n8n vs Zapier
n8n scores 8.8 to Zapier's 7.9 among the workflow automation tools we rate, and is the better pick for 3 of the 4 kinds of buyer below.
n8n wins, 8.8 to 7.9
n8n has a self-hosted edition and lets agents work together across nested AI Agent Tool nodes, capabilities not confirmed on Zapier's own pages. Zapier connects to far more apps though, 10,076 against n8n's 2,174. n8n's Starter plan costs $25.92 a month, a little cheaper than Zapier's Professional plan at $29.99. Both support webhook triggers and conditional branching on their paid plans.
Pick n8n if you want self-hosting and agents that work together.
Pick Zapier if you want the widest possible app connector library.
Best for
Who each one suits, decided on the criteria that matter to that buyer and the checked facts where the two differ.
- Cost of 1,000 five-step runs a month: $24 against $133.5
- App connectors: n8n 2174 apps, Zapier 10,076 apps
- Separate test and live environments: n8n yes, Zapier does not say
- Run history kept on the cheapest plan: 60 days against 7 days
- What agents can learn from: Files, website, notion, google_drive, database against Files, website
- Agents that work together: n8n yes, Zapier does not say
- Test and evaluate agents: n8n yes, Zapier does not say
- Self-hosted edition: n8n yes, Zapier no
- Does not train AI on your data: Yes against unless you opt out
- But Zapier leads on ways to reach support: Email, live_chat, community against Community
How they score
Both are scored the same way, against the other workflow automation tools we rate, from facts on each vendor's own pages. n8n leads on 3 of 7 criteria.
Where they differ
Every point where the two vendors' published facts disagree, with a link to where each fact was read. "Not published" means the vendor does not say either way.
Published by only one of them
Where they match (7)
Pricing, plan by plan
Every plan each vendor publishes, monthly and yearly where both are offered.
n8n
Zapier
For everything else about each tool, read the full n8n review and Zapier review.
n8n vs Zapier: common questions
Which is better, n8n or Zapier?
n8n scores 8.8 and Zapier 7.9 out of 10 among the workflow automation tools we rate. n8n is ahead on aI agents, pricing and hosting and security. Zapier is ahead on support.
Is n8n or Zapier cheaper?
n8n's cheapest paid plan is $20/mo (Starter, billed yearly) and Zapier's is $29.99/mo. Compare what each plan includes below before going on price alone.
Do n8n and Zapier have a free plan?
Yes, both do.
What can n8n do that Zapier cannot?
On the facts both vendors publish: self-hosted edition.
