cost predictable is: run n8n on infrastructure you control.

On Zo, you’re paying for the server, not per-action usage. That means:

  • Your cost is tied to the size of the machine you pick (and can upgrade/downgrade)

  • You avoid “per task / per execution” surprises

  • You can keep credentials + workflow data on your own server

If you still want to compare against the official plans, start here:

Then use this rule of thumb:

  • If you’re experimenting or you need managed hosting right now → n8n Cloud is fine

  • If you’re automating critical workflows or you’re cost-sensitive → self-hosted n8n is usually the long-term answer

What else can you run on Zo?

n8n is just one example. Zo Computer is designed to be your personal server for all kinds of self-hosted software:

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