n8n (self-hosted)
Automation that belongs to you – not the vendor.
n8n is an open-source platform for workflow automation that can be self-hosted — and that is exactly how we set it up. Unlike classic cloud tools there are no fees per triggered action, and you can see at any time where your data is being processed. It connects applications, interfaces and databases into end-to-end workflows without you handing over control.
How we assess it
n8n is our first choice whenever a project calls for automation. We then set the workflows up on EU infrastructure — self-hosted, so there are no fees per triggered action and your data stays where you want it. We connect your existing systems and document every workflow transparently. Whether n8n is the right choice in a given case is something we clarify together beforehand — we use technology because it fits, not out of habit.
Relevant to these services
What you get out of it
Per-click pricing models punish growth: the more a workflow does, the more expensive it becomes. Self-hosted n8n turns that around — costs are tied to your infrastructure, not to every single execution. At the same time, customer data and business logic stay in your hands, which makes data protection and auditability considerably simpler.
A worked example
An example: enquiries that arrive in the evening or over the weekend often sit until Monday — by which point the prospect has long since gone to a competitor. An automated follow-up captures and answers every enquiry instantly, around the clock, and files it cleanly in the CRM. These are orders that would otherwise be lost in silence — real money that now stays with you. Your team is not being replaced: the automation takes the dull routine off their hands so they have time for the customers where the human touch genuinely matters. More closed deals from the same effort — and the gain is yours.
For the record
n8n is licensed under the Sustainable Use License 1.0 — self-hosting for your own business purposes is expressly permitted.
That is the difference from classic cloud tools: the licence permits operation on your own infrastructure, but prohibits reselling n8n as a hosted service of your own. For you this means your workflows and your data can sit on a server we control together — with no fees per execution.
Source: n8n GmbH, LICENSE.md in the project repository (github.com/n8n-io/n8n), retrieved 11 August 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What does self-hosted mean for n8n in practice?
The automation platform runs on a server that you — or a service provider acting on your behalf — control, ideally in the EU. Data does not leave your environment for an opaque third party, and you decide over operation, access and updates yourself.
Why is n8n cheaper than classic automation services?
Many cloud automation tools bill per executed step, which gets expensive fast when workflows multiply. With self-hosted n8n, you pay for server capacity, not for each individual action — the number of executions does not directly drive costs up.
Can n8n be used in a GDPR-compliant way?
Because n8n can be run in-house, the processing can be set up in line with data protection law. Self-hosted means: the server we set it up on for you sits in the EU and runs on your account — every service provider involved is named in your privacy policy. Get in touch for an assessment of your specific use case.
