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Dev Toolsdocker-ready1-click-deployFair-code🟡 Standard · ~1GB

n8n: Fair-code alternative to Zapier in 2026

n8n is a workflow automation tool with a visual node editor, 400+ integrations and the ability to write JavaScript/Python code whenever you need it.

The code is public with no usage limits when self-hosted, but the license isn't OSI open source: it forbids reselling it or offering it as your own paid SaaS.

Alternative to ZapierAlternative to Make
License Sustainable Use License (Fair-code)207.2k starsWebsite GitHub Repository

Audit Snapshot

View notes →

  • License — Not verifiable on GitHub

  • GitHub — Active

  • Latest release — n8n@2.43.4 · 1 day ago

  • Docker Compose — Partial

  • Production — Not production-tested by AltFreeStack

n8n vs. Zapier

Pros

  • No charge per execution when self-hosted

Things to consider

  • The Fair-code license restricts offering it as a SaaS competing with n8n Cloud

Quick Docker installation guide

Deploy on Railway

Copy this docker-compose.yml, adjust the example passwords and run docker compose up -d on your server. See the full step-by-step guide →

💡 Official SaaS or self-hosted with AltFreeStack?

  • On the official cloud: $19.99/mo on Zapier.
  • On your own VPS: free to self-host on your own server with no usage limits — no more monthly SaaS fee, though the license isn't OSI open source (check it before commercial use).
docker-compose.yml
version: "3.9"
services:
  n8n:
    image: n8nio/n8n:1.123.83
    restart: unless-stopped
    ports:
      - "5678:5678"
    environment:
      - N8N_HOST=n8n.yourdomain.com # CHANGE THIS TO YOUR DOMAIN (required for webhooks to work)
      - DB_TYPE=postgresdb
      - DB_POSTGRESDB_HOST=n8n-db
      - DB_POSTGRESDB_USER=n8n
      - DB_POSTGRESDB_PASSWORD=change-me-db-password # REQUIRED: generate a random secret before first run
      - N8N_ENCRYPTION_KEY=change-me-super-secret # REQUIRED: generate a random secret before first run
    volumes:
      - n8n_data:/home/node/.n8n
    depends_on:
      - n8n-db
  n8n-db:
    image: postgres:15-alpine
    restart: unless-stopped
    environment:
      - POSTGRES_USER=n8n
      - POSTGRES_PASSWORD=change-me-db-password # must match DB_POSTGRESDB_PASSWORD above
      - POSTGRES_DB=n8n
    volumes:
      - n8n_pg_data:/var/lib/postgresql/data
volumes:
  n8n_data:
  n8n_pg_data:

🚀 Deploy in 1 command

Recommended for beginners

Copy this single command and paste it into your freshly created VPS's console (Vultr, DigitalOcean...). It downloads the script, prints it to your screen so you can see exactly what it's about to do (never a blind direct pipe), and only then installs Docker if needed, writes the files with secrets already generated, and starts everything — no nano, no pasting code blocks.

curl -sSL ".../api/deploy?stack=n8n" -o deploy.sh && cat deploy.sh && bash deploy.sh
See what this script does →

This docker-compose corresponds to an actively maintained project — last commit today.

This docker-compose not working for you? Report it on GitHub →

Technical profile

License
Sustainable Use License (Fair-code)
Category
Dev Tools
Replaces
Zapier, Make
Tech stack
Node.jsVue.jsPostgreSQL

Under the hood

Database

SQLite / PostgreSQL

Language

TypeScript (Node.js)

Platforms

Web

Key features

  • Visual flow editor with 400+ nodes
  • JavaScript and Python code nodes when you need them
  • Self-hosted execution with no task limit

Preview

n8n interface preview

Public image provided by n8n on its own website.

💾 Backups in 3 steps (Day 2)

As long as the ./data folder (the "volume" mapped into the container) exists on your server, your data survives any restart or container update — that's the only thing you need to back up.

1. Create a compressed backup on the server

tar -czvf backup-$(date +%F).tar.gz ./data

2. Download it to your computer

From your computer's terminal (not your server's):

scp root@YOUR_IP:~/app/backup-*.tar.gz ./

3. Restore in case of emergency

tar -xzvf backup-file.tar.gz
🌐 Connect your domain with free SSL

Step 1 — Set up the DNS

In your domain registrar's dashboard (Cloudflare, Namecheap, GoDaddy...), create a record:

Type
A
Name/Host
@ (root domain) or a subdomain, e.g. app
Content/Value
Your server's public IP

Wait 5 to 15 minutes for the record to propagate across the internet.

Step 2 — Automatic reverse proxy with Caddy

One single file, no Nginx config or manual certificates — Caddy issues and renews Let's Encrypt HTTPS on its own.

Create a file called Caddyfile:

yourdomain.com {
    reverse_proxy localhost:5678
}

Start Caddy with this command (pulls the image and runs it in the background):

docker run -d -p 80:80 -p 443:443 --name caddy --restart always -v $PWD/Caddyfile:/etc/caddy/Caddyfile -v caddy_data:/data caddy