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aleksnero/n8n-backup-manager

Analysis updated 2026-05-18

52JavaScriptAudience · ops devopsComplexity · 3/5LicenseSetup · moderate

TLDR

An automatic backup, restore, and cloud upload tool for self hosted n8n workflow automation instances.

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((n8n Backup Manager))
    What it does
      Backs up n8n database
      Schedules automatic backups
      Restores from backup
    Tech stack
      JavaScript
      Docker
      PostgreSQL
      SQLite
    Use cases
      Protect self hosted n8n data
      Upload backups to cloud storage
      Get Telegram backup alerts
    Audience
      Self hosters
      Developers

Code map

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filefunction / class

What do people build with it?

USE CASE 1

Automatically back up a self hosted n8n instance on a schedule.

USE CASE 2

Upload encrypted n8n backups to S3, Google Drive, or OneDrive.

USE CASE 3

Restore n8n workflows and settings from a previous backup after a failure.

What is it built with?

JavaScriptDockerPostgreSQLSQLiteNode.js

How does it compare?

aleksnero/n8n-backup-managertj/waitgroup.jsadityagahlot/obsidian-desktop-widget
Stars525253
LanguageJavaScriptJavaScriptJavaScript
Last pushed2016-07-22
MaintenanceDormant
Setup difficultymoderateeasyeasy
Complexity3/52/52/5
Audienceops devopsdevelopergeneral

Figures from each repo's GitHub metadata at analysis time.

How do you get it running?

Difficulty · moderate Time to first run · 30min

Requires Docker and an existing n8n installation with a PostgreSQL or SQLite database.

Use freely for any purpose, including commercial use, as long as you keep the copyright notice (MIT license).

In plain English

n8n Backup Manager is an automatic backup and restore tool for n8n, an open source workflow automation platform. If you self host n8n, the workflows and settings you build live in a local database, and this tool exists to make sure that data is regularly backed up so you do not lose your work if something goes wrong. It runs as a separate service alongside your n8n installation and provides a web based dashboard where you can see backup history, trigger a backup manually, restore from a previous backup, and configure automatic schedules by interval or cron expression. It supports both PostgreSQL and SQLite databases, and can compress backups with Gzip and encrypt them with AES-256, a strong encryption standard. A retention policy can automatically delete old backups after a set point so storage does not fill up, and individual backups can be protected from that auto deletion. Backups can be stored locally or automatically uploaded to cloud storage: S3 compatible services such as AWS or DigitalOcean Spaces, Google Drive, or Microsoft OneDrive. You can set up Telegram notifications so you get an alert whenever a backup succeeds or fails, and the dashboard shows a chart of backup size over time. There is also a backup integrity check that verifies an archive is healthy, though that specific feature only works on Linux and is hidden automatically on Windows and macOS. You would use this if you run your own instance of n8n and want your automation workflows backed up on a schedule without having to remember to do it manually. It runs via Docker and is recommended for Linux servers in production, while Windows and macOS are supported for local development without Docker. The project is written in JavaScript and is released under the MIT license, so it can be used freely, including commercially, as long as the copyright notice is kept.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1
Help me install n8n Backup Manager with Docker Compose alongside my existing n8n container.
Prompt 2
Walk me through configuring automatic backup scheduling and retention in this tool.
Prompt 3
Help me set up cloud upload to S3 or Google Drive for my n8n backups.
Prompt 4
Explain how the backup encryption and integrity check features work in this project.

Frequently asked questions

What is n8n-backup-manager?

An automatic backup, restore, and cloud upload tool for self hosted n8n workflow automation instances.

What language is n8n-backup-manager written in?

Mainly JavaScript. The stack also includes JavaScript, Docker, PostgreSQL.

What license does n8n-backup-manager use?

Use freely for any purpose, including commercial use, as long as you keep the copyright notice (MIT license).

How hard is n8n-backup-manager to set up?

Setup difficulty is rated moderate, with roughly 30min to a first successful run.

Who is n8n-backup-manager for?

Mainly ops devops.

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