How to Install N8N with Coolify in Minutes [Step-by-Step Guide]

In this step-by-step guide, I’ll show you how to install n8n quickly, easily, and for just a few dollars a month using an incredible open-source tool called Coolify.

What is Coolify?

Coolify is a self-hosting platform that acts as an open-source alternative to popular services like Heroku, Netlify, and Vercel. It allows you to deploy, manage, and update applications and services on your own server (VPS) with incredible simplicity. With Coolify, you can install hundreds of apps, including n8n, with a point-and-click interface.

What You’ll Need Before You Start

1. A Virtual Private Server (VPS). Any affordable Linux VPS will work. Coolify requires:
   • OS: Debian or Ubuntu (recommended).
   • Resources: Minimum 2 CPU cores and 2GB RAM.
   • Cost: You can find suitable VPS plans from providers like DigitalOcean, Linode, or Vultr for around $4-$5 per month.
2. A domain name (optional but recommended for a custom SSL-secured URL).

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Step 1: Install Coolify on Your VPS

The installation process for Coolify itself is brilliantly simple.

1. Connect to your VPS via SSH.
2. Run the single installation command provided on the Coolify website. As of this writing, it is:
   bash curl -fsSL https://coolify.io/install.sh | bash
3. The script will handle everything. Once completed, you will be given a URL to access your Coolify dashboard (usually http://your-server-ip:3000). Note the login credentials provided in the terminal output.

Step 2: Access the Coolify Dashboard

Open the provided URL in your web browser and log in. You’ll be greeted by a clean, intuitive dashboard where you can manage all your projects and services.

Step 3: Create a New Project

Projects in Coolify help you organize your applications.

1. Click on the “Projects” tab in the left sidebar.
2. Click the “Add” button (+).
3. Give your project a descriptive name (e.g., “Automation Tools”) and click “Continue”.

Step 4: Create an Environment

Environments within a project let you separate deployments (e.g., production, staging, test).

1. Inside your new project, click “Environment for add”.
2. Name your environment (e.g., “production” or “test”) and create it.

Step 5: Deploy n8n with One Click

This is where the magic happens.

1. Inside your environment, click the “Add Resource” button.
2. You’ll see a list of deployable applications. In the search bar, type “n8n”.
3. Select the “n8n + PostgreSQL” option. This automatically sets up n8n with its own dedicated database—no extra configuration needed!
4. You’ll be taken to a configuration page. For a basic installation, you don’t need to change anything. Simply click the “Deploy” button at the bottom.

Coolify will now start pulling the necessary Docker images and begin the deployment process. You can watch the logs in real-time. Within a few minutes, you will see two services: n8n and postgresql, both with a status of “Running”.

Step 6: Set Up a Custom Domain (Highly Recommended)

By default, Coolify will assign your n8n instance a temporary domain (like something.sslip.io). To have a permanent, secure URL, you should add a custom domain.

1. In your n8n resource view, find the domain section and click the pencil (edit) icon.
2. Enter the full domain you want to use (e.g., n8n.yourdomain.com).
3. Before you save: You must configure your domain’s DNS settings.
   • Go to your domain registrar or DNS provider (e.g., Cloudflare).
   • Create an “A” record.
   • Point the record (e.g., n8n) to the IP address of your VPS.
   • Ensure proxy is disabled (DNS only).
4. Go back to Coolify and save the new domain configuration.
5. Finally, click the “Restart” button for the n8n service to apply the changes with the new domain.

After a restart, your n8n instance will be available at your custom domain!

Step 7: Log In and Use n8n

1. Open your new n8n URL in a browser (e.g., https://n8n.yourdomain.com).
2. You will be greeted by the n8n sign-up page. Fill in your details to create the first admin user.
3. That’s it! You now have a fully functional, self-hosted n8n instance running on your own server.

How to Update n8n

One of the best features of Coolify is how easy it makes maintenance. To update your n8n instance to the latest version:

1. Go to your n8n resource in Coolify.
2. Click on the “Advanced” tab.
3. Click “Pull latest images and restart.”

Coolify will pull the newest n8n image and restart the container, updating your installation in seconds.

Conclusion

Coolify dramatically simplifies the process of self-hosting applications. What used to take 30 minutes of complex command-line work now takes less than 5 minutes with a few clicks. You’re not limited to n8n—you can deploy databases, static sites, and countless other tools from Coolify’s library.