n8n vs Zapier
Pick Zapier if you want the easiest automation tool with the most app integrations; pick n8n if you are technical and want code-level control, self-hosting and low costs at scale. Zapier has a free plan for simple two-step Zaps; n8n is free to self-host, with cloud plans from about €20/mo. Zapier charges you for convenience, n8n charges you in learning curve.
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| n8n | Zapier | |
|---|---|---|
| Overlord Score | 8.8/10 | 8.5/10 |
| Best for | Technical teams and developers, Privacy-sensitive organizations that self-host | Beginners automating their first workflows, Teams that need the widest app coverage |
| Starting price | €20/mo | $19.99/mo (billed annually) |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing | Free self-hosted Community Edition; Cloud Starter about €20/mo billed annually. | Free (100 tasks/mo, two-step Zaps); Professional from about $20/mo billed annually. |
| Ease of use | Steeper learning curve; built for technical users. | Very easy to learn; built for beginners. |
| Integrations | Hundreds of integrations plus HTTP and code nodes. | Widest app coverage of any automation tool. |
| Code | JavaScript and Python inside workflows. | Mostly no-code. |
| Hosting | Self-host or cloud; SSO, RBAC and Git on higher tiers. | Cloud only. |
| AI | AI agents, RAG and MCP support. | AI agents and chatbot builder. |
n8n or Zapier: which should you choose?
Choose n8n if…
Choose n8n if you are comfortable with some code, want to self-host for privacy or cost, or run high volumes where per-task pricing hurts.
Try n8n →Choose Zapier if…
Choose Zapier if you want automations running in minutes without code and need the app you use to be supported out of the box.
Try Zapier →n8n vs Zapier pricing
n8n
- Community Edition Free
- Starter €20/mo
- Pro €50/mo
- Business €667/mo
- Enterprise Custom
Yes, if you self-host: the Community Edition is free to run on your own server. n8n's hosted cloud has no free plan, only a free trial with 1,000 executions and no credit card required.
Full n8n pricing →Zapier
- Free Free
- Pro $29.99/mo
- Team $103.50/mo
- Enterprise Custom
Yes. Zapier's free plan includes 100 tasks a month with two-step Zaps only, and new accounts get a 14-day free trial of Pro.
Full Zapier pricing →Strengths and weaknesses
n8n
The automation tool for those who want the power without the per-task tax: self-host it free, drop into code when needed, and build real AI agents. Steeper to learn than Zapier.
Strengths
- Free to self-host
- Very flexible for developers
- Cheap at scale
Weaknesses
- Harder to learn than Zapier
- Cloud Business tier is expensive
- Sustainable Use license is not OSI open source
Zapier
The easiest automation tool to start with and the one with the most integrations. You pay a premium for that simplicity at scale.
Strengths
- Very easy to learn
- Widest app coverage
- Reliable and well-documented
Weaknesses
- Gets expensive at high task volume
- Complex logic is clunkier than Make
Questions the Humans Keep Asking
Is n8n cheaper than Zapier?
Usually at scale, yes. n8n is free to self-host and its cloud plans are not billed per task the way Zapier's are; Zapier gets expensive at high task volumes.
Is n8n open source?
n8n uses a fair-code Sustainable Use license. You can self-host it free, but it is not an OSI-approved open-source license.
Which is easier for beginners?
Zapier. It is designed for non-technical users and has the largest library of ready-made app connections.