What n8n actually needs
n8n doesn't publish a minimum hardware spec for self-hosting, but its documentation tells you enough to size a box. Its benchmark page reports up to 220 workflow executions per second from a single n8n instance in main mode with a Postgres database, on an AWS c5a.large with 4 GB of RAM. A home lab or small team runs a tiny fraction of that, so CPU is almost never the constraint.
Memory is. n8n's guide to memory problems lists what drives usage: the amount of JSON data, the size of binary data, the number of nodes in a workflow, how many executions run at once, the Code node (which it says can increase memory use significantly), and manual executions, which make a copy of the data for the editor. Its fixes are to split data into smaller chunks, use sub-workflows, and raise Node's heap limit with `--max-old-space-size` through `NODE_OPTIONS`. Practically, 8 GB of RAM is enough for n8n alone, 16 GB is comfortable, and 32 GB lets the same box carry Postgres, Redis and other containers.
Docker, not npm, and SQLite vs Postgres
Install n8n with Docker. The documented command maps port 5678 and keeps data in an `n8n_data` volume mounted at `/home/node/.n8n`. The npm install path requires Node.js 20.19 to 24.x, is deprecated from n8n 3.0, and is described in n8n's own docs as not safe for production. n8n is also candid about the job: it says self-hosting requires technical knowledge, including setting up servers and containers, managing resources, and securing the server, and that mistakes can lead to data loss, security issues and downtime. Plan backups from day one.
By default n8n stores credentials, workflows and execution history in SQLite. It also supports PostgreSQL, and currently lists Postgres 16, 17 and 18. SQLite is fine for a single-user box; Postgres is the better long-term home if you'll keep a lot of execution history or later scale out. Either way, put the database on an SSD.
Node-RED, Huginn and Activepieces
- Node-RED is flow-based programming that runs on Node.js. Node-RED 5.x needs Node.js 22 or later, 4.x needs Node.js 18, and the project currently recommends Node 24. It is light enough to share a box with everything else here, and it also installs as an app inside Home Assistant OS.
- Huginn describes itself as a hackable version of IFTTT or Zapier on your own server: agents that monitor and act on your behalf. Its quickest route is the official Docker image.
- Activepieces calls itself an open source replacement for Zapier. The Community Edition is MIT-licensed, and its recommended self-hosted production setup is Docker Compose with PostgreSQL and Redis, which is a good reason to buy a box that takes 32 GB.
Cron, systemd timers and plain scripts
Not every automation needs a platform. A shell or Python script on a systemd timer or a cron schedule is the lightest automation there is, and an always-on mini PC is the natural place to run them: nightly backups, scraping a price, renaming downloads, pinging a health check. When a script grows branches, retries and credentials, move it into n8n or Node-RED. If the automation needs an AI agent that writes code or browses the web, see the always-on AI agent server page, and for a local model inside workflows see local LLMs on a mini PC.
Webhooks without opening your router
Many workflows start from a webhook, which means something on the internet has to reach your box. Don't forward a port. Cloudflare Tunnel's `cloudflared` connects outbound to Cloudflare, so you need no publicly routable IP and can block all inbound traffic. Tailscale Funnel exposes a local service to the internet on port 443, 8443 or 10000 over TLS, and is available on all Tailscale plans. Keep n8n's editor UI private (LAN or Tailscale only) and expose only the webhook path.
Mini PC vs cloud hosting
A small VPS is the alternative, and it wins on public uptime and a static IP. A mini PC wins on monthly cost (there isn't one beyond electricity) and on keeping credentials for your email, CRM and bank-feed integrations at home. At the 12 to 15 W idle ServeTheHome measured on an M920q, the yearly electricity estimate on this page stays small. If you also want to run network services or a Proxmox homelab, one 32 GB tiny can host all of it.
Comparing the big three business brands? See ThinkCentre vs OptiPlex vs EliteDesk, and run any used unit through our buying checklist.