n8n vs. Zapier
Open, self-hostable workflow builder vs. a much larger no-code app catalog. n8n bills per workflow run and rewards teams that can write a little code; Zapier bills per action and rewards teams that want to ship in minutes. Here's how to pick, and when neither fits.
n8n
A node-based workflow automation tool you can run on n8n Cloud or host yourself. Workflows mix prebuilt nodes, an HTTP Request node for any API, and JavaScript or Python code nodes, and n8n counts one execution per workflow run however many steps it has.
Choose n8n if
- You want to self-host, or keep automations on your own infrastructure
- Workflows are long and multi-step, so per-run billing beats per-step billing
- Someone on the team is comfortable with APIs, JSON and a little code
- You want to build AI agent workflows with full control over each node
Zapier
A cloud, no-code automation platform built around trigger-action Zaps. Zapier states it connects 10,000+ apps, and it counts a task for each successful action step, with triggers, filters and Formatter steps free.
Choose Zapier if
- Non-technical owners need to build and change their own automations
- The apps you use are niche SaaS tools that only Zapier connects to
- You want nothing to host, patch or monitor
- Automations are short (a trigger and one or two actions) and volume is modest
At a glance
| | n8n | Zapier |
|---|---|---|
| Build style | Visual node canvas, code nodes when you need them | No-code trigger-action Zaps |
| Hosting | n8n Cloud or self-hosted | Zapier cloud only |
| Billing unit | One execution per workflow run, any number of steps | One task per successful action step |
| App catalog | 2,274 integrations listed, plus HTTP Request for any API | 10,000+ apps listed |
| Free option | Community Edition, free to self-host (Sustainable Use License) | Free plan: 100 tasks/mo, two-step Zaps |
| Entry paid plan (Sept 2026) | Cloud Starter: 20 EUR/mo billed annually, 2,500 executions | Professional: from $19.99/mo billed annually ($29.99 monthly), 750 tasks |
| Next tier (Sept 2026) | Cloud Pro: 50 EUR/mo billed annually, 10,000 executions | Team: from $69/mo billed annually, 2,000 tasks, 25 users |
| Who builds it | Technical ops, developers, automation engineers | Anyone on the team |
| Upkeep | You own the instance if self-hosted, plus every workflow | Zapier runs the platform; you own every Zap |
Sources, as of September 2026: n8n pricing · n8n integrations · n8n Sustainable Use License · n8n Code node · Zapier pricing · Zapier apps · How Zapier counts tasks
When neither fits
Both are builders: they automate exactly the steps you design, in the order you wire them. Someone still has to notice which work is worth automating, map it, build it, and fix it when an app or field changes. For a back office full of documents, exceptions and judgment calls, that design-and-maintain loop is where the time goes, whichever canvas you pick.
End-to-end AI Process Automation.
- DiscoverFinds the work worth automating in the tools you already use, read only, with the evidence behind each finding.
- AutomateThe person who does the work builds the automation that replaces it. No IT project, no bots to babysit.
- GovernEvery run and every decision is logged and reviewable. No black box.
Help me automate n8n or Zapier? Neither in Microsoft Outlook and Salesforce. Caddi builds the loop and runs it.
Microsoft Outlook
Salesforce
Discover it. Automate it. Govern it.
Bring a workflow that's outgrowing n8n or Zapier. Caddi finds it in the tools you already use, the person who does the work builds the automation with no IT project, and every run is on the record, across 150+ tools.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main difference between n8n and Zapier?
n8n is a node-based workflow builder you can self-host or run on n8n Cloud, with code nodes for custom logic and billing per workflow execution. Zapier is a cloud-only, no-code tool with a larger app catalog and billing per successful action step. n8n suits technical teams; Zapier suits anyone who wants to connect apps quickly without code.
Is n8n cheaper than Zapier?
Often, for long workflows. n8n counts one execution per workflow run regardless of step count, while Zapier counts a task for every successful action. As of September 2026, n8n Cloud Starter is 20 EUR/mo billed annually for 2,500 executions and Zapier Professional starts at $19.99/mo billed annually for 750 tasks. Self-hosting n8n Community Edition has no license fee, but you pay for hosting and upkeep.
Is n8n harder to use than Zapier?
Generally, yes. Zapier's trigger-action editor is designed for non-technical users. n8n's canvas is visual too, but getting the most from it usually means working with JSON, expressions, HTTP requests and occasionally JavaScript or Python. Teams with a technical owner tend to like that control; teams without one tend to find Zapier faster to learn.
Can I self-host Zapier like n8n?
No. Zapier runs only as a cloud service. n8n offers a free, self-hosted Community Edition under its Sustainable Use License, which permits internal business use, plus paid self-hosted Business and Enterprise plans. If keeping automations on your own infrastructure is a requirement, n8n is the one of the two that allows it.
Does Zapier or n8n connect to more apps?
Zapier lists more: its apps page states 10,000+ apps, while n8n's integrations page lists 2,274 integrations as of September 2026. Both can reach apps outside their catalogs, Zapier through webhooks on paid plans and n8n through its HTTP Request node. For niche SaaS tools, check Zapier's catalog first.
When should I use neither n8n nor Zapier?
When the hard part is not wiring apps but knowing what to automate and keeping it running. If the work is document-heavy back-office process, and the person who does it is not a developer, a builder of either kind leaves design and upkeep on your team. That is where Caddi fits: it finds the work, builds it as deterministic code, and logs every run.