Independent head-to-head
n8n vs Zapier
Both are on our shortlist, and most people only need one. Here is where each genuinely wins.
Which fits your work better: n8n or Zapier?
n8n suits technically comfortable teams who want to self-host automation and avoid per-task billing entirely, or who need Git-based version control over workflows. Zapier suits agencies and businesses that already have tools they like and just need them talking to each other. n8n is cheaper to start with ($22/month against $30/month), so price alone favours it.
n8n
Marketing Automation ToolsSelf-hostable automation — own your data and your infrastructure bill.
Zapier
Marketing Automation ToolsThe default glue for connecting tools — priced by how much you actually run through it.
Decision view
Compare what changes the answer
| Decision factor | n8n$22/mo | Zapier$30/mo |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $22/mo | $30/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | None | None |
| Best for | Technically comfortable teams who want to self-host automation and avoid per-task billing entirely, or who need Git-based version control over workflows. | Agencies and businesses that already have tools they like and just need them talking to each other. |
| Not for | Anyone without the appetite to run and maintain their own server — the free tier's real cost is your own time, not a subscription fee. | Agencies trying to replace their whole client-facing stack with one platform — that's a Go High Level decision, not a Zapier one. |
Shared answers are dimmed so trade-offs stay visible.
Plan comparison
Published plans as recorded on each vendor’s pricing page on its verification date. Limits and add-ons differ between vendors, so compare at your own volume.
n8n
| Plan | Monthly | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Community Edition | Free | Free, self-hosted; you run and maintain the infrastructure |
| Cloud Starter | $22 | ~€20/month; 2,500 workflow executions/month, 5 concurrent |
| Cloud Pro | $55 | ~€50/month; 10,000 workflow executions/month, 20 concurrent |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom execution volume, SSO/SAML, dedicated SLA support |
Zapier
| Plan | Monthly | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | 100 tasks/month, unlimited two-step Zaps |
| Professional | $30 | 750 tasks/month, monthly billing ($19.99/mo if billed annually); scales up to 300,000+ tasks/month at higher tiers |
| Team | $104 | 2,000 tasks/month, monthly billing; 25 users, shared workflows, SAML SSO |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom — unlimited users, technical account manager |
Where n8n wins
- Self-hosted Community Edition genuinely has no per-task or per-operation cost, just infrastructure
- Execution-based Cloud pricing is more predictable than per-task billing for workflows with many internal steps
- Open-source and self-hostable means no vendor lock-in on where the automation actually runs
Where Zapier wins
- Largest integration library in the category by a wide margin — if a tool has an API, Zapier probably already connects to it
- Multi-step Zaps with conditional paths handle real branching logic without code
- Free tier is genuinely useful for testing a workflow before paying for it
n8n or Zapier?
n8n suits technically comfortable teams who want to self-host automation and avoid per-task billing entirely, or who need Git-based version control over workflows. Zapier suits agencies and businesses that already have tools they like and just need them talking to each other. n8n is cheaper to start with ($22/month against $30/month), so price alone favours it.
Technically comfortable teams who want to self-host automation and avoid per-task billing entirely, or who need Git-based version control over workflows.
Agencies and businesses that already have tools they like and just need them talking to each other.
What decides it
- Entry price
- n8n starts at $22/month; Zapier at $30/month. Compare the plan that matches your real usage, not the entry tier.
- Trial
- n8n offers a free plan; Zapier offers a free plan.
- What each gives up
- n8n: self-hosting requires real technical setup and ongoing maintenance most agencies won't want to take on. Zapier: task-based pricing punishes any workflow that fires often — a single busy form or webhook can burn through a plan's allowance fast.