Automate Basics

Zapier vs n8n

Pick up to 4 tools and see their free plans, entry prices, platforms and limits in one table. Every fact comes from each vendor's own pages, checked 23 September 2026.

Written head to head: Zapier vs n8n, with when to choose each side.

Compared on
Zapier

Free plan · from $19.99/mo

n8n

Free plan · from $20/mo

What it isNo-code tool that connects web apps and runs automated, AI-assisted workflowsWorkflow automation and AI agent builder you can self-host or use in the cloud
Free plan100 tasks per month; two-step Zaps only; unlimited Zaps, Tables and FormsSelf-hosted Community Edition only: free to run on your own server under n8n's Sustainable Use License; there is no free tier on n8n Cloud
Cheapest paid plan$19.99/mo billed annually (Professional)Zapier pricing$20/mo billed annually (Starter)n8n pricing
What it coversFor 750 tasks/month; price rises with the task tier.2,500 workflow executions/month, hosted by n8n.
Free trial14-day free trial of the Professional plan for new accounts, no credit card requiredFree trial of n8n Cloud with Pro-level features, capped at 1,000 executions, no credit card required; 14-day free trial of the self-hosted Business plan (credit card required)
PlatformsWebWeb, Self-hosted, API
Integrations (vendor's figure)9,000+ apps500+ integrations
Open sourceNoYes, self-hostable
Good for
  • Sending new web-form leads into a CRM and a Slack channel
  • Copying email attachments to cloud storage automatically
  • Adding new orders or calendar events to a shared spreadsheet
  • Building an AI agent that answers questions from internal documents
  • Automating lead enrichment and CRM updates with custom logic
  • Running automations on a company's own server to keep data in-house
Watch out for
  • Free plan allows only two-step Zaps and 100 tasks a month
  • Every Zap step, AI step, code run and connector call draws from one shared monthly task allowance
  • Multi-step Zaps, premium apps and webhooks require a paid plan
  • No free tier on n8n Cloud; free use means self-hosting the Community Edition
  • SSO, Git-based version control and multiple environments require the Business or Enterprise plan
  • Cloud plans cap monthly executions (2,500 on Starter, 10,000 on Pro) and concurrent executions
Made byZapier, Inc.n8n

Entry prices are the cheapest paid plan, as each vendor publishes it; “What it covers” says what that price is per (a user, a channel, a brand, a number of contacts). The sources are listed on each tool's page.

Every tool in workflow automation tools is on its category page, with the written head-to-heads on Compare.