How to Self-Host n8n with Docker — AI Workflow Automation Guide 2026

Originally published on Effloow How to Self-Host n8n with Docker — AI Workflow Automation Guide 2026 n8n Cloud's Pro plan costs €60 per month for 30,000 executions. A self-hosted n8n instance on a $5 VPS handles unlimited executions. Same software, same features, 12x cost difference. n8n is an open-source workflow automation platform with 1,400+ integrations and a visual node editor. It started as a Zapier alternative, but in 2026 it has evolved into something more interesting: a visual AI workflow engine where you can chain LLM calls, vector database queries, and tool-using agents — all without writing orchestration code. This guide walks you through self-hosting n8n with Docker Compose, from initial setup to a working AI workflow with Ollama for local LLM inference. We will build a practical AI agent that can search the web, process documents, and generate structured output — running entirely on your own infrastructure. By the end, you will have a production-ready n8n instance with P