Pick n8n if
technical ops, DevOps, and automation engineers who need to connect SaaS apps, internal APIs, and LLM tools — especially teams that want self-host / data residency.
Read the n8n pagen8n vs Zapier
Our take
Pick n8n if technical ops, DevOps, and automation engineers who need to connect SaaS apps, internal APIs, and LLM tools — especially teams that want self-host / data residency. Pick Zapier if ops, marketing, and support teams who will not run Docker and need the widest app catalog. Skip n8n if someone who only wants a chat window, or a non-technical team that will not maintain credentials, executions, or a Docker
Best for
n8n Wiring tools together
Zapier Wiring SaaS tools together without operating a server
Free plan
n8n $0 · no license fee. You run Docker or npm. Choose n8n describes a free Registered Community email unlock (folders, debug in editor, custom execution data). SSO, Git, environments, and similar extras need a paid Business/Enterprise license key
Zapier $0 · 100 tasks/month, unlimited two-step Zaps, 15-minute polling. Copilot has a daily message cap
Lowest paid
n8n Cloud Starter €20/mo yearly
Zapier Professional (Pro) $19.99/mo
Next step up
n8n Cloud Pro €50/mo yearly
Zapier
Coding agent
n8n AI agents on the canvas
Zapier AI on the platform
Runs where
n8n Local; you host it
Zapier Desktop editor; models hosted
Watch out
n8n You operate the graph
Zapier Free is two-step only
Last checked
n8n 2026-10-19 · n8n.io/pricing
Zapier 2026-10-19 · zapier.com/pricing
Which one, then?
Pick Zapier if
ops, marketing, and support teams who will not run Docker and need the widest app catalog.
Read the Zapier page