n8n vs Zapier
How n8n and Zapier compare for ai agents & automation — on pricing, strengths and who each is best for.
Quick answer
Choose n8n if you want Developers and technical teams who want flexible, code-capable automation and the option to self-host; choose Zapier for Non-technical teams who want the easiest setup and the widest integration coverage for SaaS automation. Both are ai agents & automation tools — full breakdown below.
| Spec | n8n | Zapier |
|---|---|---|
| Category | AI Agents & Automation | AI Agents & Automation |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting price | Free self-hosted; Cloud Starter from ~€24/mo (2,500 executions) | Free; paid Professional from $29.99/mo (~750 tasks) |
| Best for | Developers and technical teams who want flexible, code-capable automation and the option to self-host. | Non-technical teams who want the easiest setup and the widest integration coverage for SaaS automation. |
n8n
- Self-hostable, source-available (free Community Edition, unlimited executions)
- Native JavaScript and Python code nodes alongside 1,000+ integrations
- Execution-based pricing: pay per workflow run, unlimited steps and users
- Built-in AI agent and LangChain-style nodes for LLM workflows
Zapier
- 8,000+ app integrations (largest catalog in the category)
- Zapier Copilot builds Zaps from natural language (doesn't consume tasks)
- Zapier Agents: autonomous AI teammates (separate add-on, ~$20/mo)
- Built-in Tables, Interfaces, and Forms for lightweight apps