For most small n8n set-ups, an 8 GB server with n8n installed from the order page is the sensible start. Contabo's Cloud VPS 4, with 8 GB, gives the most memory for the money among our picks. Hostinger's KVM 2, also with 8 GB, adds weekly backups.
We picked these five by need, from the hosts' own pages and our weekly price records. The price boxes show the first term and the renewal.
Who this is for
- you have decided to self-host n8n and need a server
- you want a short list matched to a need, with the reasons from each host's own pages
- you care about the price after the first term, not only the headline
Not for you if you are still choosing between n8n Cloud and self-hosting: see n8n Cloud or self-hosted.
Key numbers
- 8 GB memory on Contabo's Cloud VPS 4 and Hostinger's KVM 2, the two term-priced picks Official page,
- 640 MiB the memory n8n Cloud runs its Starter plan on, for scale Official page,
- 16 GB memory on the dedicated-core pick, Cherry Servers Cloud VDS 2, for queue mode or files Official page,
Our picks at a glance
Start with an 8 GB plan; pay by the second only while you try n8n out.
| Pick | Plan | Why, by its own page | First-term price | Renewal price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Most memory for the money | Contabo Cloud VPS 4 | 8 GB and 4 vCPUs; n8n set up from the order page | €4.40 a month (checked 25 October 2026) | €4.40 a month (checked 25 October 2026) |
| One-click n8n with weekly backups | Hostinger KVM 2 | 8 GB and 2 vCPUs; weekly backups included | $8.79 a month (checked 25 October 2026) | $14.99 a month (checked 25 October 2026) |
| Billed by the second, to try n8n | DigitalOcean Basic, 2 vCPUs, 4 GiB | never above the monthly price; a 1-Click n8n app | $24 a month (checked 25 October 2026) | $24 a month (checked 25 October 2026) |
| Dedicated cores for heavy workflows | Cherry Servers Cloud VDS 2 | 16 GB on dedicated resources | €29 a month (checked 25 October 2026) | €29 a month (checked 25 October 2026) |
| Most EU data centres, by the hour | UpCloud Starter, 2 cores, 4 GB | data centres in seven EU cities; charged by the hour | €12 a month (checked 25 October 2026) | €12 a month (checked 25 October 2026) |
How we chose
Each pick answers one need: memory for the price, a ready-made install with backups, short-term billing, dedicated cores or data centres in the EU. The facts come from the hosts' pages, and the prices from our weekly checks.
The order follows those needs. Our page on how we sort explains the rules.
Most memory for the money: Contabo Cloud VPS 4
It has 8 GB of memory and 4 vCPUs, and Contabo's order page can set up n8n at no extra cost. Contabo's help page describes that install: Docker Compose in /opt/n8n, with Caddy and a Let's Encrypt certificate for HTTPS.
The drawback: the lowest price needs a long term paid in advance, and updates are your job, its help page says. It suits a small team that wants room for PostgreSQL and files.
| Plan | Price | New-customer offer | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contabo Cloud VPS 4 4 vCPU, 8 GB | €4.40/month 24-month term, paid up front; the price applies to the first 24 months and to the EU region in Germany; other regions cost more each month checked 25 Oct 2026 | No offer | Visit |
The term and any renewal price are under the price.
One-click n8n with weekly backups: Hostinger KVM 2
It has 8 GB of memory and 2 vCPUs. The order page can install n8n for you, and weekly backups are included. Hostinger's help page says its n8n template runs in Docker and asks for the owner account on the first visit.
The drawback: half the processor cores of Contabo's 8 GB plan, and you run the updates with docker compose commands. It suits a first n8n server where backups matter.
| Plan | Price | New-customer offer | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hostinger KVM 2 2 vCPU, 8 GB | $8.79/month 24-month term, paid up front; Black Friday first-term price, then $14.99 checked 25 Oct 2026 | Black Friday prices on VPS plans and AI automation apps, for the first subscription term only checked 30 Oct 2026 | Visit |
The lowest prices need a long term paid in advance; the term and renewal are under the price.
Billed by the second, to try n8n: DigitalOcean Basic
The 2 vCPU, 4 GiB plan is billed by the second and never above its monthly price. DigitalOcean's marketplace has a 1-Click n8n app on Ubuntu 24.04, made by an outside vendor, Automaze.
The drawback: the listing does not say how HTTPS or updates are handled, so check both yourself. It suits trying n8n for a few days or weeks, then deleting the server.
| Plan | Price | New-customer offer | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| DigitalOcean Basic Droplet, 2 vCPUs, 4 GiB 2 vCPU, 4 GB | $24/month billed per second (60-second minimum), capped at this monthly price · VAT not stated checked 25 Oct 2026 | New accounts get a $5 credit that lasts 90 days and covers every product except SaaS add-ons checked 29 Oct 2026 | Visit |
Dedicated cores for heavy workflows: Cherry Servers Cloud VDS 2
It has 16 GB of memory on dedicated resources: four vCores on two physical cores, with NVMe storage. It is billed by the hour, the month or the year, with data centres in Šiauliai, Amsterdam, Stockholm and Frankfurt among others.
