n8n vs Zapier: why choose n8n?

n8n is open-source and self-hosted: no execution limits, no per-automation cost, data on your own server. Zapier is easier to get started with but expensive at scale.

What VPS configuration for n8n?

n8n runs well with 2 GB of RAM. For intensive use (hundreds of workflows, frequent executions), 4 GB is recommended.

Can n8n call internal APIs?

Yes. The HTTP Request node can call any REST API, including your internal APIs reachable from the VPS.

Does n8n integrate with LLMs?

Yes. n8n includes native nodes for OpenAI, Anthropic, and Ollama models. It can generate text, classify data, and extract information within your workflows.

Automate business processes.

n8n

Automate your business processes with 400+ integrations — 100% self-hosted on your VPS.

2 GB RAM 1 vCPU Port 5678 Available

Source code

Tech stack

DockerNode.jsPostgreSQL

Minimum RAM2 GB

Minimum CPU1 vCPU

Default port5678

Compatible OSubuntu-24.04

n8n is an open-source workflow automation tool that lets you connect applications, automate repetitive tasks, and build data pipelines without writing any code. With over 400 native integrations (Slack, Gmail, HubSpot, MySQL, HTTP…), n8n covers nearly every business automation need.

Self-hosted on your VPS, n8n frees you from the limits of cloud platforms (number of executions, data size, recurring cost). Your workflows run continuously, your data stays on your infrastructure, and you pay no monthly subscription per automation.

Key features

400+ native integrations (SaaS, databases, APIs)

Visual drag-and-drop editor to build workflows

Conditional branching, loops, and error handling

AI nodes: text generation, classification, embeddings

Webhooks, cron scheduling, and event triggers

Secure credential management, execution logs

When to use this solution?

1

CRM/ERP synchronisation

Automatically synchronise your contacts between HubSpot, your internal CRM, and your billing tool.

2

Alerts and notifications

Receive Slack or email alerts as soon as a business condition is met (new customer, threshold exceeded, error detected).

3

Data processing

Automate the import, transformation, and export of data between your systems without manual intervention.

Deploy n8n on your VPS

Guide optimized for ServOrbit Cloud VPS.

01

Prepare the VPS

VPS with a minimum of 2 GB RAM, Ubuntu 22.04, Docker installed.

02

Deploy n8n

Create a docker-compose.yml with the official n8n image, PostgreSQL for persistence, and the environment variables (N8N_BASIC_AUTH, WEBHOOK_URL…).

03

Expose over HTTPS

Configure Nginx as a reverse proxy to n8n's port 5678. SSL with Certbot. Important: set WEBHOOK_URL correctly with your HTTPS domain.

04

Create your first workflow

Open the n8n interface, create a new workflow, add a trigger (Webhook, Cron, email…), and connect your applications.

05

Activate and test

Activate the workflow and check the execution logs. n8n keeps the full history of every execution.

Frequently asked questions

n8n is an open-source workflow automation tool. It lets you connect applications and automate tasks without code — similar to Zapier or Make, but self-hosted.

Complementary solutions

Automation & Workflows

Activate n8n on your infrastructure.

Dedicated Cloud VPS — IPv4 included, European datacenter, support included. Your data never leaves your server.

Recommended configuration: 2 GB RAM · 1 vCPU

n8n