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 |
36-point evaluation
Agenticness
14/36
Adaptive Collaborator
n8n
13/36
Adaptive Collaborator
Zapier
Dimension Breakdown (0-4 each)
Action Capability
n8n
3
Zapier
2
Autonomy
n8n
2
Zapier
1
Planning
n8n
2
Zapier
1
Adaptation
n8n
1
Zapier
1
State & Memory
n8n
1
Zapier
2
Reliability
n8n
0
Zapier
1
Interoperability
n8n
1
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 technical control (self-hosting via Docker/`npx n8n`, optional air-gapped/enterprise options), custom logic (JavaScript/Python plus npm packages), and AI-native workflow building grounded in LangChain across 400+ integrations. Pick Zapier when your priority is quick, governed app-to-app automation in the cloud with an easy visual editor, strong team sharing (shared Zaps/folders/app connections, SAML SSO/admin controls), and higher-level business primitives like Tables and Forms—enhanced by Copilot for generating Zaps/field mappings and Zapier MCP to route AI tools across its very large app ecosystem.
Choose n8n if...
- +Choose n8n if you need self-hosted or hybrid automation (Docker/`npx n8n` locally, plus n8n Cloud) and want deeper technical control over workflow runtime, data handling, and enterprise deployment options like air-gapped setups and advanced permissions/SSO.
- +Choose n8n if your automations require custom logic and extensibility—drop in JavaScript or Python inside workflows, install npm packages in workflows, and extend functionality with custom nodes.
- +Choose n8n if you want AI-native workflow building that’s embedded into automation steps (e.g., LangChain-based AI workflow construction), not just AI fields on top of prebuilt app triggers/actions.
- +Choose n8n if you’re integrating many systems with an engineering workflow mindset (400+ integrations) and want repeatable “ops” workflows with code-based edge cases and approvals/logic.
Choose Zapier if...
- +Choose Zapier if you want a fast, web-based, no-code approach to building multi-step automations that connect business apps reliably—starting in the Zapier app editor with Zaps, scheduling, branching logic, and data formatting.
- +Choose Zapier if collaboration and shared automation are primary needs: shared Zaps/folders and shared app connections for teams, plus SAML SSO and team/enterprise admin controls.
- +Choose Zapier if you want built-in “business building blocks” beyond Zaps—Tables for workflow data storage and Forms for intake—so you can create internal tools around your automations.
- +Choose Zapier if AI assistance is mainly about generating and enriching automations: use Zapier Copilot to generate Zaps/code steps/field mappings and create AI fields using an OpenAI account, and use Zapier MCP to connect AI tools to up to 8,000 apps.