---
title: "Deploy n8n (w/ AI Assistant)"
description: "n8n with a working AI Assistant: code sandbox and web search included."
category: "Automation"
url: https://railway.com/deploy/n8n-w-ai-assistant
---

# Deploy n8n (w/ AI Assistant)

n8n with a working AI Assistant: code sandbox and web search included.

**[Deploy n8n (w/ AI Assistant) on Railway](https://railway.com/template/n8n-w-ai-assistant)**

Machine-readable deploy manifest (JSON, validated by TemplateCI): https://railway.com/deploy/n8n-w-ai-assistant/manifest.json

- **Creator:** AvgSoft
- **Category:** Automation

## Template content

### Setup https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/mikedepo/railway-template-assets@6ab06146e7d9a658953ce107fdbb88d57799794d/service-icons/setup.svg

- **Image:** ghcr.io/railwayapp/function-bun:1.3.0
- **Start command:** `./run.sh 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`

### SearXNG https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/mikedepo/railway-template-assets@97f1a9a9aff615a39ad26a0afa0a3c8226bd820f/service-icons/searxng.svg

- **Image:** ghcr.io/searxng/searxng:2026.10.29-cff884f98
- **Start command:** `sh -c "mkdir -p /etc/searxng && echo dXNlX2RlZmF1bHRfc2V0dGluZ3M6IHRydWUKc2VhcmNoOgogIGZvcm1hdHM6CiAgICAtIGh0bWwKICAgIC0ganNvbgo= | base64 -d > /etc/searxng/settings.yml && exec /usr/local/searxng/entrypoint.sh"`
- **Health check:** /healthz

### Sandbox https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/mikedepo/railway-template-assets@f95ab043c4509d98d39d4594702ed23b76d5c740/service-icons/n8n-assistant-sandbox.svg

- **Image:** ghcr.io/mikedepo/n8n-assistant-sandbox:0.1.0
- **Health check:** /healthz

### n8n https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/mikedepo/railway-template-assets@7c3d7b6a584cefada441adb475d6ab3c708cf19c/service-icons/n8n.svg

- **Image:** n8nio/n8n:2.44.7
- **Start command:** `n8n start`
- **Health check:** /healthz/readiness
- **Public domain:** Yes

### Postgres https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/mikedepo/railway-template-assets@7c3d7b6a584cefada441adb475d6ab3c708cf19c/service-icons/postgresql.svg

- **Image:** ghcr.io/railwayapp-templates/postgres-ssl:18

## Documentation

# Deploy and Host n8n (w/ AI Assistant) on Railway

n8n's AI Assistant builds and fixes workflows from a chat, but needs a code sandbox Railway can't normally run. This template includes one, plus web search, so the Assistant works out of the box.

![n8n with its AI Assistant, sandbox and web search](https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/mikedepo/railway-template-assets@382afb870e2e4bf9f9982ba0249cd56bc010a0f4/n8n-assistant/banner.png)

## About Hosting n8n (w/ AI Assistant)

Deploy with your email and a password, then sign in to n8n with them. Needs the Hobby plan: the Sandbox uses up to 0.9 GB while the Assistant builds.

### Connect your AI model

1. Sign in at platform.openai.com/api-keys and click **Create new secret key**.
2. Name it (for example "n8n Assistant") and set **Expiration** to **Never**, so the Assistant doesn't stop working later.
3. Click **Create secret key**, then **Copy** the key: OpenAI shows it only once.
4. In n8n, open **Assistant** and click **Get started**. Pick **OpenAI**, paste the key and click **Continue**: the sandbox and web search are already set up.

![Create an OpenAI key and paste it into n8n's Assistant](https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/mikedepo/railway-template-assets@382afb870e2e4bf9f9982ba0249cd56bc010a0f4/n8n-assistant/connect-openai.png)

## Common Use Cases

- Build workflows from a chat
- Debug failed executions
- Ask how a node works

## Dependencies for n8n (w/ AI Assistant) Hosting

- n8n
- Postgres
- Sandbox
- SearXNG

### Deployment Dependencies

- [Set up n8n Assistant](https://docs.n8n.io/deploy/host-n8n/configure-n8n/set-up-n8n-assistant)

### Implementation Details

![n8n with its AI Assistant architecture](https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/mikedepo/railway-template-assets@382afb870e2e4bf9f9982ba0249cd56bc010a0f4/n8n-assistant/architecture.png)

Back up `N8N_ENCRYPTION_KEY`: saved credentials can't be read without it. Sandboxes share one service; a Railway project token in `RAILWAY_TOKEN` gives each conversation its own VM.

## Why Deploy n8n (w/ AI Assistant) 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 (w/ AI Assistant) 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.

**Updated 2026-10-29:** First release.


## 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-w-ai-assistant