Tutorials

How to install n8n in 10 minutes: A step-by-step guide

Peter Jonker

Peter Jonker

— 6 min read
How to install n8n in 10 minutes: A step-by-step guide
How to install n8n in 10 minutes: A step-by-step guide

Mondays always used to start painfully. It involved at least three hours of manually pulling performance data from Google Ads, Facebook Ads, and our CRM, to write weekly reports to C-level. A very repetitive and draining task. Sound familiar?

That all changed when we started using n8n. I was able to automate data collection from all channels into a Google Sheet, and let Open AI's API Platform automatically build a performance narrative around it in a Google Doc.

Nowadays, after quickly reviewing and fine-tuning our report with our Data Analyst AI Agent, I share the weekly report with my stakeholders at 9:30. This saves me time to focus on the things that really make an impact.

AI-powered n8n Data Analyst agent connected to BigQuery.

This is just one of the endless examples how n8n can automate workflows and enhance your performance marketing with AI agents.

This guide is here to help you install n8n so you can get straight to building powerful automation workflows on the platform. The best thing about n8n? You can use it completely free!

We're going to walk you through, step-by-step, how to install n8n on your own machine. No fluff, just the essentials to get you up and running today.

So, what exactly is n8n?

Think of n8n as the ultimate glue for all your marketing tools. It lets you visually connect different APIs and workflows to pass data between them and automate just about anything. The real power of n8n is that you can seamlessly plug in LLMs (like ChatGPT or Gemini) to analyze data, generate content, and automate complex tasks within your automation workflows.

For example, I built an n8n workflow that pulls new Google Ads Search Terms weekly. Open AI's API classifies them across dimensions like Commercial Intent (1–10) and Product Fit Relevancy (per Product Category). Using these scores, the workflow recommends which terms to exclude and which high-value terms to add. This boosted conversion rate and cut spend-waste in our Paid Search campaigns significantly after implementation!

That's the magic here. With n8n you get:

  • Endless connections: If a tool has an API, n8n can talk to it. This opens up a whole new world of custom AI agents, reporting pipelines, and automations you just can’t build anywhere else.
  • Total control: With n8n you control the exact context and instructions, so workflows adapt to your business, your data, and your way of working.
  • Advanced solutions: By combining advanced analytics, digital marketing data, and AI, you can create solutions that go far beyond what you initially thought was possible.

Your options: Cloud vs. self-hosted n8n

You've got two main ways to get started. Don't overthink this part.

Feature

n8n Cloud (Paid)

Self-Hosted n8n (Free)

Setup Time

Instant

10 minutes (we'll do it together)

Cost

Monthly subscription

Free (you just use your computer's resources)

Maintenance

They handle it

You're in charge

Best For

Teams who need to go live right now and want zero technical fuss.

Anyone who wants a free, unlimited playground to learn and experiment.

My advice? Just start with the free, self-hosted n8n version on your own computer. It's the perfect sandbox. Once you build something amazing, you can decide if you want to move it to a server or the cloud later.

Let's get started: n8n installation guide

We’ll set up n8n locally using Docker. If you choose the cloud version instead, you don’t need to install anything. You can use n8n directly in your browser.

Step 1: Install Docker Desktop

First things first, you need to install Docker Desktop. Once it's downloaded and installed, open the application. It might take a minute or two to start up. You'll know it's ready when the little whale icon in your menu bar (macOS) or system tray (Windows) is steady.

Step 2: Create a folder for your n8n data

Your workflows and credentials need a safe place to live on your computer. This step ensures your data is saved even if you stop or remove the Docker container.

Create a new, empty folder somewhere easy to find. For this guide, let's create it on your Desktop and name it n8n_data.

Step 3: Run the magic command

Now it's time to bring n8n to life. Open your computer's terminal.

  • On macOS, search for "Terminal."
  • On Windows, search for "PowerShell."

Before you copy the command, you need to create an Encryption Key. This is a secret password that n8n uses to protect your sensitive data (like API keys).

Action Required: Create a long, random, and secure string of at least 32 characters. You can use a password generator for this. For example: mySuperSecretPasswordForN8nIsVeryLong_123!. Replace "YOUR_SECRET_ENCRYPTION_KEY" in the command below with the string you just created.

Now, copy the entire command block for your operating system, paste it into your terminal, and hit Enter.

