This site contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This helps us keep the site running and continue providing free guides and comparisons.
The Bottom Line#
n8n costs less for multi-step workflows. It bills one execution per workflow run, however many steps the run has. Zapier counts every successful action step as a task, so long workflows use up a plan quickly.
Zapier is the better choice if you want automations running today with no technical setup. It connects to more than 9,000 apps, and anyone can use its editor without running a server.
Pick n8n if a technical person will own the setup or you need to self-host. Pick Zapier if the people building the automations are not technical.
n8n
Free (self-hosted)
Open-source AI workflow automation with 400+ integrations
Zapier
$19.99/mo
AI-powered automation connecting 7,000+ apps without code
This article contains affiliate links. We earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Verdict Table#
| Category | n8n | Zapier | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billing unit | One execution per workflow run | One task per successful action step | n8n |
| Self-hosting | Free Community license | No self-hosted plan listed | n8n |
| Free plan | Self-hosted Community license | 100 tasks/month, two-step Zaps | n8n |
| App catalog | Integrations included on all plans | 9,000+ apps | Zapier |
| Ease of setup | Technical | No-code | Zapier |
| Lowest cloud price | 20 euros/month billed annually | From $19.99/month | Tie |
| Overall | Best value for technical teams | Best for non-technical teams | n8n on cost, Zapier on ease |
How We Built This Comparison#
We read each vendor's pricing page and billing documentation on November 9, 2026. We did not run our own workloads, so the cost example below is arithmetic from the published billing rules, not a measurement. n8n's page showed prices in euros when we read it and Zapier's in US dollars, so the two are not converted to a common currency.
Is n8n Better Than Zapier?#
For cost and control, yes. n8n's per-run billing and free self-hosting make it the cheaper tool as workflows get longer. For ease of use and app coverage, no: Zapier needs no server and connects to more apps.
How the Billing Models Differ#
This is the single most important difference between the two products.
n8n states that pricing is based on monthly workflow executions regardless of complexity, and that executions have unlimited steps.
Zapier counts each successful action step as one task. Triggers, Filter steps, Paths steps, and Formatter steps do not count. AI by Zapier depends on the model tier you select, and each successful Zapier MCP tool call uses 2 tasks.
A Worked Example#
Take a workflow with a trigger and nine action steps that runs 1,000 times a month.
| n8n | Zapier | |
|---|---|---|
| Usage | 1,000 executions | 9,000 tasks |
| Smallest plan that fits | Starter, 2,500 executions, 20 euros/month billed annually | A 10,000-task tier on Professional |
Check Zapier's pricing page for the current price of the task tier you need. The gap grows with the number of steps. If most of your Zaps are two or three steps, the difference is small.
Feature-by-Feature#
Hosting and Control#
n8n offers a self-hosted version under its Sustainable Use License, which is free when workflows are only created or modified by you or people in your organization. You may not host n8n as a service and let your clients build workflows without a commercial agreement. Self-hosting also means you handle updates, backups, and security.
Zapier lists no self-hosted plan on its pricing page.
Winner: n8n. It is the only one of the two that lists this option.
Ease of Use#
Zapier offers a visual no-code editor, Zapier Copilot, Tables, Forms, and Canvas, and it is built for non-technical users.
n8n has a visual editor too, but it is aimed at technical builders, and n8n's own pricing page positions Pro at solo builders and small teams running automations in production.
Winner: Zapier.
AI and Agents#
n8n includes agents, MCP, and AI nodes on its plans. Starter includes 1,600 Assistant credits per month, and AI models can be used without your own API keys.
Zapier includes AI fields on paid plans, Zapier MCP, and an SDK, and sells Agents and Chatbots as add-ons. Agents usage has its own activity quota and does not count as tasks.
Winner: tie. n8n gives you more control, and Zapier is faster to start with. Note that from December 1, 2026, Zapier's Next Gen Zaps and the Zapier SDK will also use tasks, with each completed Next Gen run using at least one.
Team Features#
n8n includes unlimited users and workflows and every integration on all plans. Business adds SSO, multiple environments, and version control using Git, but it is self-hosted only.
Zapier Team, from $69/month, covers 25 users, shared Zaps and folders, and SAML SSO.
Winner: n8n on seat count. Zapier if you want SSO without running your own server.
Pricing Comparison#
n8n starts at 20 euros/month billed annually, and Zapier's paid plans start from $19.99/month. Prices as of November 9, 2026. Check n8n.io/pricing and zapier.com/pricing for current details.
| Plan level | n8n | Zapier |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Community license, self-hosted | $0, 100 tasks/month, two-step Zaps |
| Entry | Starter 20 euros/month, 2,500 executions | Professional from $19.99/month |
| Mid | Pro 50 euros/month, 10,000 executions | Team from $69/month |
| Higher | Business 667 euros/month, 40,000 executions, self-hosted | Task tiers up to 2 million |
| Enterprise | Contact sales | Contact sales |
n8n's Business and Enterprise plans have their own terms, and companies with fewer than 20 employees may qualify for 50% off Business through n8n's Startup plan.
Make vs Zapier#
Zapier is the safer pick if app coverage and simplicity matter most. Make is worth comparing if you prefer its visual builder and credit-based billing. Both charge per step, unlike n8n, so neither has n8n's advantage on long workflows.
Billing: Make's billing unit is the credit. For non-AI apps, one operation equals one credit, and AI features can use more because token usage is included. Zapier's unit is the task, and it does not count Filter, Paths, or Formatter steps.
Prices: We could not verify Make's current paid prices from its pricing page, so we do not quote them here. Check make.com/en/pricing directly.
App coverage: Zapier states 9,000+ apps, which is the largest catalog of the three.
More Comparisons and Guides#
Read our full n8n guide and Zapier guide. For the wider market, see the AI automation category and Best AI Tools 2026. If you are after a conversational assistant rather than a workflow tool, our Zapier alternatives page covers that side.
FAQ#
Is n8n cheaper than Zapier?#
Usually yes for multi-step workflows, because n8n bills per run and Zapier bills per action step. For one or two steps at low volume, the difference is small, and Zapier's entry plan may be enough.
Is n8n really free?#
The self-hosted Community license is free as long as workflows are only created or modified by you or people in your organization. n8n Cloud is a paid subscription, and you are responsible for running and securing a self-hosted instance.
Can I use n8n commercially for clients?#
Not by letting clients build workflows on your n8n instance under the Community license. That requires a separate agreement. Building workflows in your own n8n instance to run your business is allowed.
Does Zapier count triggers as tasks?#
No. Triggers, Filter steps, Paths steps, and Formatter steps do not count as tasks. Each successful action step does.
Is Make cheaper than Zapier?#
We cannot say from the sources we could read, because Make's pricing page could not be verified. Zapier's paid plans start from $19.99/month, and Make's current prices are at make.com/en/pricing.
Does Zapier offer self-hosting?#
Zapier's pricing page lists no self-hosted plan. If self-hosting is a requirement, n8n is the choice between the two.
