Head-to-head · n8n Hosting
n8n vs DigitalOcean Kubernetes
n8n leads on 1 check, DigitalOcean Kubernetes on 0, and 0 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 1 yes/no, price and count check where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scoren8n · 9.4/10
- Free planonly n8n
- Free trialonly n8n
n8n scores higher on our rubric for n8n hosting: 9.4 against 8.0 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #8.
n8n offers free plan; DigitalOcean Kubernetes doesn't.
n8n is the better fit for teams wanting full-featured n8n hosting. DigitalOcean Kubernetes is the better fit for teams running n8n on managed Kubernetes.
- n8n fits best
Teams wanting full-featured n8n hosting
- DigitalOcean Kubernetes fits best
Teams running n8n on managed Kubernetes
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Side by side
| Feature | n8n 9.4/10 Visit ↗ | DigitalOcean Kubernetes 8.0/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 9.4 | 8.0 |
| Ranking | #2 in n8n Hosting | #8 in n8n Hosting |
| Best for | Teams wanting full-featured n8n hosting | Teams running n8n on managed Kubernetes |
| Pricing model | Free plan + paid | Paid |
| Starting price | €20/mo | $12/unit/mo |
| Free plan | ✓ (best) | — |
| Free trial | 14 days | — |
| Deployment | Cloud, Self-hosted | Cloud |
| Platforms | Web | Web |
| Support | Community, Email | Email, Live chat, Tickets, Community, Docs |
| Compliance | SOC 2, GDPR, SSO/SAML, 2FA | SOC 2, GDPR |
| Integrations | 2,192+ integrations | 8 integrations |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise | Small business, Mid-market |
| Features n8n 0/2 · DigitalOcean Kubernetes 0/2 | ||
| Custom domain | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Automated backups | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Specs | ||
| Deployment type | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Monthly executions | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Hosting regions | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Support channel | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Our review | ||
| Pros |
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| Cons |
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| Our verdict | n8n is a node-based workflow automation platform for connecting applications, APIs, databases and internal tools. Its visual editor supports webhooks, scheduled triggers, conditional branches, JavaScript and Python code steps, custom HTTP… Read the review → |
DigitalOcean Kubernetes (DOKS) is a managed Kubernetes service for developers, startups and small-to-medium-sized businesses. It manages the Kubernetes control plane and underlying container infrastructure while preserving customer access… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
n8n — where it wins
- 2,192 integrations connect popular apps, databases and APIs
- Visual workflows include code, branching, webhooks and schedules
- Cloud and Docker-based self-hosted deployment options
Where it doesn't
- Business is self-hosted, adding deployment responsibility
- Enterprise uses custom pricing instead of a listed monthly rate
- Community Edition requires self-hosting through GitHub
DigitalOcean Kubernetes — where it wins
- Managed control plane with autoscaling and scale-to-zero support
- RBAC, custom roles and OIDC single sign-on for clusters
- Integrated load balancers, volumes, registry, API and CLI tools
Where it doesn't
- No n8n-specific deployment or operations tooling is verified
- Worker nodes are billed separately from the managed control plane
- No free plan; high-availability control plane is an additional charge
- n8n9.4/10 · Free plan · 14-day trial
Full-featured automation with cloud or self-hosted control for technical teams.
Visit n8nFull verdict → - DigitalOcean Kubernetes8.0/10 · Paid
A managed Kubernetes base for teams operating n8n clusters with their own Kubernetes workflows.
Visit DigitalOceanFull verdict →
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All n8n hosting comparisons → · Full ranking →
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update








