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To host n8n with Coolify, install Coolify on a Linux VPS, create an n8n resource, use PostgreSQL for anything beyond a test installation, configure n8n’s public URL and encryption key, persist /home/node/.n8n, point DNS to the server, and deploy behind HTTPS. Coolify’s proxy can request and renew a Let’s Encrypt certificate automatically.
The reliable production pattern is a pinned n8n version, PostgreSQL, scheduled backups, and a domain that resolves before deployment. SQLite and the one-container template are useful for evaluation, but they are less suitable when workflows, credentials, executions, or concurrent webhooks matter.
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Coolify is the control plane. It runs Docker workloads on your VPS, supplies a web dashboard, routes a domain through its proxy, and manages deployments and backups. n8n is the automation application. PostgreSQL stores n8n’s operational data, while a persistent volume stores the n8n data directory and its encryption material.
A normal request path is:
- Your DNS A record points
n8n.example.comto the VPS address. - Coolify’s proxy receives HTTPS traffic for that hostname.
- The proxy forwards requests to n8n on its container port, normally
5678. - n8n calls PostgreSQL and reads its persistent data volume.
This arrangement keeps the public surface small: expose the domain through the proxy rather than opening n8n’s internal port directly to the internet.
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Requirements and sizing
Use a Linux VPS running Ubuntu or Debian. A baseline frequently cited by setup guides is 2 GB RAM, 2 vCPUs, and 20 GB of storage, with 4 GB RAM recommended for more comfortable operation. Those figures are practical starting points rather than an official capacity guarantee; actual requirements depend on execution history, binary files, webhook volume, polling intervals, and any AI or browser workloads.
| Component | Starting choice | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Ubuntu or Debian Linux | Most Coolify installation guides target these distributions. |
| Memory | 2 GB minimum commonly cited; 4 GB preferred | n8n, PostgreSQL, Coolify, the reverse proxy, and Docker share the host. |
| CPU | 2 vCPUs | Provides room for the platform and ordinary workflow execution. |
| Storage | 20 GB starting point | Includes Docker images, PostgreSQL data, n8n data, logs, and backups. |
| Network | Public IPv4 address and inbound web access | DNS and certificate issuance must reach the server. |
| Domain | A dedicated subdomain such as n8n.example.com |
n8n uses a stable public URL for the editor and webhooks. |
Before installation, create an account with a VPS provider, reserve a static public IP if the provider offers one, and decide where backups will live. Keeping backups on the same disk as the application does not protect you from a lost or corrupted server.
Choose the deployment method
Coolify offers two sensible ways to create n8n. The service catalog is quicker; Docker Compose gives you explicit control over containers, networks, volumes, and the database.
| Method | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Service catalog | First deployment and a conventional n8n setup | Fast setup, but template defaults may hide details you need to change. |
| Docker Compose | PostgreSQL, custom networking, separate services, or repeatable configuration | More control and more responsibility for environment variables, health checks, and volumes. |
Start with the catalog when you need a straightforward single instance. Choose Compose if you already manage Compose files, need a separately managed PostgreSQL service, or plan to add queue-mode workers later.
Install Coolify on the VPS
- Connect to the server over SSH with an administrative account, for example
ssh root@SERVER_IP. - Apply the operating system’s pending security updates and confirm that the server has a working hostname, DNS resolution, and outbound internet access.
- Run Coolify’s current one-line installer from its official installation instructions. The installer installs Docker when necessary, downloads Coolify’s containers, and starts the platform. The command can change between Coolify releases, so copy the command displayed by the current documentation instead of reusing an old blog snippet.
- Open
http://SERVER_IP:8000in a browser. Create the initial administrator account, then change any temporary credentials and restrict dashboard access with your firewall or an administrative network policy.
Port 8000 is the initial dashboard endpoint described by the installation guides. After you configure a domain and proxy, normal n8n users should use the HTTPS hostname rather than the dashboard address.
Create the n8n resource in Coolify
- In the Coolify dashboard, create a project. A project keeps its resources, environment variables, domains, and deployment settings together.
- Select + New Resource, then choose Service.
- Search the service catalog for n8n and select the template.
- If you need a custom stack, choose the Docker Compose deployment method instead and paste a Compose configuration containing n8n, PostgreSQL, their network, and persistent volumes.
- Save the resource without deploying yet. Configure storage, environment variables, database connectivity, and the domain first.
The catalog template commonly starts with SQLite. That is convenient for a trial, but change the database plan before putting important workflows into production.
