n8n vs Zapier
A detailed comparison of n8n and Zapier. See how they stack up on features, pricing, and user ratings.
Quick Summary
n8n leads with a 4.7/5 rating compared to Zapier's 4.5/5. Both tools target solopreneur to enterprise companies. Both tools offer free plans, so you can try each before committing.
n8n
Open-source workflow automation with AI capabilities
Rating
4.7/5
Best for
Solopreneur to Enterprise
Free trial
No
Free plan
Yes
Zapier
No-code automation platform with AI-powered workflows
Rating
4.5/5
Best for
Solopreneur to Enterprise
Free trial
No
Free plan
Yes
Feature Comparison
| Feature | n8n | Zapier |
|---|---|---|
| AI Decision Making | ||
| App Integrations | ||
| Error Handling | ||
| Scheduling & Delays | ||
| Trigger-Based Automation | ||
| Workflow Builder | ||
| API Access | ||
| Data Privacy Controls | ||
| On-Premise / Self-Hosted | ||
| Natural Language Chat | ||
| Team Management |
Pricing Comparison
n8n
Community (Self-hosted)
Free
Starter
$24/mo
Pro
$60/mo
Enterprise
Custom
Zapier
Free
Free
Professional
$30/mo
Team
$104/mo
Enterprise
Custom
Pros & Cons
n8n
Pros
- +Fully open-source with self-hosting option
- +AI nodes let you embed LLMs directly in workflows
- +No vendor lock-in — export and migrate freely
- +Active community with growing integration library
Cons
- -Requires technical knowledge to self-host
- -Fewer integrations than Zapier or Make
- -Less intuitive than Zapier for non-technical users
- -Self-hosted option needs DevOps maintenance
Zapier
Pros
- +Largest app integration library at 7,000+ connections
- +AI workflow builder creates automations from descriptions
- +Extremely reliable with strong uptime record
- +Huge community and template library
Cons
- -Gets expensive quickly with task-based pricing
- -Complex multi-step workflows can be fiddly to debug
- -Free tier limited to 100 tasks per month
- -Task pricing model can be unpredictable for usage-heavy workflows
Which Should You Choose?
Choose n8n if:
- • Your company is Solopreneur to Enterprise size
- • You want to start with a free plan
- • Fully open-source with self-hosting option
- • Higher user ratings matter to you (4.7 vs 4.5)
Choose Zapier if:
- • Your company is Solopreneur to Enterprise size
- • You want to start with a free plan
- • Largest app integration library at 7,000+ connections