--- title: "Deploy n8n Linear" description: "Linear issues to Slack digests & Self Host" category: "Automation" url: https://railway.com/deploy/n8n-linear --- # Deploy n8n Linear Linear issues to Slack digests & Self Host **[Deploy n8n Linear on Railway](https://railway.com/template/n8n-linear)** Machine-readable deploy manifest (JSON, validated by TemplateCI): https://railway.com/deploy/n8n-linear/manifest.json - **Creator:** onepush - **Category:** Automation ## Template content ### n8n-worker - **Image:** n8nio/n8n:2.36.8 - **Start command:** `n8n worker` - **Health check:** /healthz ### Redis https://cdn.sanity.io/images/sy1jschh/production/0ce0bfdcfbdbf69662b1116671f97c2dd788b655-157x157.svg - **Image:** redis:8.2 - **Start command:** `/bin/sh -c "rm -rf $RAILWAY_VOLUME_MOUNT_PATH/lost+found/ && exec docker-entrypoint.sh redis-server --requirepass $REDIS_PASSWORD --save 60 1 --dir $RAILWAY_VOLUME_MOUNT_PATH"` ### n8n - **Image:** n8nio/n8n:2.36.8 - **Health check:** /healthz - **Public domain:** Yes ### Postgres https://devicons.railway.app/i/postgresql.svg - **Image:** ghcr.io/railwayapp-templates/postgres-ssl:18 ## Documentation # Deploy and Host self hosted n8n Linear (Open-Source Linear Automation) on Railway For a smaller instance without workers, use the [cheapest n8n without queue mode](https://railway.com/deploy/n8n). Linear fires webhooks on every issue change. If n8n runs them inline, your editor stutters and long workflows stall. ## About Hosting n8n Linear open-source software on Railway (self hosted n8n template) Linear emits a firehose of events during a sprint: issue created, status changed, assignee switched, priority bumped. On Railway, you run two n8n containers. Both use `n8nio/n8n:2.36.8`, but the worker starts with the command `n8n worker`. Railway makes setup feel almost boring—in a good way. You add the editor, worker, Postgres, and Redis services, set a handful of environment variables, and you're done. ## Why Deploy n8n Linear, the Linear Automations alternative on Railway (Railway Free Trial) Linear has a built-in automation feature called Linear Automations. It's genuinely good for small things: auto-assign on label, close stale issues, send a Slack message when status changes. But it stops where real team workflows start. n8n Community Edition is fair-code licensed and runs anywhere. On Railway, a realistic queue-mode stack lands around $10–$25 per month depending on resources. Also worth saying plainly: the editor and worker separation changes maintenance. You can redeploy the worker without interrupting your editing session. 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 Linear 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. ### Railway vs Other Hosting Providers and VPS for n8n Linear self hosting A bare VPS works—plenty of people run queue-mode n8n on a single Hetzner box with Docker Compose—but you inherit the ops: firewall rules, TLS certificates, log rotation, backup scheduling, kernel updates. | Provider | Setup time for queue-mode stack | Maintenance burden | Pricing feel | Best for | |----------|-------------------------------|--------------------|---------------|----------| | DigitalOcean | ~45–90 min with Droplet + Docker Compose | You manage everything | Predictable, from $12–$24/mo for 2GB–4GB RAM | Comfortable Linux operators | | AWS | Hours with ECS/Fargate or Lightsail | Heavy if you use ECS, lighter with Lightsail | Unpredictable once NAT gateways and EBS add up | Teams already inside AWS | | Hetzner | ~45 min with Cloud VM + Compose | You manage everything, fewer guardrails | Cheapest real option, ~€7–€15/mo | Budget-conscious, EU-friendly | Railway's real edge isn't price—Hetzner wins on raw cost. ## Common Use Cases for hosted n8n Linear The first workflow most people build is obvious: Linear webhook fires when an issue is created, n8n filters by team or label, formats a Slack message with the issue title, assignee, and priority, and posts it to the right channel. The second workflow is the digest. Instead of pinging Slack for every event, you accumulate changes in memory or Redis and flush a digest at 4:30 PM. The third is the Sheets sync. Teams that live in spreadsheets want a row per Linear issue with current status, assignee, cycle, and labels. A webhook-triggered workflow updates the row when anything changes, and a scheduled workflow does a full reconciliation at midnight. Other real patterns: auto-creating a Linear issue from a Slack emoji reaction, syncing Linear issues to a GitHub project board, sending a weekly summary email with execution count ## Dependencies for n8n Linear Docker hosted on Railway The queue-mode architecture has hard requirements. You cannot run queue mode on SQLite—it's PostgreSQL or nothing for the database. Redis is the queue backbone, using the Bull library under the hood. ### Deployment Dependencies for Managed n8n Linear Service (Linear Automation) On Railway, your project needs four services: the editor container, the worker container, a PostgreSQL database, and a Redis instance. The volume mount `/home/node/.n8n` goes on both the editor and the worker. It's where encryption keys, database config, and installed community nodes live. ### Implementation Details for n8n Linear (Using n8n official docker image) Both services use the exact same image tag: `n8nio/n8n:2.36.8`. Pinning the version is non-negotiable because the editor and worker must run identical code. The full environment variable set looks like this: - `EXECUTIONS_MODE=queue` — tells n8n to enqueue executions instead of running