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All industries · head to head

Zapier vs n8n

Zapier logo

Zapier

All industries

Automate your work across 7,000+ app integrations

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
n8n logo

n8n

Automation & Integration

The fair-code workflow automation tool

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Zapier the free plan allows 100 tasks per month and only two-step Zaps, one trigger and one action; n8n starter tier limited to 1 project and 5 concurrent executions
  • They diverge on capability: Zapier covers App integrations, n8n covers Visual editor.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Zapier and n8n actually diverge.

Attributes where Zapier and n8n differ
AttributeZapiern8n
Pricing modelusage-basedfreemium
PlatformsWeb, ApiWeb, Docker, Self-hosted
CategoryAll industriesAutomation & Integration
Founded20112019

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Zapier

  • App integrations
  • Trigger-based actions
  • Multi-step Zaps
  • Data formatting
  • Conditional logic
  • Team collaboration
  • 7000+ apps
  • Gmail

Only in n8n

  • Visual editor
  • Conditional execution
  • Looping
  • Scheduling
  • Webhooks
  • REST API
  • 400+ integrations
  • HTTP requests

Both cover

  • Workflow automation
  • Error handling
  • Slack
  • Cloud deployment

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Zapier

  • Lead managementnot n8n
  • Data synchronizationnot n8n
  • Email automationnot n8n
  • Social media postingnot n8n
  • Customer onboardingnot n8n

n8n

  • Building AI agents and workflow automation for technical teamsnot Zapier
  • Visual workflow design with capability to write custom JavaScript or Python codenot Zapier
  • Enterprise deployments with self-hosted or cloud optionsnot Zapier
  • Integrating 500+ pre-built applications with custom API connectionsnot Zapier

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Zapier

  • The free plan allows 100 tasks per month and only two-step Zaps, one trigger and one action
  • Multi-step Zaps, filters, paths, webhooks and the formatter all require a paid plan
  • Premium app connectors are withheld from the free plan
  • Free Zaps poll for new data every 15 minutes against 2 minutes on Professional and 1 minute on Team
  • Paying monthly rather than annually costs 50 percent more, so the 2,000-task Professional plan is $73.50 a month instead of $49

n8n

  • Starter tier limited to 1 project and 5 concurrent executions
  • Starter and Pro tiers restricted to Cloud hosting only, not self-hosted
  • Business tier requires 6 months minimum commitment at €667/month
  • SSO/SAML/LDAP authentication requires Business or Enterprise tier
  • Dedicated support with SLA available only on Enterprise plan

Pricing, plan by plan

Zapier

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 100 tasks/month
    • 5 Zaps
    • Two-step Zaps
  • Starter$19.99/month
    • 750 tasks/month
    • 20 Zaps
    • Multi-step Zaps
  • Professional$49/month
    • 2,000 tasks/month
    • Unlimited Zaps
    • Custom logic

n8n

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the n8n review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Zapier if

  • You need app integrations.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want trigger-based actions.
Zapier review

Choose n8n if

  • You need visual editor.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Docker, Self-hosted.
  • You also want conditional execution.
n8n review

Questions people ask

Is Zapier or n8n better?
Neither clearly leads. Zapier starts at Free and n8n at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Zapier or n8n?
Zapier starts at Free and n8n at Free.
Does Zapier or n8n run on more platforms?
Zapier runs on Web, Api. n8n runs on Web, Docker, Self-hosted.
Can I use Zapier for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Zapier best used for?
Zapier is most often used for lead management, data synchronization, email automation, social media posting. Of those, lead management and data synchronization are not what n8n is typically brought in for.
What can Zapier do that n8n cannot?
Zapier covers App integrations, Trigger-based actions, Multi-step Zaps, Data formatting. n8n covers Visual editor, Conditional execution, Looping, Scheduling. Both handle Workflow automation, Error handling, Slack, Cloud deployment.
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Related pages

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