The drawback: our records list no ready-made n8n install, so plan to set it up with Docker. It suits queue mode or file-heavy workflows, where our n8n sizing guide suggests 8 GB or more.
| Plan | Price | New-customer offer | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cherry Servers Cloud VDS 2 4 vCPU, 16 GB | €29/month monthly, no long-term contract; Autumn Sale price, with no end date stated checked 25 Oct 2026 | Autumn Sale prices on Cloud VDS plans, up to 41% off, applied without a code checked 30 Oct 2026 | Visit |
Most EU data centres, by the hour: UpCloud Starter
UpCloud has data centres in seven EU cities: Helsinki, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Warsaw, Amsterdam, Madrid and Frankfurt. The Starter plan, with 2 cores and 4 GB, is charged by the hour up to 28 days a month.
The drawback: 30 GB of standard SSD and previous-generation AMD processors, by UpCloud's page, and no one-click n8n in our records. It suits Docker users who want their data in the EU.
What to look for in an n8n server
Memory
n8n's own illustrative table gives 320 MB to 2 GB of memory, and an idle instance uses far less. Memory runs out first when a workflow handles large files, so leave room. Our guide to how much RAM and CPU n8n needs has n8n's figures and the sizes we would start with.
Shared or dedicated processor, and CPU steal
Most cheap servers share their processor cores with other customers. CPU steal is the time your server waits while a shared core serves someone else, and it shows up as slow or delayed executions. Some hosts sell plans with dedicated cores at a higher price. Cherry Servers, for example, labels its Cloud VPS plans shared and its Cloud VDS plans dedicated.
The price after the first term
The lowest prices on many hosting pages need a long term paid in advance, and some renew at a higher rate. Our price boxes show both, so compare the renewal price before you pay.
Backups
Hosts differ here. Hostinger includes weekly backups on its KVM plans, and Contabo includes one snapshot with its Cloud VPS 4. Hosting.com sells backups as an option on its unmanaged servers. Whatever the host does, keep your own export of n8n's workflows and credentials, and its encryption key.
Webhooks
Behind a reverse proxy, n8n needs its public webhook address set, or the addresses it hands out will not work. Our n8n hosting guide shows the two settings.
Mistakes to avoid
Buying on the 24-month price alone
Instead: Check the renewal price and the term you must pay up front.
Choosing the smallest plan for a file-heavy workflow
Instead: Leave memory headroom; files sit in memory unless n8n stores them on disk.
Ignoring CPU steal on a shared plan
Instead: Watch for slow executions; move to dedicated cores if they persist.
Relying on the host's backups alone
Instead: Export workflows and credentials yourself, with the encryption key.
How we checked
Plan facts come from our price records, checked against each host's pages on 25 October 2026. The n8n install details come from the hosts' n8n pages, read on 27 October 2026. Prices come from our weekly price checks.
Our own measurements will be added here, with their dates, when our test bench runs them.
Other questions
What is the cheapest VPS for n8n?
Among these picks, Contabo's Cloud VPS 4, with 8 GB, gives the most memory for the money. That holds at the prices in our records on 27 October 2026; check its renewal price and the term in the price box.
Is 1 GB of RAM enough for n8n?
For a few light workflows it can be, since n8n Cloud's Starter plan runs on 640 MiB. With PostgreSQL, files or AI steps on the same server, 1 GB leaves little room.
Hostinger or Contabo for n8n?
Both sell 8 GB plans that install n8n from the order page. Contabo's has 4 vCPUs and its help page describes HTTPS through Caddy; Hostinger's has 2 vCPUs and includes weekly backups.
Sources and test notes
- n8n documentation: OEM prerequisites (illustrative sizing), read
- n8n Cloud: memory on each plan, read
- n8n documentation: webhook URLs behind a reverse proxy, read
- n8n documentation: back up and restore, read
- Contabo VPS, read
- Contabo: what is n8n and how do I use it on Contabo, read
- Hostinger VPS hosting, read
- Hostinger: how to use the n8n VPS template, read
- DigitalOcean Droplet pricing, read
- DigitalOcean Marketplace: n8n, read
- Cherry Servers virtual servers, read
- UpCloud pricing, read
- Hosting.com unmanaged Linux VPS, read
Plan facts from our price records (checked 25 October 2026); n8n pages read 27 October 2026.