How To Install N8N FREE [Using Google Cloud] – AI Automation

Automation is the future of productivity, and N8N is one of the most powerful open-source workflow automation tools available today. Unlike AI chatbots (like ChatGPT), N8N doesn’t just give suggestions—it actually performs tasks for you, such as sending emails, scraping data, and managing workflows automatically.

The best part? You can self-host N8N for free using Google Cloud’s free tier and avoid paying for subscriptions. In this guide, I’ll show you step-by-step how to install N8N on a cloud server and automate tasks like Google Maps lead scraping.

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What is N8N? (And How Is It Different from ChatGPT?)

N8N is an AI-powered workflow automation tool that connects apps and services to automate repetitive tasks. Here’s how it differs from ChatGPT:

Feature	ChatGPT (LLM)	N8N (Automation Tool)
Task Execution	Only gives suggestions	Actually performs tasks
Workflows	No automation	Fully automated workflows
Integrations	Limited API access	Connects to 1000+ apps
Cost	Free/Paid plans	Free (self-hosted option)

Example Use Cases:

✅ Auto-scrape leads from Google Maps & save to Google Sheets
✅ Send automated emails (e.g., follow-ups, notifications)
✅ Sync data between apps (Slack, Trello, CRM, etc.)
✅ Run 24/7 tasks without manual intervention

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How to Install N8N for Free (Step-by-Step)

Prerequisites:

✔ Google Cloud account (Sign up here)
✔ A domain or subdomain (optional, but recommended for HTTPS)

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Step 1: Set Up Google Cloud Free Tier

Google Cloud offers a free VM instance (e2-micro) with 30GB storage.

1. Go to Google Cloud Console.
2. Enable billing (required, but you won’t be charged if you stay within free limits).
3. Create a new project (e.g., “N8N-Tutorial”).

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Step 2: Create a Free VM Instance

1. Navigate to Compute Engine > VM Instances.
2. Click “Create Instance” and configure:

• Name: n8n-server
• Region: us-central1 (free tier eligible)
• Machine Type: e2-micro (free tier)
• Boot Disk: 30GB Standard Persistent Disk

1. Under Firewall, check “Allow HTTP/HTTPS traffic”.
2. Click “Create”.

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Step 3: Install Docker & N8N via SSH

1. Connect to your VM via SSH (click the “SSH” button in Google Cloud).
2. Run these commands one by one:

# Update packages
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

# Install Docker
sudo apt install docker.io -y
sudo systemctl start docker
sudo systemctl enable docker

# Install N8N
docker run -d \
  --name n8n \
  -p 5678:5678 \
  -e N8N_HOST=yourdomain.com \  # Replace with your domain
  -v ~/.n8n:/home/node/.n8n \
  n8nio/n8n

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Step 4: Set Up a Domain & SSL (HTTPS)

1. Buy a domain (or use a subdomain like n8n.yourdomain.com).
2. Point an A record to your VM’s external IP.
3. Install Nginx & Certbot for HTTPS:

# Install Nginx
sudo apt install nginx -y

# Install Certbot (for SSL)
sudo apt install certbot python3-certbot-nginx -y

# Get SSL certificate
sudo certbot --nginx -d n8n.yourdomain.com

Now, access N8N securely at:
🔗 https://n8n.yourdomain.com

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Step 5: Run Your First Automation (Google Maps Scraper Example)

1. Go to N8N’s workflow library (n8n.io/workflows).
2. Search for “Google Maps Lead Scraper” and click “Use Template”.
3. Paste the workflow into your N8N editor.
4. Connect Google Sheets & Google Maps API.
5. Click “Execute Workflow”—it will auto-scrape leads!

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Final Thoughts

N8N is a game-changer for automating tasks without coding. By self-hosting it on Google Cloud’s free tier, you can run powerful workflows without paying a dime.