n8n vs Zapier
Open-source control vs hosted simplicity. We ran both to see when self-hosting pays off.
Affiliate disclosure: we may earn a commission from links on this page. Verdicts are based on hands-on testing and are never for sale.
Our verdict
n8n wins for technical teams wanting control, custom code, or no per-task fees via self-hosting. Zapier wins for non-coders who value the easiest path and most integrations.
n8n
4.2Technical teams who want control, custom code, or self-hosting.
The developer's choice. Self-host it for full control and no per-task fees, or use cloud. Unbeatable for custom nodes and data-sensitive workflows.
From Free (self-host) / $20/mo cloud
Zapier
4.4Non-technical teams that want automations live in minutes.
The gold standard for non-technical users. Nothing connects more apps with less effort. You pay for that simplicity once volumes get high.
From Free / $19.99/mo
| Feature | n8n | Zapier |
|---|---|---|
| free Tier | ✓ | ✓ |
| ai Features | ✓ | ✓ |
| integrations | ✓ | ✓ |
| api Access | ✓ | ✓ |
| self Host | ✓ | - |
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