n8n vs Zapier in 2026

New comparison: n8n now bills per workflow execution with Starter at €20/mo billed annually, while Zapier lists 9,000+ apps and AI Agents, Canvas and MCP on every plan.

Updated Oct 26, 2026 · 2 sources checked

The short answer

Zapier is the easier tool for non-technical users and has far more ready-made app connections (9,000+).

Pick n8n for technical teams, developers and anyone running high-volume or AI-agent workflows who wants to self-host
Pick Zapier for non-technical users, simple to medium automations, and teams that need the widest app coverage

At a glance

n8nZapier
Made byn8nZapier Inc.
Starts atFree$19.99/moFree plan
All plansCommunity Edition free (self-hosted) + Starter €20/mo (2,500 executions) + Pro €50/mo (10,000 executions) + Business €667/mo (40,000 executions, self-hosted only), all billed annually + Enterprise (custom)Free (100 tasks/mo) + Pro from $19.99/mo billed annually ($29.99 monthly) for 750 tasks + Team from $69/mo billed annually ($103.50 monthly) + Enterprise (custom)
Best forTechnical teams, developers and anyone running high-volume or AI-agent workflows who wants to self-hostNon-technical users, simple to medium automations, and teams that need the widest app coverage

How they score

n8nZapier
Coding
7
3
Writing
2
2
Reasoning
6
5
Speed
7.5
8
Privacy
8.5
6

Scores out of 10: our judgment from hands-on use and each vendor's published limits.

n8n

by n8n

Workflow automation platform with a node-based editor, AI Agent nodes and MCP support. You can use n8n's cloud or self-host it, and the Community Edition is free on GitHub. It bills per workflow execution, not per step.

Good

  • Free Community Edition you can self-host
  • Billed per full workflow run, however many steps it has
  • Unlimited users, workflows and integrations on every plan
  • Agents, MCP and AI nodes included from Starter
  • Write custom code inside workflows

Watch out

  • Harder for non-technical users than Zapier
  • Self-hosting means you run servers, updates and backups yourself
  • Cloud prices are listed in euros
  • Business plan is self-hosted only
Visit n8n ↗

Zapier

by Zapier Inc.

No-code automation platform that connects 9,000+ apps. You build trigger-and-action workflows (Zaps), and it now also offers AI Agents, Chatbots, Canvas, Tables, Forms and an MCP server.

Good

  • Largest app library: 9,000+ apps
  • Easiest setup for simple trigger-action automations
  • AI Agents, Chatbots, Canvas and MCP are available even on the Free plan
  • Unlimited Copilot and 'AI by Zapier' steps on paid plans
  • Tables and Forms let you build lightweight internal tools

Watch out

  • Task-based pricing gets expensive as volume grows
  • Free plan is limited to two-step Zaps and 15-minute polling
  • Premium apps are not available on the Free plan
  • Complex branching logic is harder to read than in Make's visual canvas
Visit Zapier ↗
Our verdict

Zapier is the easier tool for non-technical users and has far more ready-made app connections (9,000+). n8n is better for technical users, AI-agent workflows and high volume: it bills per workflow run instead of per step, and you can self-host the free Community Edition. If your workflows are long or run often, n8n will usually cost much less.

Questions people ask

n8n vs Zapier: which is better?

Zapier is better if you want something that works in minutes without code and connects to almost any app. n8n is better if you are comfortable with technical setup, want to self-host, or run long workflows often, because n8n counts one execution per workflow run regardless of steps.

Is n8n free?

The self-hosted Community Edition is free on GitHub. n8n's hosted cloud plans start at €20/mo billed annually for 2,500 workflow executions.

Is n8n cheaper than Zapier?

For multi-step workflows, usually. Zapier bills per task (each action step), with Pro from $19.99/mo billed annually for 750 tasks. n8n bills per full workflow run, with Starter at €20/mo billed annually for 2,500 executions.

Which is better for AI agents?

Both support them. n8n includes Agents, MCP and AI nodes from its Starter plan and lets you add custom code. Zapier offers AI Agents, Chatbots, Canvas and MCP with basic access even on its Free plan. n8n gives more control; Zapier is faster to set up.

Sources (2), checked Oct 26, 2026

More automation & integration comparisons

vs
Zapier vs Make
Zapier: from $19.99/moMake: from $9/mo
Updated Oct 26, 2026 →

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