At Contabo, we believe great cloud hosting should offer more than just a reliable server. So, we’ve gone the extra mile to offer you even more value on the Contabo Cloud. You can now install n8n, Nextcloud, and WireGuard on any Contabo VPS or VDS with a single click. That’s it – we take care of the entire installation process for you. That means no complicated configuration or dependency hell. Just pick your tool, hit install, and you’re up and running in under 30 minutes
We’ve hand-picked these useful apps to help you do more with your hosting. n8n lets you build automated workflows without code, saving you hours of repetitive work. Nextcloud gives you private cloud storage that actually stays private. WireGuard creates secure VPN connections faster than some older protocols you might still be using. Self-hosting these tools gives you an added layer of security and control, as well as lower costs.
These open-source apps could be game-changers for your projects – and now you can add them to your setup with a single click. It’s just another way we’re making cloud hosting simpler and more powerful for you, without costing you a penny more.
Why Self-Hosting Always Wins
Third-party platforms work fine until your usage crosses some invisible threshold. Then the bills start climbing. Your workflow that ran 5,000 times more than expected last month? That’ll cost you more than you budgeted for. Need to add three more team members to your file storage? You’re going to have to upgrade to a new tier.
There’s also the data question. Where does your customer information actually live? Which compliance framework applies? Can you even get a straight answer about who has access?
Self-hosting changes the equation. You pay for server resources, not per-user seats or per-execution fees. Your data sits on infrastructure you control, in a data center you choose. For regulated industries or privacy-conscious teams, this isn’t optional.
Setup complexity used to kill these projects before they started. We’ve gotten rid of all this time-consuming configuration and done the hard work for you, making it possible to get up and running in just one click.
Read on to find out what these powerful tools can add to your projects.
n8n: (AI) Workflow Automation That Works For Anyone
n8n connects the apps and services you already use. When something happens in one place, n8n can trigger actions somewhere else based on your needs. You can use it to automate complex routine tasks and even bring AI into the equation to build your own agentic workflows. No coding required, though you can add custom JavaScript if you want that level of control.
Here’s a real example. A payment clears in Stripe. n8n creates a user account in your PostgreSQL database, fires off a welcome email through SendGrid, updates a row in your Google Sheet, and posts a notification to your Slack channel. That’s four manual steps you’ll never touch again.
The visual editor shows your workflow as connected nodes. Each node does one thing: fetch this data, transform that field, send this webhook. You build complex, elegant automations by chaining simple blocks together. It’s a powerful tool for those who want to automate the boring stuff but don’t have strong coding skills.
Cloud automation platforms (including the n8n cloud) charge per execution. Run a five-step workflow 10,000 times a month and you’ll hit expensive enterprise pricing fast. With open-source n8n on your own VPS, execution count doesn’t touch your bill. The server costs the same whether you run 100 workflows or 100,000.
Data privacy matters here too. Every API key, every customer record, every workflow variable stays on your infrastructure. Whether it’s HIPAA compliance or GDPR requirements, you don’t have to trust a third party to handle that correctly.
Nextcloud: Stop Paying Rent on Your Own Files
Nextcloud turns a VPS into your private cloud. Files sync across devices. Teams collaborate on documents. Calendars stay in sync. You get Dropbox convenience without Dropbox having your data.
This matters most when regulations get involved. Host Nextcloud on a VPS in our EU data center and your data processing stays within GDPR boundaries. You’re not trying to make sense of third-party data processing agreements or hoping their security team knows what they’re doing.
With commercial cloud storage, subscription costs add up fast. Three users becomes ten. Ten becomes fifty. Suddenly you’re paying hundreds monthly for file storage. With Nextcloud, server costs stay flat regardless of user count. Plus, with flexible server plans from Contabo, you can upgrade your plan or add extra storage whenever you need it.
WireGuard: Modern VPN for Modern Users
WireGuard is what VPN protocols should have been from the start. Less code than OpenVPN, faster than IPSec, and actually understandable configuration files. It uses modern cryptography that security researchers don’t cringe at.
Run your own WireGuard server and you’re not trusting a commercial VPN provider. You don’t need to check any logging policies because you’re running the server yourself. It’s your rules, your infrastructure, your own private encrypted tunnel to the online world. Plus, when self-hosting with Contabo, you’ll have 9 global Regions to choose from.
Speed matters for VPNs. Traditional protocols add latency that you feel on every connection. WireGuard’s efficient design keeps overhead minimal. Your remote connection performs more like you’re on the local network.
The possible use cases are virtually endless. Access your development environment from a coffee shop. Connect remote team members through a secure private network. Browse safely on hotel Wi-Fi without wondering who’s watching. Deploy your app staging environment behind a VPN so only authorized devices can reach it. The list goes on.
How To Install Your New Open-Source Application
During VPS or VDS provisioning, you’ll see n8n, Nextcloud, and WireGuard as Add-On options. Pick one. Everything else is done for you: package installation, initial configuration, security defaults – we make sure the app is optimized for your chosen server.
You’ll get access credentials to both your server and your chosen tool. Connect, log in, and start using the application. The time from “click install” to “actually working” is under 30 minutes for all three.
Behind the scenes, we’re deploying configurations we’ve tested on Contabo infrastructure. Proper SSL certificates. Efficient resource allocation. Security settings that make sense. You’re not starting from a blank config file and a forum thread from 2019.
Got an existing VPS? Add these applications easily through your Customer Control Panel. No need to spin up a new instance.
Selecting Your Server
All Contabo VPS and VDS options support these specific 1-click Add-Ons. Which one you should pick depends on your individual requirements. We’ve suggested a few ideal options for each tool, but the decision is yours.
Most projects start with a VPS. Our best value option, VPS 20, gives you 6 vCPUs, 12 GB RAM, and 100 GB NVMe storage. That’s enough for any app with room to grow. Scale up to larger plans when your needs expand.
VDS instances provide dedicated resources. If you’re running production Nextcloud for 30 concurrent users, or n8n workflows that process thousands of executions simultaneously, dedicated CPU cores and guaranteed RAM prevent performance issues when load spikes.
Every option includes NVMe storage. When n8n writes execution logs, when Nextcloud syncs file changes, when WireGuard updates connection state, fast storage makes these operations instant instead of noticeable. If capacity is more important than speed, you can also choose standard SSD drives or our cost-effective Storage VPS configurations.
Location still matters. Deploy closer to the humans using your applications, and they’ll notice the difference. Self-hosting with Contabo means you can choose from 12 Locations across the globe.
Get Started with n8n, Nextcloud & WireGuard on the Contabo Cloud
All it takes is three steps: Pick a VPS or VDS. Select your 1-click Add-On in the configuration menu. Log in and get going. It’s really that simple.
Your new setup comes with no setup fees, no software licensing costs, and no per-user charges. The server cost is your only recurring expense.
These are open-source tools. Customize them however your project demands. Build custom n8n nodes for proprietary APIs. Install Nextcloud apps for specific workflows. Configure split-tunnel WireGuard routing for complex network setups. The choice is yours. Make that choice with confidence knowing that you can rely on Contabo infrastructure and get up and running in no time with our new 1-click apps.
If you’re not sure where to start, we’ve put together a few helpful guides on the Contabo blog for each app, with more on the way. Of course, we’re always here to help with any server-side support you may need, but we’ll leave it to you to get your hands dirty with the apps themselves. Fortunately, as open-source tools, each has a strong foundation of helpful documentation and active community forums where you can find answers and inspiration.
Your new open-source stack is one click away. What will you try first?