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Configure n8n’s core settings
Environment variables are entered in the resource’s environment section. Keep secrets out of a public Compose file and use Coolify’s secret-variable controls where available.
| Setting | Value or rule | Reason |
|---|---|---|
N8N_HOST |
Your public hostname, such as n8n.example.com |
n8n uses it when constructing editor links and webhook URLs. |
N8N_PORT |
5678 |
This is the container port used by the standard n8n service. |
N8N_PROTOCOL |
https for a direct HTTPS deployment |
Ensures generated links and webhook URLs use secure transport. |
| Encryption-key setting | Generate a long, random value and keep it unchanged | n8n uses it to protect stored credentials. Losing or changing it can make existing credentials unusable. |
| Database settings | Use the values supplied by the PostgreSQL template or your Compose stack | The host, port, database name, user, and password must match PostgreSQL exactly. |
Current n8n templates may expose the encryption setting under a variable name such as N8N_ENCRYPTION_KEY. Check the label in the template and the n8n version you selected, because variable names and defaults can change. Do not generate a new encryption key on every deployment.
Set the public hostname before the first production deployment. If you change the hostname later, existing webhook URLs and links may no longer match the URLs registered with outside services.
Use PostgreSQL for production
SQLite is the default in many n8n templates and is acceptable for learning, a short-lived proof of concept, or a private test. PostgreSQL is the safer choice once workflows, credentials, execution history, or multiple concurrent requests matter.
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|---|---|---|
| SQLite | Testing and disposable experiments | Single-file storage is less suitable for higher concurrency and durable production operations. |
| PostgreSQL | Production workflows, regular webhooks, and longer-lived installations | Requires a database service, credentials, backups, and compatible environment settings. |
Catalog deployment with PostgreSQL
If the catalog offers a PostgreSQL-backed n8n template, select that option rather than accepting the SQLite default. If it creates PostgreSQL as a separate resource, place both resources in the same Coolify project and use the database hostname supplied by Coolify’s internal network. Do not point production n8n at a database address that is reachable only from your laptop.
Compose deployment with PostgreSQL
A Compose stack should define an n8n service and a PostgreSQL service on the same private network. Give PostgreSQL a named persistent volume and configure n8n with the database host, port, database name, username, and password exposed by the current n8n template. Use a health check or an equivalent startup dependency so n8n does not repeatedly fail while PostgreSQL is still initializing.
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Do not publish PostgreSQL’s port to the public internet unless you have a specific, secured administrative requirement. n8n only needs the database on the internal Docker network.
Persist n8n data
Add a named volume mapping for the n8n data directory:
n8n-data:/home/node/.n8nThe exact volume declaration depends on whether you use the catalog or Compose, but the container path must be persistent. This directory contains n8n state that should survive image updates and container recreation. PostgreSQL data needs its own persistent volume.
- Use named volumes rather than an ephemeral container filesystem.
- Keep the n8n and PostgreSQL volumes on storage included in your backup plan.
- Check available disk space before upgrades; execution data and logs can grow continuously.
- Test a restore on a separate resource rather than assuming a successful backup job is usable.
Configure DNS and HTTPS
Direct Coolify proxy with Let’s Encrypt
- Create an A record for your chosen subdomain, such as
n8n.example.com, pointing to the VPS public IP. - Wait for the record to resolve from outside the VPS. DNS propagation time depends on the record’s previous TTL and resolver caches.
- In the n8n resource, add the hostname as its public domain and select HTTPS through Coolify’s proxy.
- Deploy after DNS resolves. Coolify and its Traefik proxy request a Let’s Encrypt certificate and route HTTPS traffic to n8n.
Certificate issuance can fail when the A record points elsewhere, a firewall blocks HTTP or HTTPS validation, or another proxy is intercepting the request. Resolve those conditions before repeatedly redeploying.
Cloudflare Tunnel
A Cloudflare Tunnel changes where TLS terminates. One deployment pattern keeps the domain setting in Coolify as plain http while Cloudflare handles the public HTTPS connection. Use this only when the tunnel is deliberately configured to forward traffic to the Coolify service. Mixing a tunnel’s routing assumptions with a direct Let’s Encrypt setup can produce redirect loops or certificate errors.
| Pattern | TLS termination | Important configuration point |
|---|---|---|
| Coolify proxy | Coolify/Traefik with Let’s Encrypt | DNS must point directly to the VPS and the Coolify domain should use HTTPS. |
| Cloudflare Tunnel | Cloudflare | The Coolify-side domain may be plain HTTP, while Cloudflare presents HTTPS to visitors. |
Deploy and verify the installation
- Review the resource variables, database credentials, volume mappings, and domain one more time.
- Click Deploy. The first deployment commonly takes about two to three minutes while images are downloaded and services initialize.
- Open the HTTPS n8n hostname, not the raw container port.
- Confirm that the n8n editor loads without a mixed-content or certificate warning.
- Create a harmless test workflow and run it manually.
- Test a webhook from an external network or webhook client. A test made only from the VPS does not prove that DNS, the proxy, TLS, and public routing are correct.
- Restart or redeploy the resource and confirm that the workflow and credentials remain present. This validates the persistent volume and encryption key.
