Side-by-side comparison
n8n vs Zapier
vs
Zapier
Automate workflows across 8,000+ apps with AI and no-code tools
AgenticnessAdaptive Collaborator
Side-by-side comparison based on our agenticness evaluation framework
At a glance
Quick Facts
| Feature | n8n | Zapier |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Workflow Automation | Workflow Automation |
| Deployment | Hybrid (cloud + self-hosted) | Cloud-hosted |
| Autonomy Level | Semi-autonomous | Semi-autonomous |
| Model Support | Multi-model | Single model |
| Open Source | -- | No |
| MCP Support | -- | Yes |
| Team Support | Enterprise | Enterprise |
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Interface | gui, cli, web | web, api |
32-point evaluation
Agenticness
11/32
Guided Assistant
n8n
12/32
Adaptive Collaborator
Zapier
Dimension Breakdown (0-4 each)
Action Capability
n8n
3
Zapier
2
Autonomy
n8n
1
Zapier
1
Planning
n8n
2
Zapier
1
Adaptation
n8n
1
Zapier
1
State & Memory
n8n
0
Zapier
2
Reliability
n8n
0
Zapier
1
Interoperability
n8n
2
Zapier
2
Safety
n8n
2
Zapier
2
Scores from our agenticness evaluation framework. Higher is more autonomous.
Features & Use Cases
n8n
Features
- Build workflows visually with a drag-and-drop editor
- Add custom JavaScript or Python inside workflows
- Install and use npm packages in workflows
- Connect to 400+ integrations
- Use AI-native workflow building based on LangChain
- Run self-hosted or in n8n Cloud
- Deploy with Docker or via npx for local setup
- Use enterprise controls such as advanced permissions, SSO, and air-gapped deployments
Use Cases
- Automating internal business processes across multiple SaaS tools
- Building AI-assisted workflows that combine app actions with LLM steps
- Creating custom integrations and event-driven automations for engineering teams
- Self-hosting automation for teams that need more control over data and deployment
- Running repeatable ops workflows with approvals, logic, and code-based edge cases
Zapier
Features
- Build two-step and multi-step Zaps
- Add logic branches, scheduling, and data formatting
- Connect apps with Webhooks by Zapier
- Store workflow data in Tables
- Create custom forms with Forms
- Use Zapier Copilot to generate Zaps, code steps, and field mappings
- Create AI fields using an OpenAI account
- Share Zaps, folders, and app connections with teams
Use Cases
- Automating lead capture from forms into a CRM
- Routing support requests into internal workflows
- Sharing team-wide automations with permissions and shared app connections
- Building AI-assisted internal tools with forms and tables
- Connecting business apps through multi-step no-code workflows
Pricing
n8n
Pricing not publicly available.
- **Free / self-hosted:** Source-available under a fair-code license; self-hostable.
- **Cloud:** Available via n8n Cloud.
- **Enterprise:** Enterprise licenses available for additional features and support; contact sales.
Zapier
- **Free:** $0/mo; includes 100 tasks/month, Zaps, Tables, Forms, and Zapier Copilot with daily message limits.
- **Professional ($19.99/mo starting, billed annually):** Adds multi-step Zaps, unlimited premium apps, webhooks, AI fields, and email/live chat support on higher task tiers.
- **Team ($69/mo starting, billed annually):** Includes 25 users, shared Zaps and folders, shared app connections, SAML SSO, and Premier Support.
- **Enterprise:** Contact sales for custom pricing, unlimited users, advanced admin controls, VPC peering, annual task limits, and observability.
Analysis
Our Verdict
Pick n8n when you need a self-hosted (or hybrid) workflow platform with developer-grade flexibility—embedding JavaScript/Python, running npm packages inside workflows, extending/customizing nodes, and leveraging LangChain-based AI steps for tightly integrated AI automation. Pick Zapier when you want a fully managed, business-focused automation platform where you can quickly build multi-step Zaps with guardrails, add Tables and Forms for lightweight internal apps, and collaborate securely with shared automations plus SAML SSO—while also taking advantage of Zapier Copilot and Zapier MCP (including connections to a large app catalog).
Choose n8n if...
- +Choose n8n if you need a more technical, self-hostable workflow engine—start locally with `npx n8n` or run via Docker, and for regulated environments use options like air-gapped deployments and advanced permissions/SSO.
- +Choose n8n if your automations require deeper customization inside the workflow—add custom JavaScript or Python steps and install/use npm packages within workflows (useful when “no-code” logic isn’t enough).
- +Choose n8n if you want AI-native workflow building tied to your automation flow via LangChain-based steps, rather than just adding AI fields to otherwise standard Zap-style automations.
- +Choose n8n if you’re building repeatable engineering/ops workflows that need custom nodes and extensibility (e.g., event-driven automations across internal systems plus external SaaS via 400+ integrations).
Choose Zapier if...
- +Choose Zapier if you want fast, reliable app-to-app automation from a fully hosted web platform—ideal when you don’t want to operate your own automation infrastructure.
- +Choose Zapier if you’re optimizing for team sharing and governance in a SaaS setup—shared Zaps/folders/app connections, SAML SSO, and progressively stronger admin controls (with Team plans and enterprise add-ons like VPC peering and observability).
- +Choose Zapier if you want a broad business-automation “suite” beyond Zaps—Zaps plus Tables (workflow data storage) and Forms (for intake), along with Zapier Copilot to generate Zaps, code steps, and field mappings.
- +Choose Zapier if you specifically want MCP to connect AI tools to a very large app catalog (via Zapier MCP to 8,000 apps) and/or you want AI fields using an OpenAI account as part of no-code automations.