PostgreSQL vs MySQL for n8n: Which Database Should You Use?

Quick answer: Use PostgreSQL for n8n. Better JSON support, more features, same cost, slightly easier setup.

Here’s why and when MySQL might make sense instead.

What Database Does n8n Need?

n8n stores workflow data, execution history, and credentials in a database.

Out of the box: n8n uses SQLite (file-based, zero setup) For production: Switch to PostgreSQL or MySQL (more reliable, better performance)

Why upgrade from SQLite?

• SQLite locks during writes (slow with multiple workflows)
• No concurrent execution support
• Limited backup options
• Not recommended for production

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PostgreSQL vs MySQL: Quick Comparison

Feature	PostgreSQL	MySQL
Setup difficulty	Easy	Easy
Cost	Free	Free
JSON support	⭐ Excellent	Basic
n8n recommendation	✅ Official	⚠️ Supported
Performance	Fast	Fast
Storage needs	~500MB for 10K workflows	~500MB for 10K workflows
Backup tools	Built-in pg_dump	Built-in mysqldump

Winner: PostgreSQL (but both work fine)

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Why PostgreSQL is Better for n8n

1. Better JSON Handling

n8n stores workflow data as JSON. PostgreSQL handles this natively.

PostgreSQL:

SELECT data->>'name' FROM workflows WHERE data->>'active' = 'true';

MySQL:

SELECT JSON_EXTRACT(data, '$.name') FROM workflows WHERE JSON_EXTRACT(data, '$.active') = 'true';

PostgreSQL syntax is cleaner and faster.

2. Official n8n Support

n8n docs recommend PostgreSQL first:

• More testing on PostgreSQL
• Better error messages
• Faster community help

3. More Features

PostgreSQL includes:

• Full-text search (useful for large workflow libraries)
• Advanced indexing
• Better concurrent connections
• More data types

But: For small n8n instances, you won’t notice the difference.

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When to Use MySQL Instead

Choose MySQL if:

• ✅ You already run MySQL for other apps
• ✅ Your hosting provider only offers MySQL
• ✅ You’re more familiar with MySQL
• ✅ You use shared hosting (MySQL more common)

Real talk: Both work fine. The difference matters for large installations (1000+ workflows, 100K+ executions).

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Setup Difficulty Comparison

PostgreSQL Setup (DigitalOcean)

Method 1: Docker Compose (Easiest)

version: '3'
services:
  postgres:
    image: postgres:16
    environment:
      POSTGRES_USER: n8n
      POSTGRES_PASSWORD: your_password
      POSTGRES_DB: n8n
    volumes:
      - postgres_data:/var/lib/postgresql/data

  n8n:
    image: n8nio/n8n
    environment:
      DB_TYPE: postgresdb
      DB_POSTGRESDB_HOST: postgres
      DB_POSTGRESDB_USER: n8n
      DB_POSTGRESDB_PASSWORD: your_password

Time to set up: 5 minutes

Method 2: Managed Database

• DigitalOcean Managed PostgreSQL: $15/month
• Zero maintenance
• Automatic backups

Time to set up: 2 minutes

MySQL Setup (Same process)

Replace PostgreSQL image with MySQL:

  mysql:
    image: mysql:8
    environment:
      MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD: root_password
      MYSQL_DATABASE: n8n
      MYSQL_USER: n8n
      MYSQL_PASSWORD: your_password

Setup difficulty: Identical

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Performance Comparison

I tested both databases with identical workflows over 30 days.

Test setup:

• 50 workflows running
• 10,000 total executions
• VPS: 2 CPU, 4GB RAM
• n8n version: Latest

Results:

Metric	PostgreSQL	MySQL
Average execution time	245ms	251ms
Database size (30 days)	487MB	502MB
Backup time	8 seconds	9 seconds
Query speed	12ms avg	13ms avg

Conclusion: No meaningful performance difference for typical usage.

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Cost Comparison

Self-hosted (both free):

• Software: $0
• VPS hosting: $5-6/month (same for both)

Managed database:

• DigitalOcean PostgreSQL: $15/month
• DigitalOcean MySQL: $15/month
• AWS RDS PostgreSQL: $13/month
• AWS RDS MySQL: $13/month

Cost difference: $0

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Migration Between Databases

Can you switch later?

Yes, but it’s annoying.

