How to set up n8n on Saplo (automations and AI bots)

Zapier charges you for each automation task performed on their paid plan, and with several workflows connected, your monthly bill can exceed $73 before you even notice that your limit is running out. n8n is an open-source automation engine, the same idea as Zapier or Make, but hosted on your own Box, with no limit on the number of tasks performed and with native support for AI models. Below is a step-by-step guide on how to set up n8n on Saplo.

Why n8n on your own Box instead of Zapier

Paid Zapier and Make plans have one common feature that hurts the most with a growing number of automations:

• billing for the number of tasks performed per month - the more automations you run, the faster you fall into a higher, more expensive plan,
• data flowing through automation kept by an external company - every connection between your applications passes through the provider's infrastructure, not yours.

n8n is the same mechanism for connecting applications and performing repetitive tasks that you deploy on your own Box. Zero limits on the number of executions, data flowing between systems stays on your infrastructure, plus built-in nodes for working with AI models, which Zapier doesn't offer at all in its free plan.

Requirements

To set up n8n on Saplo, you need:

• A Box with Docker running (the engine automatically enables it during installation from the catalog, nesting in the container is required, which Saplo has by default),
• A minimum of 1 GB of free RAM on the Box and 4 GB of disk space. The official n8n Docker image is heavier than a typical single-container application and doesn't fit with the system on the Box S plan. You need at least Box M,
• A domain or subdomain *.saploapp.pl included in the price of each plan, where the n8n panel will be located and webhooks will be received.

For the installation itself, you don't need any external database. n8n by default stores workflows and login data in a local SQLite file within the container's data volume.

Step-by-step installation

1. In the Saplo panel, go to App catalog and select n8n ( "Automation" category).
2. Specify a Box with at least 1 GB of free RAM, where n8n should be installed, and the domain or subdomain under which the panel will operate.
3. Confirm the installation. The engine deploys a Docker container with the official n8nio/n8n image, exposes it only to the Box's loopback, and connects it to nginx, which serves it under the specified domain with free SSL. Only port 443 is exposed externally, not the raw container port.
4. The engine waits for the container to actually start, checking this after docker compose up finishes, because the command's success itself doesn't mean the process inside didn't crash moments later.
5. After the installation is complete, the n8n panel is available under the specified domain.

First setup

n8n, unlike Shlink or Grafana, doesn't automatically generate access data during installation. Instead, it prompts you for it when you first access the panel, exactly like creating an account in the cloud version of n8n.cloud.

1. Go to the domain address you specified during installation.
2. On your first access, n8n will show the owner account creation screen: enter your email address, first name, last name, and password. This account administers the instance; there is no separate login at the Saplo level.
3. After logging in, you'll land on an empty workflow canvas. Click Add first step to add your first node, such as a scheduled trigger or a webhook.
4. Connect the nodes, test the workflow with the Test workflow button, and once it works, toggle the Active switch in the upper right corner to make it run in the background without manual启动.

If you want to build an automation with an AI model, for example, a bot that responds to messages or classifies tickets, in the node addition panel you'll find the AI category, where you connect your API key to the chosen model provider (OpenAI, Anthropic, or a local model via Ollama) and build an agent with conversation memory and access to tools, without writing code.

n8n on Saplo vs Zapier

FAQ

Is there a limit to the number of automations? No, n8n doesn't impose any limit on the number of workflow executions. The only limitation is the resources of your Box plan.

Does n8n have built-in panel authorization? Yes, the first time you access it, you create an owner account with an email and password, just like in the n8n.cloud cloud version. A separate sidecar for login is not needed.

Can I use n8n for automation with AI models? Yes, n8n has a built-in AI nodes category with support for popular model providers and the ability to build agents with memory and tools, without writing code. This requires your own API key for the chosen model provider.

Why does n8n require Box M and not Box S? The official n8n Docker image is heavier than a typical single-container application and itself requires at least 1 GB of RAM, which, together with the Box operating system, doesn't fit into the Box S plan. Box M with 2 GB of RAM has enough reserve for normal operation.

Are n8n data automatically backed up? This depends on your Box plan. Backup works at the Box level, just like with other applications from the catalog. It's not a separate function of n8n itself.

If you have questions about setting up n8n on your own Box or building your first automations and AI bots, contact us, and we'll help with the initial configuration.