How to Set Up n8n (Step-by-Step Guide)

Option 1: Using n8n Cloud (Fastest)

Step 1: Sign Up

• Go to n8n.io
• Click “Try n8n cloud” and sign up with Google, GitHub, or email.
  

Step 2: Create Your Workspace

• Choose a workspace name.
• Select the plan that fits (starts with a free tier).
• You’ll be directed to your visual automation dashboard.
  

Step 3: Connect Your First App

• Click “Create Workflow”.
• Add a Trigger Node (e.g., Webhook, Schedule, Stripe, etc.).
• Authenticate your app with API credentials (OAuth or manual API key).
• Add action nodes that follow your logic—drag-and-drop style.
  

Step 4: Save and Activate

• Click “Execute Workflow” to test it.
• Then click “Activate” to go live.
• You now have a production-ready automation running in the cloud.

Option 2: Self-Hosting n8n (More Control)

Ideal for privacy-sensitive businesses or developers who want full backend access.

Step 1: Prepare Your Environment

• You’ll need:
  • A server (AWS, GCP, DigitalOcean, etc.)
  • Docker and Docker Compose installed
  • Node.js (if not using Docker)
    

Step 2: Use Docker Compose

Here’s a basic docker-compose.yml:

version: "3"

services:
 n8n:
   image: n8nio/n8n
   ports:
     - "5678:5678"
   environment:
     - N8N_BASIC_AUTH_ACTIVE=true
     - N8N_BASIC_AUTH_USER=admin
     - N8N_BASIC_AUTH_PASSWORD=yourpassword
   volumes:
     - ~/.n8n:/home/node/.n8n

Run it with:

docker-compose up -d

Step 3: Access Your Instance

• Open your browser and go to http://localhost:5678 or your public server IP.
• Login with the credentials you set in the environment variables.
  

Step 4: Secure It (Optional but Recommended)

• Add SSL with a reverse proxy (e.g., NGINX + Let’s Encrypt).
• Store secrets via .env files.
• Use secure webhooks and user permissions if running public workflows.

Step 5: Build a Workflow (Cloud or Self-Hosted)

1. Click “New Workflow”
2. Add a Trigger Node
   • Webhook, Schedule, Email, Stripe, etc.
3. Add Action Nodes
   • Google Sheets, Slack, HTTP Request, etc.
4. Use the Expression Editor to map data between nodes.
5. Add Conditions, Loops, and Code if needed.
6. Test with Execute Workflow, then Activate when ready.

Step 6: Monitor & Maintain

• Use the Executions tab to view past runs.
• Monitor for errors and retry as needed.
• For self-hosting, consider:
  • Cron jobs for backup
  • n8n telemetry monitoring
  • Updating Docker images regularly

✅ n8n is Now Ready

You’ve now set up n8n either via cloud or self-hosted with Docker. You can begin building complex, multi-step automations using dozens (or hundreds) of apps, APIs, and data flows.