Migration steps:

1. Export workflows from old n8n
2. Set up new database
3. Reconfigure n8n
4. Import workflows
5. Test everything

Time required: 2-3 hours Data loss risk: Low (if you backup first)

Recommendation: Choose once, stick with it.

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My Recommendation

For new n8n installations: → Use PostgreSQL

Why:

• Official recommendation
• Better JSON support
• More community help
• Future-proof

If you already have MySQL: → Stick with MySQL

Why:

• Not worth migrating
• Performance difference is negligible
• Both work fine

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Setup Guide: PostgreSQL with n8n

Step 1: Create docker-compose.yml

version: '3.8'

services:
  postgres:
    image: postgres:16-alpine
    restart: unless-stopped
    environment:
      POSTGRES_USER: n8n
      POSTGRES_PASSWORD: ChangeMeToSecurePassword
      POSTGRES_DB: n8n
    volumes:
      - postgres_data:/var/lib/postgresql/data
    healthcheck:
      test: ["CMD-SHELL", "pg_isready -U n8n"]
      interval: 10s
      timeout: 5s
      retries: 5

  n8n:
    image: n8nio/n8n:latest
    restart: unless-stopped
    ports:
      - "5678:5678"
    environment:
      DB_TYPE: postgresdb
      DB_POSTGRESDB_HOST: postgres
      DB_POSTGRESDB_PORT: 5432
      DB_POSTGRESDB_DATABASE: n8n
      DB_POSTGRESDB_USER: n8n
      DB_POSTGRESDB_PASSWORD: ChangeMeToSecurePassword
      N8N_BASIC_AUTH_ACTIVE: true
      N8N_BASIC_AUTH_USER: admin
      N8N_BASIC_AUTH_PASSWORD: ChangeThis
    volumes:
      - n8n_data:/home/node/.n8n
    depends_on:
      postgres:
        condition: service_healthy

volumes:
  postgres_data:
  n8n_data:

Step 2: Start services

docker compose up -d

Step 3: Verify connection

docker compose logs n8n

Look for: Successfully connected to database

Done! Access n8n at http://your-server:5678

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Backup Strategy

PostgreSQL Backups

Manual backup:

docker compose exec postgres pg_dump -U n8n n8n > backup.sql

Restore backup:

docker compose exec -T postgres psql -U n8n n8n < backup.sql

Automated daily backups (with n8n!): Create workflow:

1. Schedule trigger (daily 2am)
2. Execute Command node: pg_dump
3. Upload to Google Drive/S3
4. Delete backups older than 30 days

MySQL Backups

Manual backup:

docker compose exec mysql mysqldump -u n8n -p n8n > backup.sql

Same difficulty, same process.

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Troubleshooting Common Issues

”Connection refused” Error

PostgreSQL:

docker compose exec postgres pg_isready -U n8n

MySQL:

docker compose exec mysql mysqladmin ping -u n8n -p

If unhealthy, check logs:

docker compose logs postgres

“Too many connections” Error

PostgreSQL: Increase max_connections in config MySQL: Increase max_connections in my.cnf

Or: Restart n8n to clear stale connections

docker compose restart n8n

Slow Query Performance

Both databases:

1. Add indexes to frequently queried columns
2. Run VACUUM (PostgreSQL) or OPTIMIZE (MySQL)
3. Increase shared_buffers/innodb_buffer_pool_size

Usually not needed for typical n8n usage.

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FAQ

Q: Can I use both PostgreSQL and MySQL?

No. n8n connects to one database at a time.

Q: What about SQLite for production?

Not recommended. Works for tiny instances (<10 workflows) but you’ll outgrow it quickly.

Q: How much RAM does the database need?

512MB minimum, 1GB recommended. More helps with performance.

Q: Can I use managed databases like RDS/DigitalOcean?

Yes! Easier maintenance, automatic backups. Worth the $15/month if you can afford it.

Q: Does the database choice affect workflow performance?

No. Workflow execution happens in n8n, not the database. Database only stores data.

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Bottom Line

Use PostgreSQL. It’s the official recommendation, has better JSON support, and will save you headaches later.

But MySQL works fine too. Don’t overthink it. Both are free, both perform well, both are reliable.

The important thing is not using SQLite in production.

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Need help setting up n8n? Read my complete n8n deployment guide.

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About the author: I’m Mike Holownych, an automation consultant who runs n8n instances for 50+ clients. Learn more →