Deploy and Host n8n on Railway

What is n8n?

n8n is an open-source workflow automation platform that empowers users to connect and automate various applications, APIs, and services with minimal coding. It features a visual interface for building workflows, supports over 400 integrations, and allows both technical and non-technical users to automate repetitive tasks, synchronize data, and streamline business processes.

About Hosting n8n

Hosting n8n involves running the platform on your own infrastructure, giving you full control over your data, privacy, and customization. When deploying n8n, you set up the core application, configure a database (commonly PostgreSQL), and optionally add a Redis instance for scaling workflows. Hosting on Railway simplifies this process by providing pre-built templates, automated provisioning, and managed services for databases and background workers. You can deploy n8n in minutes, manage environment variables, and scale resources as your automation needs grow—all from a single dashboard.

Common Use Cases

• Automated Notifications: Send alerts via Slack, email, or SMS when specific events occur in your apps or services.
• Data Synchronization: Keep data consistent between platforms like CRMs, project management tools, and databases.
• Webhooks and API Integrations: Connect to external APIs, process incoming webhooks, and automate multi-step workflows across cloud services.

Dependencies for n8n Hosting

• PostgreSQL: Used as the primary database to store workflows, credentials, and execution data.
• Redis: Acts as a message broker for background jobs and enables horizontal scaling with worker nodes.

Deployment Dependencies

• Railway account (sign up with GitHub for seamless integration)
• n8n Railway deployment template:
  • Railway n8n Template
• (Optional) Custom domain and DNS provider for branded access

Implementation Details

Quick Start Steps:

1. Sign up for Railway and connect your GitHub account.
2. Use the n8n (w/ workers) template to create a new project.
3. Configure environment variables, especially for authentication (N8N_BASIC_AUTH_USER and N8N_BASIC_AUTH_PASSWORD).
4. Railway provisions n8n, PostgreSQL, Redis, and worker services automatically.
5. Access your n8n instance via the provided Railway URL or set up a custom domain.
6. Log in, create your admin account, and start building workflows.

Why Deploy n8n on Railway?

Railway is a singular platform to deploy your infrastructure stack. Railway will host your infrastructure so you don't have to deal with configuration, while allowing you to vertically and horizontally scale it.

By deploying n8n on Railway, you are one step closer to supporting a complete full-stack application with minimal burden. Host your servers, databases, AI agents, and more on Railway.