n8n for Beginners: Build Your First No-Code Workflow (Hostinger VPS Setup)

About this video

Garrick presents a beginner tutorial on n8n, described as a powerful open-source workflow automation tool that connects apps without writing code, with examples like emailing when a file is uploaded to Dropbox or adding form data to a spreadsheet and sending a Slack message. He contrasts n8n cloud hosting — easy but with execution limits, noting the starter plan has five concurrent executions and the pro plan has 20 — with self-hosting, which gives full control but is more technical and normally involves Docker and terminal commands. The video is sponsored by Hostinger, and he sets up n8n on a Hostinger VPS via hostinger.com/startn8n, recommending the entry-level KVM2 plan, the 24-month option, and coupon code STARTn8n for an additional 10% off as stated in the video, with unlimited executions claimed for Hostinger versus cloud. He compares three Hostinger templates — standard n8n, n8n plus 100 workflows, and n8n queue mode for running many workflows at once — and chooses the plus 100 version to examine templates including a Gmail AI autoresponder using OpenAI ChatGPT and a personalized AI tech newsletter using RSS, OpenAI, and Gmail. He then builds a workflow from scratch: a Gmail trigger polling every minute, filtered with has:attachment and unread-only, downloads attachments, and uploads them to Dropbox. Setup requires OAuth2 credentials created in Google Cloud Console (project, consent screen, test users, redirect URL, enabling the API) and in Dropbox developers (app folder, app key/secret, permissions including account_info.write and, after an error, files.content.write, requiring reconnect). After fixing errors, executing, activating the workflow, and sending a test email with an image, the file appears in the Dropbox Gmail attachments folder.

Key takeaways

• n8n cloud is convenient but limited — starter has 5 concurrent executions and pro has 20 per the video — while self-hosting gives control and, on Hostinger, unlimited executions
• Hostinger VPS setup uses a pre-installed Docker n8n template; the presenter recommends KVM2, a 24-month term, and code STARTn8n for an additional 10% off as stated
• Workflows are built from nodes starting with a trigger; templates like Gmail AI autoresponder and the RSS/OpenAI/Gmail newsletter show the visual pattern
• Connecting Gmail and Dropbox requires OAuth2, not passwords: create a Google Cloud project and a Dropbox app, paste client/app IDs and secrets, and add the redirect URL
• Test incrementally and fix reported errors — e.g. enabling the Gmail API and adding Dropbox files.content.write then reconnecting the credential — before activating the workflow

Episode details: published September 16, 2025 · 34:34 long. Summary written by Self Growth Videos from the episode itself. Business results and any income figures mentioned are Kevin Stratvert’s own claims, shared for education — they are not typical or guaranteed.

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