How do I deploy n8n Starter on Railway?

You can deploy n8n Starter on Railway by clicking the "Deploy Now" button on this page. Railway will automatically set up all the necessary services and configurations for you.

What are the system requirements?

Railway handles all the infrastructure requirements. You only need a web browser to deploy and manage your application.

Is this template free to use?

Yes, this template is free to use within your existing Railway account.

Can I customize this template?

Yes, you can fully customize this template. After deployment, you will have full control of what you've deployed in your Railway project.

How do I get support for this template?

You can get support through our community forum: n8n-starter-9690d875, or join our Discord community for more assistance.

n8n - Secure Workflow Automation

Deploy and Host n8n Automation on Railway

n8n (pronounced “n-eight-n”) is a powerful, open-source automation tool that lets you build workflows visually, connecting APIs, services, and databases without writing full-blown code.

With this n8n starter kit, you can deploy and host n8n in one click. It’s built for beginners, makers, and hobbyists who want a quick, cost-effective, and hassle-free way to explore workflow automation or prototype data-driven systems without spending hours on setup.

About Hosting n8n

This setup comes fully pre-configured — just click Deploy and your n8n instance deploys instantly on Railway. No linking, no setup, no extra steps.

It comes with two key environment variables already set up for you:

Port (N8N_PORT) – The HTTP port n8n runs on. Default: 5678. You can leave it as-is in most cases.
Webhook URL (WEBHOOK_URL) – The public URL where n8n receives webhook requests. Railway automatically provides this, but you can manually set it if you’re using a custom domain or proxy.

These settings make it really simple to get started — just deploy and start using n8n right away. No complex setup required.

By skipping the need for a full database or Redis, this deployment stays lightweight and cost-effective, ideal for small workflows, experiments, or just exploring automation for the first time.

Common Use Cases

Workflow Example

Workflow Automation: Automate routine tasks like email sending, data syncing, or CRM updates.
Testing small workflows before moving to a bigger setup.
Learning and experimenting with n8n automation features.
Quick prototyping of integrations and workflows without extra infrastructure.

Dependencies for “n8n Starter” Hosting

None! Seriously, just deploy and you’re ready to go 🙂

Comparison With Other Tools

n8n vs Zapier Zapier is great for quick, simple automations, but n8n gives you complete control, unlimited workflows, and no vendor lock-in — all self-hosted.
n8n vs Make (Integromat) Make focuses on user-friendly visual design but is fully cloud-based. n8n offers similar flexibility with the freedom of running it on your own infrastructure.

How to Use n8n

Click the “Deploy Now” button above. Railway will automatically spin up n8n for you. Once deployment completes, a public URL appears — open it in your browser.

Set your username and password, and you’re ready to start building workflows. From there, you can explore triggers, nodes, and integrations directly in the n8n visual editor.

How to Self-Host n8n

Prefer running it manually? You can self-host n8n locally with Node.js:

# 1. Install Node.js >= 18
# 2. Install n8n globally
npm install -g n8n

# 3. Start n8n
n8n start

n8n will be accessible at http://localhost:5678

What is n8n Cloud

Prefer a fully managed solution? n8n offers n8n Cloud, a hosted service with automatic updates, team features, and zero maintenance.

Plans start with a free trial, and scale based on execution volume — ideal if you want to skip infrastructure setup and focus purely on building automations.

Deployment Dependencies

Implementation Details

(No additional code or setup required — just deploy and go!)

❓ FAQ

1. What is n8n?
n8n is an open-source workflow automation platform that lets you connect apps, APIs, and databases to build complex automations visually.

2. Is n8n free to use?
Yes. You can self-host n8n for free, and optionally upgrade to n8n Cloud for managed hosting.

3. What makes hosting on Railway special?
Railway offers one-click deploys, automatic database setup, persistent volumes, and easy environment variable management — perfect for self-hosting tools like n8n.

4. Can I add my own database or Redis instance?
Absolutely. You can connect external services by adjusting the variables in the Railway dashboard.

Why Deploy n8n + PostgreSQL Automation 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 + PostgreSQL Automation 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.