The automation showdown: n8n, the open-source workflow platform technical teams love, against Zapier, the no-code giant with the biggest app catalog on the planet.
They solve the same problem — connecting your apps — but differ in pricing model, control, and who they're built for.
| n8n | Zapier | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free (self-hosted); Cloud from €24/mo | Free (100 tasks); Pro from $19.99/mo (annual) |
| Pricing model | Per workflow execution (whole run = 1) | Per task (every action step = 1) |
| Integrations | 400+ native + community nodes | 7,000+ apps |
| Self-hosting | Yes — full control, unlimited runs | No — cloud SaaS only |
| Custom code | Native JavaScript/Python nodes | Basic code step only |
| Best for | Technical teams, developers, cost control | Non-technical users, fastest setup |
Open-source workflow automation you can self-host — the technical team's Zapier alternative.
Free (self-hosted Community Edition, unlimited executions); Cloud from
Try n8n →The automation platform everyone knows: connect 7,000+ apps with no code.
Free (100 tasks/mo); Professional from $29.99/mo billed monthly ($19.9
Try Zapier →Pick Zapier for speed and simplicity; pick n8n when volume, control, or cost predictability matter. At 10k runs a month, n8n cloud costs a fraction of the equivalent Zapier bill.
The self-hosted Community Edition is free with unlimited executions — you only pay for a small server. Cloud plans start at €24/mo.
Zapier counts every action step as a task, so multi-step workflows consume quota fast. n8n counts a whole workflow run as one execution.
Yes — most Zapier workflows map to n8n nodes. The learning curve is the main cost of switching.