4 Ways to Deploy n8n in 2025 – Free Forever, No Code Needed

If you run a Shopify store, manage an e-commerce brand, or build digital products as a solopreneur, you’ve probably heard of n8n—the open-source, no-code/low-code workflow automation tool that connects your apps like Zapier, but without recurring fees.

But here’s the real question: How do you actually get n8n running?

Good news: In 2025, you have four practical, cost-effective options—including completely free methods that require zero coding. Whether you’re testing automation for your Shopify store or building a full AI-powered operations stack, there’s a perfect fit for you.

Let’s break them down.

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🌐 Option 1: Official n8n Cloud – Zero Setup, Instant Start

Ideal for: Shopify store owners who want to test n8n risk-free with no technical setup.

• ⚡ Launch in seconds—no installation
• 💳 14-day free trial (no credit card needed)
• 🛡️ Fully managed: automatic updates, backups, and scaling
• 🔗 Perfect for connecting Shopify → Klaviyo → Google Sheets or other e-com workflows

👉 Start your free trial here

💡 Pro Tip: Use the trial to automate your abandoned cart recovery, order sync, or inventory alerts. If it saves you 5+ hours/week, it’s worth the upgrade.

💻 Option 2: Local Deployment (On Your Laptop) – Free, But Limited

Only for: Quick testing or learning the n8n interface.
Not recommended for real e-commerce automation—your workflows will stop when your computer shuts down.

You’ll use Docker Desktop—a free application that lets you run complex software like n8n with just a few clicks. Think of it like an “app store for developer tools.”

💡 Why Docker?
“Docker makes installing open-source apps as easy as installing a mobile app—just click and run.”

📝 Step-by-Step Deployment Guide (No Code Required)

1. Install Docker Desktop
   • Go to docker.com
   • Download and install Docker Desktop for your operating system (Windows or Mac)
   • Launch the app after installation
2. Pull the n8n Docker Image
   • Open Docker Desktop
   • Click the “Images” tab on the left sidebar
   • In the search bar, type n8nio/n8n
   • Click the “Pull” button to download the official n8n image
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3. Create a Data Volume (for Persistent Storage)
   • Click the “Volumes” tab
   • Click “Create”
   • Enter the name: n8n_data
   • Click “Create” again
     → This ensures your workflows and settings won’t disappear when you restart n8n
4. Run the n8n Container
   • Go back to the “Images” tab
   • Find n8nio/n8n in your list and click “Run”
   • Configure the container with these exact settings:
     • Port Mapping: Host port 5678 → Container port 5678
     • Volume Mount:
       • Host path: select the n8n_data volume you just created
       • Container path: /home/node/.n8n
   • Click “Run” to start the container
5. Access and Use n8n
   • Open your web browser
   • Go to: http://localhost:5678
   • On first launch, you’ll be prompted to create an admin account
   • ⚠️ Important: Use a real email address—you’ll receive an activation code to verify your account!

✅ That’s it! You now have n8n running locally.

✅ Pros:

• 100% free
• Great for learning workflows

❌ Why it’s NOT for e-commerce:

• ❌ No 24/7 uptime (your laptop must stay on)
• ❌ No public URL → webhooks from Shopify won’t work
• ❌ Can’t trigger automations when you’re offline

⚠️ Don’t use this for real store automation. It’s a sandbox—not a solution.

☁️ Option 3: Third-Party Cloud Hosting – Free Forever with ClawCloud

Best for: Budget-conscious Shopify entrepreneurs who need real, reliable automation.

ClawCloud Run is currently the most popular free hosting option for n8n in 2025—and here’s why:

• ✅ FREE $5 every month by GitHub verification(it offers Recurring Monthly $5 Credit for free, if Your GitHub account  registered for 180+ day.) — no credit card needed
• ✅ Complete setup in under 1 minute
• ✅ Enough to run n8n 24/7 (~$4/month usage) → effectively free forever
• ✅ Public URL + webhook support → works perfectly with Shopify, WooCommerce, Stripe, etc.

🔗 Get your free $5/month here →

Other platforms like Railway or Render also work—but ClawCloud offers more generous free limits and better performance for n8n.

🛒 E-commerce use case: Automatically sync Shopify orders → Airtable, send SMS via Twilio, or update Google Sheets inventory—all on a $0 budget.

🖥️ Option 4: Self-Hosted VPS – Full Control, Maximum Power

Best for: Shopify entrepreneurs who want total freedom—run n8n alongside AI tools, custom bots, or “unofficial” automation scripts 24/7.

Unlike free tiers, a VPS (Virtual Private Server) is your own dedicated machine in the cloud. You own it, control it, and can install anything.

🔧 Step 1: Launch a VPS with Dokploy Pre-Installed

We recommend Hostinger for its beginner-friendly app marketplace:

1. Go to ‍
2. Choose KVM2 (minimum) or KVM4 (recommended)
3. On the setup screen:
   • Operating System → Click “Panel + OS”
   • From the dropdown, select “Dokploy”
     → This automatically installs Ubuntu + Dokploy in one click
4. Choose a data center location near you.
5. Complete checkout

✅ Within 1–2 minutes, your server is ready—with Dokploy already running!

🚀 Step 2: Access Dokploy & Deploy n8n

1. In Hostinger’s hPanel, click Manage Panel.
2. On first visit, register an admin account (email + password)
3. Click “+ New Project” → Name it (e.g., shopify-automations) → Create
4. Inside the project, click “+ Add Service” → Choose “Templates”
5. Search for n8n → Select the official template → Click “Deploy”
6. Wait ~30 seconds for deployment to finish

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🔓 Step 3: Access Your Live n8n Instance

• Back in your project dashboard, find the n8n service card
• Click the “Open” button (or copy the public URL)
• You’ll be redirected to your n8n login page
• Create your admin account on first launch

✅ You now have a fully self-hosted, public-facing n8n server—ready to connect to Shopify webhooks, Klaviyo, Google Sheets, or any API.

🌟 Why This Is Worth It

• ✅ 24/7 uptime – no laptop required
• ✅ Full root access – install AI models, scrapers, or custom tools
• ✅ One-click updates via Dokploy
• ✅ Scalable – upgrade RAM/CPU anytime

🔮 Perfect for: AI customer service bots, real-time inventory sync, or automated product research—all under your control, forever.

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🔚 Start Automating—For Free

n8n gives you Zapier-level power without the price tag. And in 2025, you don’t need to be a developer to use it.

👉 For most Shopify store owners, ClawCloud Run is the sweet spot: free, public, and production-ready.