Side by side
n8n vs Zapier
A fact-based comparison built only from each tool's verified directory profile — pricing summaries, plan availability, platforms, and stated strengths and limitations. No rankings, no sponsored placement.
| Criterion | n8n | Zapier |
|---|---|---|
| Category | AI Workflow Builders | AI Workflow Builders |
| In one sentence | A fair-code workflow automation tool with a visual editor, code steps and AI agent nodes, available as cloud or self-hosted. | A no-code platform for connecting apps with automated workflows (Zaps), AI agents, chatbots and tables. |
| Problem it solves | Teams need flexible automation and AI workflows without per-task pricing or sending data to a third-party cloud. | Copying data between apps and repeating routine steps by hand wastes time and causes errors. |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Developer API | Yes — docs | Yes — docs |
| Open source | No | No |
| Platforms | Web, Self-hosted (Docker/npm) | Web |
| Pricing (summary) | The self-hosted Community edition is free under the Sustainable Use License. Cloud plans billed annually are Starter €20/month (2,500 executions) and Pro €50/month (10,000 executions); Business is €667/month (self-hosted, 40,000 executions) and Enterprise is custom. Checked 2026-10-19 | Free plan with 100 tasks a month and two-step Zaps. Professional starts at $29.99 monthly ($19.99/month annually) for 750 tasks and Team at $103.50 monthly ($69/month annually) for 2,000 tasks, both scaling with task volume. Enterprise is custom. Checked 2026-10-19 |
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How to choose
Both profiles link to the vendors' official pricing — plan details change often, so verify there before buying. Pick based on the criterion rows above that matter to your workflow, not on rankings: we don't rank tools, because the right choice depends on your needs.