N8N vs Zapier
Worth-It Score: 76/100
WAIT — WAIT under $20
n8n scores well, but current pricing sits above our fair-price band. Wait for a price drop before pulling the trigger.
Verified
Confidence: 80%
Verdict: n8n wins for technical teams who want code-level control, AI agent pipelines, self-hosting, and unlimited executions at lower cost. Zapier wins for non-technical teams who need 7,000 integrations and an intuitive builder they can deploy in minutes. The right choice depends entirely on whether there's an engineer building the workflows.
How we scored it
Spec verificationOwner sentimentLive pricing (4h refresh)Editorial review
Our methodology
Winner: n8n
N8N: 9/10
Zapier: 8/10
Spec-by-spec comparison
| N8N | Zapier | |
|---|---|---|
| pricing | Self-hosted free; Cloud Starter $24/month; Pro $60/month | Free (5 Zaps); Starter $29/month; Professional $73/month |
| triggers | 400+ integrations, unlimited trigger frequency | 7,000+ app integrations |
| logic | Full code execution (JavaScript/Python nodes), branching, loops, error handling | Paths, filters, delay, formatter — no raw code (unless Code step) |
| self_host | Docker self-hosted, full data control | Cloud-only |
| ai | AI agent nodes with LangChain integration | Zapier AI Actions for ChatGPT plugins |
| executions | Unlimited on self-hosted; tiered on cloud | Task-based billing, caps at plan tier |
N8N
What works
- Self-hosted option means your workflow data never leaves your servers — critical for HIPAA, GDPR, and enterprise compliance scenarios
- Full JavaScript and Python code nodes allow complex transformations that Zapier's Code Step can't handle at the same capability level
- AI agent nodes with LangChain enable multi-step LLM workflows natively — n8n is the most advanced no-code platform for AI automation pipelines
What doesn't
- Steeper learning curve — visual graph-based workflow model requires more setup time than Zapier's linear Zap builder
- Self-hosted maintenance requires server administration knowledge — Docker setup and updates fall on the user
- Cloud tier has fewer pre-built integrations than Zapier in some niche SaaS categories
Zapier
What works
- 7,000+ integrations is the largest app catalog in automation — if your SaaS has an API, Zapier probably has a native connector
- Zapier's linear Zap builder is the most intuitive automation builder available — non-technical marketers can build functional Zaps in 10 minutes
- Zapier Transfer for bulk data migration between apps is unique — no equivalent feature exists in n8n
What doesn't
- Task-based billing at Professional tier gets expensive fast — 50,000 tasks at $73/month means high-volume automations cost $0.00146/task
- Cloud-only means all workflow data passes through Zapier's servers — compliance-heavy industries can't use it
- Code step is limited compared to n8n's full code nodes — complex data transformations require workarounds
Bottom line
Our pick: n8n. That said, N8N still wins on self-hosted option means your workflow data never leaves your servers — critical for hipaa, gdpr, and enterprise compliance scenarios — consider it if that single trade matters most for your use.
View full comparison on GoodPickr
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