Step 3: Run the magic command

Now, open your terminal.

  • On Mac, search for "Terminal."

Copy the entire block of code below, paste it into your terminal, and hit Enter.

docker run -it --rm \
  --name n8n \
  -p 5678:5678 \
  -v ~/Desktop/n8n_data:/home/node/.n8n \
  -e N8N_ENCRYPTION_KEY="YOUR_SECRET_ENCRYPTION_KEY" \
  n8nio/n8n
  • On Windows, search for "PowerShell."

Important: In the command below, replace <YourUsername> with your actual user folder name (e.g., C:\Users\Maria\Desktop...).

docker run -it --rm `
  --name n8n `
  -p 5678:5678 `
  -v "C:\Users\<YourUsername>\Desktop\n8n_data:/home/node/.n8n" `
  -e N8N_ENCRYPTION_KEY="YOUR_SECRET_ENCRYPTION_KEY" `
  n8nio/n8n

Your terminal will now start working. It will download the n8n image (this only happens the first time) and then start the service.

Wait for the terminal to spit out a bunch of text. The last line should say something like Editor is now available on http://localhost:5678/. That's your cue!

⚠️
My secret weapon for errors: I copy the entire error message from the terminal and paste it into ChatGPT or Gemini with this prompt: "I'm a marketer trying to install n8n with Docker. I got this error. Explain it to me like I'm five and tell me exactly how to fix it: [paste error here]." Works like a charm.

Step 4: Time to log in

Open your web browser and go to: http://localhost:5678 (replace with your personalized link).

You'll see the n8n setup screen. Follow the steps to create your account.

And just like that, you're in. Welcome to your new automation canvas.

You're in! Now what?

Congrats, you did the hard part! Now that your self-hosted n8n is running, here are a few things I wish I'd known when I first started.

  • Build something easy: Seriously. Your first workflow shouldn't be your magnum opus. Just drag in a Manual Trigger node and connect it to a Set node. Write "hello world" in the Set node and run it. This will teach you the absolute basics of how data flows in n8n.
  • Use the credentials vault: On the left-hand menu, find "Credentials" and store your keys there. Here you can set up all your API connections, like Google Ads, Google Drive, Slack and many more. It's secure and lets you reuse them easily.
  • Get inspired: If you're not sure what to build, check out the workflow library on the n8n website. You can find hundreds of pre-built templates for everything from SEO analysis to social media posting. Or watch the YouTube video below to start building your first Workflows in n8n.

You've just installed one of the most powerful tools in modern marketing. Now, let's start building your first automation workflows to understand how n8n works!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Here are quick answers to the most common questions marketers have when getting started with n8n.

Is n8n cloud or self-hosted better for marketers?

  • Cloud: Best if you want to start fast and never worry about servers or maintenance. Paid plan only. Ideal for marketing teams who want to collaborate on n8n workflows.
  • Self-hosted: Free to run (on your own server), ideal if you need full control, strict data compliance, or the most cost-effective option at scale.

My advice: Start with Self-hosted for free to test and prove the concept. If you don’t want the hassle of managing servers, switch to Cloud later.

Is n8n really free?

The n8n software itself is open-source and free. For the cloud version, you pay for the hosting. When you run n8n on your local computer, like through a Docker container, you are "self-hosting," so without paying a separate fee for a server.

What are the most common mistakes when installing n8n?

  • Forgetting the Webhook URL: You must set the WEBHOOK_URL environment variable for your workflows to receive data from external services.
  • Incorrect Docker Volumes: Failing to map the /.n8n directory will cause you to lose all your work when the container restarts.

How do I upgrade my self-hosted n8n instance?

To update an n8n instance installed with Docker, you first back up your data, then run these three commands in your server's terminal:

  1. docker pull n8nio/n8n:latest (Pulls the new version)
  2. docker stop n8n && docker rm n8n (Stops the old container)
  3. Re-run your original docker run command to launch the new version with your existing data.

Additionally, you can visit the n8n website for a clear self-hosted update guide.

How secure is it to put my marketing API keys in n8n?

It's designed to be very secure. When you add a credential (like an API key), n8n encrypts it at rest in your database. It is never stored in plain text or exposed in workflow files. On a self-hosted instance, the overall security also depends on how well you secure your server.

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