Master n8n: Build Powerful AI Automations for Free with Self-Hosting

Charlie kicks off the video by introducing n8n as a free, open-source platform designed for building AI automations. He emphasizes its power and customizability, positioning it as a superior alternative to other automation tools like Zapier, especially for AI-focused workflows. A key highlight is his "secret way" to get n8n almost for free by self-hosting on a VPS, which drastically cuts down the usual $24/month cost on n8n’s cloud plan.

"If you want to learn how to use n8n to build AI automations, you're in the right place."
"It's by far one of the most customizable and powerful softwares out there."
"I'll actually show you my secret way of getting it basically for free by self-hosting on your own VPS." 0

Key points:

• n8n is an open-source automation tool, similar to Zapier but more AI-focused.
• No subscription is needed if self-hosted.
• Automations can cover emails, databases, social media, AI chatbots, and more.
• Self-hosting on a VPS can save 70-80% compared to n8n’s cloud pricing.
• Charlie recommends following along hands-on for best learning.

---

Charlie reviews the pricing on n8n’s official cloud plans, noting the $24/month starter plan and $60/month pro plan. He then pivots to his preferred method: self-hosting n8n on a Hostinger VPS for under $7/month, which he uses personally for his business automations. He walks through selecting the VPS plan (recommending KVM1 or KVM2), applying his exclusive coupon code "CHARLIECHANG" for an extra 10% discount, and explains why locking in a longer subscription period (12 or 24 months) is beneficial.

"If you want to do it monthly, it's a little bit more so like I said $24 a month."
"I'm going to show you guys how to do it right now and save like 70-80%."
"This is exactly what I do for my whole business. I have my own AI automations running directly on my own VPS through Hostinger." 0:34

Key points:

• Official n8n cloud plans start at $24/month.
• Hostinger VPS hosting is a cost-effective alternative for self-hosting.
• VPS acts as a personal always-on computer running n8n.
• Use Charlie’s coupon code for additional savings.
• Longer VPS subscriptions lock in lower prices.

---

Charlie demonstrates the initial setup process on Hostinger’s VPS dashboard. He shows how to verify if n8n is pre-installed as a template, or how to install it manually by changing the operating system to n8n. After installation, he guides through creating the owner account, activating the free license key to unlock paid features, and logging into the n8n dashboard.

Once inside, he explains the main dashboard tabs:

• Workflows: where automations are created and managed.
• Credentials: where API keys and app connections are stored.
• Executions: logs of workflow runs.

"n8n should already be installed as a template but just in case it is not, let me show you real quickly."
"We'll set up our owner account, enter email, and activate the free license key."
"This might actually be easier than setting up an account directly on n8n cloud." 3:22

Key points:

• Check if n8n is installed on VPS; install if needed.
• Create owner account and activate free license key.
• Dashboard tabs: Workflows, Credentials, Executions.
• Executions tab shows history of workflow runs.
• Self-hosting setup can be simpler and cheaper than cloud.

---

Charlie introduces the vast library of pre-built n8n templates available on the n8n website. These templates cover a wide range of use cases and can save beginners a lot of time. He shows how to filter templates by AI-related automations or specific apps like Google Sheets. He highlights an advanced example: an AI-powered short-form video generator using OpenAI, Flux Cling, and 11 Labs.

He demonstrates copying a template’s JSON code and pasting it directly into the self-hosted n8n workflow builder, making it easy to import complex automations. He stresses the importance of reading the user guide included with templates to understand required API keys and setup steps.

"There are tons and tons of pre-built templates out there."
"If you are a beginner, I really recommend going to these automation templates. It's going to save you a lot of time."
"You can copy the template to clipboard and paste it into your n8n dashboard." 5:48

Key points:

• n8n offers many pre-built automation templates.
• Templates can be filtered by AI or app integrations.
• Importing templates is as simple as copy-pasting JSON.
• Templates come with user guides for API keys and setup.
• Using templates accelerates learning and deployment.

---

Charlie explains the importance of adding credentials to n8n to connect external services like OpenAI, Google Sheets, and Gmail. He shows how he created an OpenAI account, funded it with $5, and generated an API key to use in n8n. He notes that each new app or service requires its own credential setup.

While he doesn’t dive deep into the credential creation process, he points viewers to dedicated tutorials for detailed instructions. This step is crucial for enabling n8n workflows to interact with external platforms.

"You'll want to create more and more credentials because every credential allows you to connect to a new app or service."
"For example, Google Sheets, Gmail, OpenAI."
"There are some very dedicated guides out there that will show you exactly how to do it." 8:08

Key points:

• Credentials link n8n to external APIs and services.
• OpenAI API key requires account creation and funding.
• Each app (Google Sheets, Gmail, etc.) needs its own credential.
• Credential setup differs slightly between cloud and self-hosted.
• Tutorials are available for step-by-step credential creation.

---

Charlie builds a straightforward but practical workflow from scratch to demonstrate n8n’s capabilities. The workflow triggers on a form submission, collects user data, appends it to a Google Sheet, filters entries by occupation, and sends customized emails based on the occupation.

Step-by-step breakdown:

1. Trigger: On form submission with fields for first name, last name, email, and occupation (dropdown with options: student, engineer, doctor).
2. Test submission: Charlie submits sample data to generate output for testing.
3. Pin data: Pins the test data to reuse during workflow testing.
4. Google Sheets action: Appends or updates a row in a Google Sheet with form data, matching on email to avoid duplicates.
5. Filter: Filters out submissions where occupation is "student" (e.g., no follow-up emails).
6. Switch: Routes workflow based on occupation (engineer or doctor).
7. Emails: Sends different Gmail messages for engineers and doctors.
8. Merge: Combines the two email routes back into one.
9. Final email: Sends a notification email about the new lead.

Charlie tests each step live, showing the data flow and how the Google Sheet updates automatically.

"We're submitting a form, it gets updated to a Google Sheet."
"We're filtering out people that we don't want to email."
"We have two different routes, one email for engineer leads and one for doctor leads."
"This is a very simple workflow but it shows you a bunch of different things you can do." 9:06

Key points:

• Workflow triggered by form submission.
• Data mapped and appended to Google Sheets.
• Filtering logic excludes unwanted entries.
• Switch node routes based on occupation.
• Sends customized emails via Gmail.
• Merges routes for further actions.
• Pinning test data simplifies repeated testing.

---

Charlie wraps up by encouraging viewers to learn n8n by doing—building workflows themselves and importing templates to understand how they work. He reiterates the cost-saving benefits of self-hosting on a VPS and points to the rich resources available on the n8n website, including forums and a Discord community.

He stresses that n8n can automate countless tasks in business and daily life, making it a valuable skill. Finally, he invites viewers to share the video, like, and subscribe for more content on entrepreneurship, AI, and finance.

"The best way to learn n8n is to just build things and import templates."
"You can save 70-80% by self-hosting on a VPS."
"There are tons of resources on the n8n website and a big community on Discord."
"The amount of things you can automate within your life and business is absolutely insane." 17:26

Key points:

• Hands-on building is crucial for mastering n8n.
• Importing templates helps understand workflow structure.
• Self-hosting saves significant money.
• n8n community and resources support learning.
• Automation can optimize business and personal tasks.
• Encouragement to share and subscribe for more tutorials.

---

This detailed walkthrough captures Charlie Chang’s step-by-step teaching style, practical tips, and cost-saving hacks for beginners eager to harness n8n for AI automations. Following along with the video and replicating the example workflow will empower users to start automating their own processes quickly and affordably.