Our verdict
Zapier for ease and breadth; n8n for technical teams wanting control, complex logic and lower cost at volume.
Zapier is the easiest way to connect thousands of apps. n8n is a fair-code automation tool you can self-host, with powerful logic and code steps, popular with technical teams.
Choose Zapier if…
- Non-technical users will build automations
- You need the widest app coverage
- You want zero maintenance
Choose n8n if…
- You have technical skills
- You want self-hosting or data control
- You run high volumes cheaply
Side by side
| Criterion | Zapier | n8n |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 8.7 / 10 | 8.5 / 10 |
| Features & fit | 8.8 | 9.1 |
| Ease of use | 9.4 | 7.2 |
| Value for money | 7.4 | 9.2 |
| Support & reliability | 8.2 | 7.2 |
| Security & privacy | 8.2 | 8.4 |
| Integrations & ecosystem | 9.8 | 8.8 |
| Starting price (indicative) | Free plan; paid from around $20–30 / month | Self-hosted community edition free; cloud from around $20–25 / month |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Non-technical teams | Technical teams |
Feature by feature
| Feature | Zapier | n8n |
|---|---|---|
| App integrations | Largest | Large plus HTTP/code |
| Self-hosting | No | Yes |
| Code steps | Limited | Full JavaScript/Python |
| Pricing unit | Tasks | Executions |
| AI agents | Yes | Yes, strong |
| Best for | Non-technical teams | Technical teams |
Pricing compared
Zapier
| Plan | Indicative price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | — |
| Professional | ≈ $20 / mo | Billed annually; price rises with task volume |
| Team | ≈ $69 / mo | Shared workspace; billed annually |
| Enterprise | Custom quote | — |
n8n
| Plan | Indicative price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Community (self-hosted) | Free | You pay for your own server |
| Starter (cloud) | ≈ $24 / mo | Billed annually |
| Pro (cloud) | ≈ $60 / mo | — |
| Enterprise | Custom quote | — |
Indicative USD list prices; excludes tax, add-ons and promotions. Confirm on each vendor’s site.
Pricing model
Zapier charges per task. n8n charges per workflow execution on cloud, or is free to self-host.
Ease of use
Zapier is simpler; n8n is more powerful with a steeper curve.
Hosting
n8n can run on your own infrastructure.
Hosting and data control
Zapier runs only in its cloud. n8n can be self-hosted on your own infrastructure, keeping data inside your environment — important for regulated industries or strict data-residency requirements.
Skills required
Zapier is built for non-technical users and rarely needs code. n8n is visual but rewards knowledge of APIs, expressions and JavaScript, and self-hosting adds server maintenance. Choose based on who will build and maintain workflows.
Cost at scale
Zapier's price rises with task volume, so busy workflows get expensive. Self-hosted n8n has no per-execution fees, and n8n Cloud prices by executions rather than steps, which is often cheaper for multi-step workflows. Factor in server and maintenance time if you self-host.
Pros & cons
Zapier
- Largest app library
- Very easy builder
- AI steps and copilots
- Task-based pricing can climb
- Complex logic gets clunky
n8n
- Self-hosting option
- Code nodes for flexibility
- Strong AI tooling
- More technical
- Smaller app library
Key features of each
Zapier
- Multi-step Zaps. Chain actions across apps.
- Paths. Branching logic.
- Tables & Interfaces. Lightweight databases and forms.
- AI steps. Summarise, classify and generate in workflows.
Integrates with: Gmail, Slack, HubSpot, Google Sheets, Notion, Shopify.
n8n
- Self-hosting. Run on your own servers.
- Code nodes. JavaScript or Python steps.
- AI agents. Build agent workflows with tools.
- Git & environments. Version control on higher tiers.
Integrates with: Slack, Postgres, Google Sheets, OpenAI, GitHub.
Who should avoid each
Skip Zapier if…
- Very high task volumes on a budget
- Complex data transformations
Best for: Non-technical teams; Connecting many SaaS apps; Quick wins with simple automations.
Skip n8n if…
- Non-technical users
- Teams without hosting skills (for self-hosted)
Best for: Technical teams; Self-hosting for data control; AI agent workflows.
Switching between Zapier and n8n
Migration difficulty: Moderate
Workflows must be rebuilt; run old and new in parallel before switching off.
- Inventory live Zaps or workflows.
- Rebuild highest-value flows first.
- Test with sample data.
- Switch off old flows one by one.
- Set up error alerts.
Weigh it your way
Adjust the weights to your priorities to see which tool comes out ahead for you. Print or export the result for your team.
| Tool | Features | Ease | Value | Support | Security | Integrations | Your score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Zapier | 8.8 | 9.4 | 7.4 | 8.2 | 8.2 | 9.8 | 8.65 |
| 2. n8n | 9.1 | 7.2 | 9.2 | 7.2 | 8.4 | 8.8 | 8.46 |
Drag the sliders to match your priorities. Scores are our editorial sub-scores; weights start at the values we publish on the methodology page. Nothing you change is stored or sent anywhere.
How our scores and weights work · Add a third tool side by side
Frequently asked questions
Is n8n free?
Self-hosted community edition is free; cloud is paid.
Is Zapier more reliable?
Both are reliable; with self-hosted n8n, reliability depends on your hosting.
Does Zapier or n8n have a free plan?
Zapier has a free plan; n8n has a free plan. Indicative starting prices: Zapier — Free plan; paid from around $20–30 / month; n8n — Self-hosted community edition free; cloud from around $20–25 / month.
Which scores higher in our review, Zapier or n8n?
Zapier scores 8.7/10 and n8n 8.5/10 on our weighted rubric. Zapier leads on 3 of six criteria. A higher score does not make it right for every buyer — see the “choose if” lists above.