Troubleshoot common failures
The editor opens but webhook URLs are wrong
Check N8N_HOST, N8N_PROTOCOL, and the domain configured in Coolify. The hostname must be the public HTTPS name, not the service name, an internal Docker hostname, or the VPS IP address. Redeploy after correcting the values.
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HTTPS certificate issuance fails
- Verify that the A record resolves to the current VPS IP from an external resolver.
- Confirm that the proxy can receive the validation traffic on the required web ports.
- Remove conflicting proxy or tunnel settings while issuing a direct Let’s Encrypt certificate.
- Check Coolify deployment and proxy logs for the hostname that failed validation.
n8n cannot connect to PostgreSQL
Confirm that both services share the same private network, that the database hostname is the service name expected by the Compose or catalog configuration, and that the database name, user, password, and port match. A database that is still starting can cause temporary failures; a persistent failure usually indicates an incorrect host or credential.
Credentials fail after redeployment
Verify that the encryption key did not change and that /home/node/.n8n is backed by a named volume. Restoring the database without the matching n8n data and encryption key can leave encrypted credentials unreadable.
Cookies or login behavior is insecure
Keep HTTPS enabled. Do not set N8N_SECURE_COOKIE=false except on a fully trusted local network used for testing. Disabling secure cookies on a public deployment weakens session protection and can create confusing login behavior when the browser sees an HTTPS site.
Backups, upgrades, and version pinning
Schedule backups
Use Coolify’s project backup settings to schedule backups. A daily schedule is a reasonable starting point for many installations. Store copies in object storage such as S3-compatible storage, R2, or a separate local destination, and keep at least one copy outside the VPS.
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- Back up the n8n data volume.
- Protect the encryption key in a separate password manager or secret store.
- Document the n8n version, database credentials, domain, and restore order.
- Perform a test restore before relying on the backup for disaster recovery.
Pin the n8n image version
Do not use latest for a production deployment. Pin a specific n8n version tag in the catalog or Compose configuration, review release notes, back up first, and then upgrade deliberately. A moving tag can pull an upstream release during an unrelated redeploy and change behavior without a planned maintenance window.
When to add Redis and workers
The default single-container arrangement is appropriate for modest workloads. Heavy webhook traffic, long-running jobs, or AI-agent workflows can benefit from n8n’s queue mode, a Redis-backed queue, and dedicated worker processes. Queue mode adds operational components: Redis persistence, worker resources, shared configuration, monitoring, and a plan for failed jobs.
Do not add workers merely because the dashboard is available. First identify whether executions are CPU-bound, memory-bound, blocked on external APIs, or accumulating faster than they complete. Then size the main process, Redis, and workers independently and test concurrency with representative workflows.
Security checklist
- Use a current Ubuntu or Debian release and apply security updates.
- Restrict SSH to trusted addresses where practical and use key-based authentication.
- Expose n8n through the HTTPS proxy rather than publishing its container port directly.
- Keep PostgreSQL private on the Docker network.
- Store the encryption key and database password as secrets.
- Use a strong n8n owner account and do not reuse the VPS administrator password.
- Keep
N8N_SECURE_COOKIEenabled for public HTTPS access. - Review execution retention and logs so sensitive payloads do not remain indefinitely.
- Back up before upgrades and periodically verify that restoration works.
A practical maintenance routine
- Check Coolify, n8n, PostgreSQL, Redis if used, and the host for available updates.
- Review disk, memory, and CPU usage before changing versions or adding workers.
- Confirm that the latest scheduled backup completed and that the destination is reachable.
- Read the n8n release notes for breaking changes affecting credentials, webhooks, nodes, or database migrations.
- Pin the intended version, deploy during a maintenance window, and run a manual workflow plus an external webhook test.
- Record the result and keep the previous image tag available for rollback according to your backup and migration plan.
Recommended configuration by use case
| Use case | Configuration | What to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Learning or a disposable proof of concept | Catalog service, SQLite, one n8n container, temporary domain or private access | Putting important credentials into an unbacked-up test. |
| Small production automation | Catalog or simple Compose, PostgreSQL, persistent volumes, HTTPS, pinned version, daily backups | Using latest or leaving the database on ephemeral storage. |
| Custom networking or controlled releases | Compose with explicit n8n/PostgreSQL services, private database network, named volumes, secret variables | Publishing PostgreSQL publicly or embedding secrets in source control. |
| Heavy webhook or AI workloads | PostgreSQL plus Redis-backed queue mode and dedicated workers, sized from observed workload | Scaling blindly without monitoring execution latency, memory, and queue depth. |
The shortest dependable path is therefore: provision a Linux VPS, install Coolify, create an n8n resource, replace SQLite with PostgreSQL, set the hostname, HTTPS protocol, encryption key, and persistent volumes, configure DNS, deploy, and test an external webhook. Add backups and pin the version before treating the instance as production infrastructure.
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