Is n8n cheaper than Zapier?

Usually for long workflows. n8n bills one execution per workflow run regardless of steps, while Zapier bills a task for each action. For short two-step automations at low volume, Zapier's free plan with 100 tasks a month may cost nothing at all.

Can you self-host Zapier like n8n?

No. Zapier is cloud only. n8n publishes its Community Edition on GitHub, and you can run it on your own servers at no license cost, though you take on updates, backups and uptime.

Which has more integrations, n8n or Zapier?

Zapier lists 9,000+ apps on its pricing page. n8n's integrations directory lists 2,000+ apps and services, and its HTTP and GraphQL request steps can reach any API without a prebuilt node.

Which is better for building AI agents?

Both score 9.3 for capabilities in our list. n8n suits developers with its AI Agent node, MCP Server Trigger and code steps, while Zapier suits business users with Copilot, Agents and Zapier MCP across its larger app catalog.

Is n8n harder to use than Zapier?

Yes, for most people. We score n8n 7.6 for ease of setup and Zapier 9.2, because n8n's editor expects comfort with JSON data and expressions.

Head to head

n8n vs Zapier

By the DBotMaker research desk · Updated November 6, 2026

Our verdict

Zapier scores 8.9 and ranks first in our AI workflow automation list, while n8n scores 8.7 and ranks third. Both earn 9.3 for capabilities, so the gap comes from ease of setup and value. Zapier wins ease of setup, 9.2 to 7.6: its pricing page lists 9,000+ apps and Zapier Copilot can draft a Zap from a plain-language description. n8n wins value, 9.0 to 8.0, because one execution covers a whole workflow however many steps it runs, and its Community Edition can be self-hosted at no cost. The choice mostly depends on who builds the workflows. Non-technical teams connecting many SaaS apps will move faster on Zapier. Technical teams running long, high-volume or data-sensitive workflows will usually pay less and keep more control on n8n. We compared documented features and published prices; we did not run either product in production.

n8n

8.7

Pick it if

Pick n8n if your team is comfortable with code and JSON, wants to self-host, or runs long workflows where per-step billing would add up.

Capabilities: 9.3
Ease of setup: 7.6
Value: 9.0

Price: Free self-hosted Community Edition; cloud Starter, Pro, Business and Enterprise plans priced per workflow execution. See vendor pricing (USD check pending)

Full review →

Zapier

8.9

Pick it if

Pick Zapier if you want the largest app catalog, a free plan and a builder that non-technical colleagues can use from day one.

Capabilities: 9.3
Ease of setup: 9.2
Value: 8.0

Price: Free plan with 100 tasks a month; Professional starting from $19.99 per month; Team from $69 per month

Quoted from the pricing page on November 6, 2026.

Full review →

Side by side

	n8n	Zapier
DBotMaker score	8.7 out of 10	8.9 out of 10
Capabilities score	9.3	9.3
Ease of setup score	7.6	9.2
Value score	9.0	8.0
Billing unit	Workflow executions, one per run regardless of steps	Tasks, one per action step
Free option	Community Edition, free to self-host	Free cloud plan with 100 tasks a month and two-step Zaps
Paid entry plan	Cloud Starter with 2,500 executions a month; USD price pending on our check	Professional from $19.99 per month, billed annually
Team plan	Pro with 10,000 executions a month; unlimited users on every plan	Team from $69 per month for 25 users, with SAML SSO
Apps and integrations	2,000+	9,000+
AI features	AI Agent node, AI steps and an MCP Server Trigger	Zapier Copilot, AI steps and fields, Agents and Zapier MCP
Code steps	JavaScript or Python, plus custom HTTP or GraphQL requests	Code steps and an SDK, billed as tasks
Self-hosting	Yes, Community Edition on GitHub	No, cloud only
Extras	Git version control and environments on Enterprise	Tables and Forms on every plan

Pricing: tasks against executions

The two tools meter different things, which matters more than the headline price. Zapier counts a task for each action a Zap performs, so a ten-step Zap that runs 100 times uses about 1,000 tasks. Its free plan includes 100 tasks a month, Professional starts from $19.99 per month and Team from $69 per month, and paying yearly saves 33%. n8n counts one execution for each full workflow run, however many steps it has, so a 30-step workflow still counts as one. Cloud Starter includes 2,500 executions a month and Pro 10,000, with a 17% discount for annual billing. n8n showed euro prices from our location, so we have not published a USD figure for it yet. The Community Edition is free if you host it yourself, though you then pay for servers and maintenance time.

Apps and AI features

Zapier's catalog is the larger by a wide margin: its pricing page lists 9,000+ apps against the 2,000+ apps and services in n8n's integrations directory. For a team that relies on niche SaaS tools, that difference often decides the matter. On AI, both now go well beyond simple triggers. Zapier offers Copilot to draft workflows from a sentence, AI steps and fields, Agents and Zapier MCP so AI assistants can act in connected apps. n8n offers an AI Agent node, AI steps and an MCP Server Trigger, plus code steps in JavaScript or Python and raw HTTP or GraphQL requests when a prebuilt node is missing. Both score 9.3 for capabilities in our list.

Ease of setup

Zapier scores 9.2 for ease of setup and n8n 7.6, the largest gap between them. Zapier's builder walks you through a trigger and actions one step at a time, and Copilot can produce a first draft for you. n8n's canvas is flexible, but it expects you to understand JSON data, expressions and how items pass between nodes. Self-hosting adds more work, since you handle updates, backups and uptime. A developer will find n8n comfortable quickly; a marketer or operations lead without that background will usually reach a working automation sooner on Zapier.

Data control and teams

n8n is the only option in this pair that you can run on your own servers, which is why teams with data residency rules or sensitive internal databases often start with it. Every n8n plan includes unlimited users, unlimited workflows and every integration, though Git version control and separate environments require Enterprise. Zapier is cloud only. Its Team plan adds 25 users, shared connections and SAML SSO, and Tables and Forms are included on every plan, which saves buying separate tools for simple data storage and intake forms.

Who should pick which

Choose Zapier if you need to connect many SaaS apps quickly, want a free plan to start, or have non-technical people building automations. Watch task usage on long workflows, where costs climb with each step. Choose n8n if you have developers on the team, want to self-host, or run long and frequent workflows with loops and AI calls, where per-run billing keeps costs predictable. Some teams use both: Zapier for quick app-to-app tasks owned by business users, and n8n for heavier internal workflows owned by engineering.

Questions readers ask

Is n8n cheaper than Zapier?: Usually for long workflows. n8n bills one execution per workflow run regardless of steps, while Zapier bills a task for each action. For short two-step automations at low volume, Zapier's free plan with 100 tasks a month may cost nothing at all.
Can you self-host Zapier like n8n?: No. Zapier is cloud only. n8n publishes its Community Edition on GitHub, and you can run it on your own servers at no license cost, though you take on updates, backups and uptime.
Which has more integrations, n8n or Zapier?: Zapier lists 9,000+ apps on its pricing page. n8n's integrations directory lists 2,000+ apps and services, and its HTTP and GraphQL request steps can reach any API without a prebuilt node.
Which is better for building AI agents?: Both score 9.3 for capabilities in our list. n8n suits developers with its AI Agent node, MCP Server Trigger and code steps, while Zapier suits business users with Copilot, Agents and Zapier MCP across its larger app catalog.
Is n8n harder to use than Zapier?: Yes, for most people. We score n8n 7.6 for ease of setup and Zapier 9.2, because n8n's editor expects comfort with JSON data and expressions.

We compared documented features and published prices. Questions or corrections: editorial@dbotmaker.io