How to Self-Host n8n on a VPS in Pakistan: Step-by-Step Guide

Hey there! 👋
Ever wish your apps could do the boring stuff for you automatically? Well, that’s what n8n automation does! And the good news is—you can self-host it on a VPS in Pakistan and have full control of your workflows. Don’t worry, we’ll go step by step, like building with LEGO blocks, but your blocks are digital workflows that save you time.

You’ve got this! 🚀

What Is n8n? (The Simple Version)

Think of n8n as a digital helper. It connects your apps and makes them work together automatically.

Examples:

• Someone fills a Google Form → Automatically add the data to Google Sheets → Send a confirmation email
• Back up new files from Gmail to Google Drive
• Post updates to Slack or WhatsApp automatically

Why it’s great:

• Free & Open-Source – You can run it however you like
• Self-Hosted Option – Your data stays private on your VPS
• Flexible – Works with hundreds of apps and services

Why Self-Host n8n on a VPS?

You might wonder: why not use the cloud version?

Here’s why self-hosting on a VPS server in Pakistan is smart:

1. Your Data Stays Private
   Your workflows and data live only on your server—like keeping secrets in your own safe.
2. It’s Affordable
   n8n itself is free. You only pay for your VPS. At creativeON, we offer cheap VPS in Pakistan with plans below market prices because we’re an official Google Workspace partner.
3. Full Control
   Upgrade your server, add security features, or customize your setup. It’s your rules, your way.

What You’ll Need

Before we start, make sure you have:

• A VPS server – Linux (Ubuntu 20.04/22.04 recommended) or Windows (Linux is smoother for n8n)
• Domain name (optional but recommended) – If you want a clean URL like automation.mybusiness.pk. CreativeON is a PKNIC Gold Partner, so .PK domains are easy to get.
• Basic computer skills – Comfortable typing commands in a terminal.
• 30–40 minutes of time – That’s all it takes to get started.

Step 1: Buy the Best VPS in Pakistan

Choose a VPS with:

• 2 GB RAM or more
• 2 CPU cores or more
• 30–40 GB SSD storage

This setup works perfectly for small to medium automation workloads.

At creativeON, you can buy VPS in Pakistan with flexible plans:

• Linux VPS or Windows VPS
• RDP VPS in Pakistan for remote desktop
• Cheap VPS plans that start below market rates

Pro tip: Even a basic plan works for testing. You can always upgrade later.

Step 2: Connect to Your VPS

You need to connect to your VPS using SSH:

On Mac/Linux:

ssh root@your-server-ip

On Windows:

• Use PuTTY or PowerShell for SSH access
• Enter the server IP and password from CreativeON

Congrats! You’re now inside your VPS — like sitting at your server’s desk. 🎉

Step 3: Update Your Server

Before installing anything, keep your system fresh and secure:

apt update && apt upgrade -y

Step 4: Install Docker (The Magic Container Tool)

Docker makes running n8n simple—it contains everything n8n needs without installing lots of software.

Run:

curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sh

systemctl enable docker

systemctl start docker

Step 5: Set Up Docker Compose for n8n VPS

Docker Compose is like an instruction manual for Docker. It tells the container how to run n8n and its database.

1. Create a folder for n8n:

mkdir ~/n8n

cd ~/n8n

1. Create docker-compose.yml:

nano docker-compose.yml

1. Copy this configuration:

version: ‘3’

services:

  n8n:

    image: n8nio/n8n

    restart: always

    ports:

      – “5678:5678”

    environment:

      – N8N_HOST=your-domain.pk

      – N8N_PORT=5678

      – N8N_PROTOCOL=https

      – DB_TYPE=postgresdb

      – DB_POSTGRESDB_HOST=postgres

      – DB_POSTGRESDB_PORT=5432

      – DB_POSTGRESDB_DATABASE=n8n

      – DB_POSTGRESDB_USER=n8n_user

      – DB_POSTGRESDB_PASSWORD=YourSecurePassword123

      – N8N_BASIC_AUTH_ACTIVE=true

      – N8N_BASIC_AUTH_USER=admin

      – N8N_BASIC_AUTH_PASSWORD=YourAdminPassword123

      – WEBHOOK_URL=https://your-domain.pk/

      – GENERIC_TIMEZONE=Asia/Karachi

  postgres:

    image: postgres:13

    restart: always

    environment:

      – POSTGRES_DB=n8n

      – POSTGRES_USER=n8n_user

      – POSTGRES_PASSWORD=YourSecurePassword123

    volumes:

      – postgres_data:/var/lib/postgresql/data

volumes:

  postgres_data:

Important: Replace your-domain.pk with your domain and passwords with strong secure ones.

Save with Ctrl+X, Y, Enter.

Step 6: Start Your n8n Instance

Run:

docker-compose up -d

The -d flag keeps it running in the background.

Visit your server:

https://your-domain.pk:5678

You should see the n8n dashboard! 🥳

Step 7: Connect Your Domain & Enable HTTPS

1. Go to your domain DNS settings
2. Add an A Record pointing to your VPS IP
3. Wait 15–30 minutes for DNS propagation

n8n supports Let’s Encrypt SSL. Once configured in Docker, your URL will be secure automatically.

Step 8: Optional Free Practice: Run n8n Locally

Want to test without spending money?

• Install Docker on your computer
• Use the same docker-compose.yml
• Run docker-compose up
• Open http://localhost:5678

Note: Workflows stop when your computer is off. For production, VPS is better.

Step 9: Build Your First Workflow

Let’s make your first automation:

Example: Daily email reminder

1. Click New Workflow in n8n
2. Add a Cron Trigger – set for 9 AM daily
3. Add an Email Action – write your message
4. Save and Test

🎉 Your automation is now live!

Other examples:

• Save email attachments automatically
• Add form responses to Google Sheets
• Send notifications to Slack or WhatsApp
• Back up files every night

Helpful Tips for n8n VPS Users

• Keep passwords safe – Treat them like your house keys
• Backup workflows weekly – Export your automation recipes
• Monitor your server – Ensure n8n is running smoothly
• Start small – Don’t overwhelm yourself with too many workflows at once
• Join the n8n community – Learn tips, workflows, and get support

Common Questions