n8n
n8n GmbH
7.7
Overall Score / 10
Zapier
Zapier Inc.
6.5
Overall Score / 10
Our Verdict
Choose n8n if:
- —Developers who want self-hosted automation
- —Teams with data privacy/compliance requirements
- —Power users who need custom code in workflows
Choose Zapier if:
- —Non-technical users automating business workflows
- —Teams connecting many SaaS apps
- —Marketers automating lead capture and nurturing
The biggest difference: n8n wins for developers wanting self-hosted automation with code. Zapier wins for non-technical users wanting plug-and-play.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Criteria | n8n | Zapier |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest Paid Plan | $20/mo (Starter)Source: n8n GmbH pricing page → | $29.99/mo (Professional)Source: Zapier Inc. pricing page → |
| Free Tier | Yes Self-hosted community edition is free and unlimited | Yes 100 tasks/month, unlimited Zaps, two-step only (single trigger + single action) |
| Value for Money | 9 | 5 |
| Ease of Use | 4 | 9 |
| Feature Power | 10 | 8 |
| Setup Ease | 3 | 9 |
| Migration Ease | 5 | 4 |
| Transparency | 10 | 5 |
| Deployment | hybrid | cloud |
| API Available | Yes | Yes |
| Platforms | Web, Self-hosted (Docker) | Web |
| Compliance | Self-hosted: full data control, SOC 2 (cloud) | SOC 2 Type II, GDPR |
Feature Comparison
Feature Comparison Matrix
18 features compared · 17 differences
| Feature | n8n | Zapier |
|---|---|---|
| Core | ||
| Credential sharing | Full | None |
| Formatter tools | None | Full |
| Interfaces (forms/pages) | None | Full |
| Multi-step Zaps | None | Full |
| Schedule triggers | None | Full |
| Self-hostable | Full | None |
| Tables (database) | None | Full |
| Version control | Full | None |
| Visual builder | Full | None |
| Advanced | ||
| AI actions | None | Full |
| AI agent nodes | Full | None |
| Custom code (JS/Python) in any node | Full | None |
| Paths (conditional logic) | None | Full |
| Integrations | ||
| 400+ integrations | Full | None |
| 7,000+ app integrations | None | Full |
| API Access | Full | Full |
| Webhook triggers | Full | None |
| Webhooks | None | Full |
Pricing Comparison
n8n Pricing
Unlimited; self-host required
2,500 executions, cloud-hosted. Note: all cloud prices are in EUR.
10,000 executions, unlimited workflows, global regions
Unlimited, SSO, audit logs, dedicated support
Zapier Pricing
100 tasks/mo, unlimited Zaps, two-step only (single trigger + single action)
750 tasks/mo, unlimited Zaps, multi-step
2,000 tasks/mo, shared workspaces, premier support
Custom tasks, admin controls, SAML SSO, audit logs
Who Should Choose Which?
Who should choose n8n
Best for
- Developers who want self-hosted automation
- Teams with data privacy/compliance requirements
- Power users who need custom code in workflows
Avoid if
- You want zero-code simplicity
- You don't want to manage infrastructure (use cloud version)
- You need the broadest pre-built integration catalog
Who should choose Zapier
Best for
- Non-technical users automating business workflows
- Teams connecting many SaaS apps
- Marketers automating lead capture and nurturing
Avoid if
- You have high-volume automation needs (gets expensive)
- You need complex logic/branching (better tools exist)
- You want self-hosted or data-sensitive workflows
Switching Guidance
Switching from n8n
Common triggers to leave:
- •Need more pre-built integrations
- •Don't want to manage infrastructure
Potential blockers:
- •Self-hosted data sovereignty
- •Custom code nodes
- •Infrastructure investment
Switching from Zapier
Common triggers to leave:
- •Task volume costs
- •Need more complex logic
- •Need faster execution
Potential blockers:
- •Hundreds of Zaps built over time
- •Team familiarity
- •Integration breadth
Try n8n
Start free — no credit card required
Try Zapier
Start free — no credit card required