them inline - `DB_TYPE=postgresdb` — switches off the default SQLite and points at Postgres - `QUEUE_BULL_REDIS_HOST` and `QUEUE_BULL_REDIS_PORT` — Redis connecti The `WEBHOOK_URL` matters more than it seems. Linear sends webhooks to whatever URL you configure in its integration settings. ## How does n8n Linear compare against other issue tracking automation platforms n8n Linear is not a separate product; it is a self-hosted n8n deployment preconfigured for queue mode with Postgres and Redis. This setup handles high-frequency Linear webhooks reliably and keeps the editor responsive. ### n8n Linear vs Linear Automations (Linear Automations Alternative) Linear Automations is native but limited to simple triggers and actions inside Linear. n8n Linear adds external systems, custom logic, retries, and queue-based scaling for issue and project events. ### n8n Linear vs Zapier (Zapier Alternative) Zapier is fully managed but costs scale with task volume. n8n Linear is open source, self-hosted, and has no per-execution fees. Queue mode gives predictable throughput for sprint noise without UI lag. ### n8n Linear vs Make (Make Alternative) Make offers a visual builder but can throttle bursty webhooks. n8n Linear runs your own workers, so Linear issue/project spikes go to Slack and sheets without shared-cloud limits. ### n8n Linear vs Activepieces (Activepieces Alternative) Activepieces is also open source but its queueing is less mature. n8n Linear’s Redis Bull queue and Postgres persistence are proven for hundreds of concurrent Linear events. ## How to use n8n Linear (the OSS Linear Automation)? Deploy the stack, open port 5678, create a Linear webhook, and paste the URL into an n8n Webhook node. Build workflows that filter issue/project payloads, then send Slack digests or append rows to Google Sheets. Queue mode isolates execution from the editor. ## How to self host n8n Linear on other VPS Services (n8n Linear self hosting guide) Use any VPS with Docker or Node.js. The stack needs Postgres, Redis, and the n8n image `n8nio/n8n:2.36.8`. ### Clone the Repository Clone the n8n repo or create a minimal project with a docker-compose file defining n8n, Postgres, and Redis Bull. ### Install Dependencies Install Docker, Node.js 20+, or use the official image. No custom packages are required; n8n bundles Linear, Slack, and Sheets nodes. ### Configure Environment Variables Set `DB_TYPE=postgresdb`, `DB_POSTGRESDB_*`, `REDIS_HOST`, `REDIS_PORT`, `EXECUTIONS_MODE=queue`, `N8N_ENCRYPTION_KEY`, and `N8N_PORT=5678`. Use a strong random key. ### Start the n8n Linear Application Run `docker compose up -d` or `npm start`. Visit `http://your-vps:5678`, create an owner account, and connect Linear credentials. ## Official Pricing of n8n Linear (n8n Linear pricing) n8n Linear uses n8n Community Edition, which is free and open source. You pay only for infrastructure. n8n Cloud starts around $24/month for 2,500 executions; self-hosting on Railway typically costs $10–$25/month with no execution cap. ## n8n Linear cloud vs self hosted comparison (Pricing, features, costs, and more) Cloud is easier but limited by execution quotas. Self-hosting gives unlimited executions, queue mode, and data control. The tradeoff is managing Postgres, Redis, backups, and upgrades. ### Monthly cost of self hosting n8n Linear on Railway Railway stack runs about $10–$25/month depending on RAM and Postgres/Redis plans. Use the $5 GitHub trial credit to offset initial costs. ### System Requirements for Hosting n8n Linear on a VPS Minimum: 1 vCPU, 1 GB RAM for n8n plus 256 MB for Redis and 512 MB for Postgres. For queue mode with many Linear webhooks, 2 GB RAM and 2 vCPU are recommended. ## Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) ### What is queue mode and why does n8n Linear need Redis? Queue mode moves workflow executions to background workers using Redis Bull. The editor stays fast even when hundreds of Linear issue/project webhooks arrive at once. ### Can I use the cheapest n8n without queue mode for this? No. SQLite cannot run queue mode, and bursty Linear webhooks will block the editor. Use the [cheapest n8n without queue mode](https://railway.com/deploy/n8n) only for low-volume testing. ### What happens if I lose N8N_ENCRYPTION_KEY? You cannot decrypt stored credentials. Linear, Slack, and Sheets OAuth tokens become unreadable. Store the key in a secret manager and back it up. ### How do workers help under Linear issue/project webhooks into Slack digests and sheets; queue-mode n8n so sprint noise does not stall the editor load? Workers process webhook payloads in parallel, deduplicate or batch updates, and push Slack digests or Sheets rows without holding the main n8n process. Sprint spikes do not freeze the UI. ### Does Community Edition include SSO? No. SSO, LDAP, and advanced user management require an n8n Enterprise license. ### What Railway trial credit do I get? New Railway accounts receive a $5 GitHub trial credit, enough for about two weeks of a minimal n8n Linear stack. Queue-mode workers keep n8n Linear executions off the editor so webhooks stay fast under load. ## Similar templates - [N8N Main + Worker](https://railway.com/deploy/n8n-main-worker) — Deploy and Host N8N with Inactive worker. - [Evolution API with n8n](https://railway.com/deploy/evolution-api-with-n8n) — Automate WhatsApp workflows with Evolution API, n8n, and Postgres. - [Postgres Backup](https://railway.com/deploy/postgres-s3-backups) — Cron-based PostgreSQL backup to bucket storage Open this page in a browser: https://railway.com/deploy/n8n-linear