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Step 3: Self-Host Your Automation Platform (n8n)

Replace expensive automation tools like Zapier or Make with self-hosted n8n. Save 75-80% on costs while gaining unlimited executions and complete control.

Why n8n?​

What is n8n?

n8n is an open-source workflow automation platform. It's a self-hostable alternative to Zapier/Make with a visual workflow builder and 400+ integrations.

Website: https://n8n.io/

Key Features:

  • Visual workflow builder
  • 400+ app integrations
  • Self-hosted = unlimited executions
  • Custom code nodes
  • Webhook support
  • Schedule and trigger workflows

Cost Comparison: SaaS vs. Self-Hosted​

SaaS Automation Alternatives:

Zapier:

  • Free: 100 tasks/month
  • Starter: £20/month (750 tasks)
  • Professional: £50/month (2,000 tasks)
  • Team: £70/month (2,000 tasks)
  • Company: Custom (50,000+ tasks)
  • For moderate usage (5,000 tasks/month): £200-300/month = £2,400-3,600/year

Make (formerly Integromat):

  • Free: 1,000 operations/month
  • Core: £9/month (10,000 operations)
  • Pro: £29/month (40,000 operations)
  • Teams: £99/month (unlimited)
  • For moderate usage: £29-99/month = £348-1,188/year

n8n Cloud:

  • Starter: €20/month (2,500 executions)
  • Pro: €50/month (10,000 executions)
  • For moderate usage: €50/month = £43/month = £516/year

Self-Hosted n8n:

  • Software: Free (open-source)
  • Server: £30-50/month (shared with other tools)
  • Setup: 6-10 hours (one-time)
  • Maintenance: 1-2 hours/month
  • Year 1: £600 (server) + £800 (setup) = £1,400
  • Year 2+: £600/year (server only)
  • Unlimited executions: No per-task costs

Savings Calculation:

  • vs. Zapier (5,000 tasks): Save £1,800-2,400/year (75-80% savings)
  • vs. Make: Save £0-588/year (varies by plan)
  • vs. n8n Cloud: Save £84/year (16% savings, but unlimited executions)

Key Advantage: No per-task limits = unlimited scalability

Technical Requirements​

Server Specifications:

  • CPU: 2+ cores
  • RAM: 4GB+ (8GB recommended for complex workflows)
  • Storage: 20GB+ SSD
  • OS: Linux (Ubuntu 20.04+ recommended)

Software Requirements:

  • Docker and Docker Compose
  • PostgreSQL database (optional, SQLite default)
  • Domain name and SSL certificate
  • Backup solution

Installation Guide​

Step 1: Server Setup

  1. Provision server
  2. Install Docker and Docker Compose
  3. Configure firewall

Step 2: Install n8n

  1. Use Docker image
  2. Configure environment variables
  3. Set up database (PostgreSQL recommended for production)
  4. Run n8n container

Step 3: Initial Configuration

  1. Access n8n via domain
  2. Set up admin account
  3. Configure webhooks and credentials
  4. Test basic workflow

Step 4: Migrate Workflows (if applicable)

  1. Export workflows from Zapier/Make
  2. Recreate in n8n (or use import if available)
  3. Test each workflow
  4. Update webhooks and credentials

Workflow Examples​

Common Use Cases:

  • Lead capture automation
  • Email sequence triggers
  • CRM data sync
  • Social media posting
  • Data enrichment
  • Report generation

Example Workflow:

  1. Trigger: New form submission
  2. Action 1: Enrich contact data (Apollo API)
  3. Action 2: Add to CRM (Twenty)
  4. Action 3: Send welcome email (Notifuse)
  5. Action 4: Create task in project management

Integration with Other Tools​

Connect to:

  • CRM (Twenty, HubSpot, Salesforce)
  • Email platforms (Notifuse, Gmail, SendGrid)
  • Analytics (Google Analytics, Mixpanel)
  • APIs (REST, GraphQL)
  • Databases (PostgreSQL, MySQL)
  • File storage (S3, Google Drive)

Maintenance & Updates​

Regular Tasks:

  • Weekly backups (workflows and data)
  • Monthly security updates
  • Monitor execution logs
  • Optimize slow workflows

Update Process:

  1. Pull latest n8n Docker image
  2. Backup current instance
  3. Update container
  4. Test critical workflows

Next Step: Once your automation platform is set up, proceed to Step 4: Self-Host Your Email Platform (Notifuse).