n8n vs Zapier: Open Source Automation Showdown (2025)
You need to automate workflows. The question is: should you pay Zapier's premium prices or invest time in self-hosting n8n?
Both platforms connect your apps and automate repetitive tasks. But they take fundamentally different approaches: Zapier offers plug-and-play simplicity with 8,000+ integrations, while n8n gives you full control as an open-source solution.
After running production automations on both platforms, here's my complete breakdown.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | n8n | Zapier |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Open-source, self-hostable | Cloud SaaS, proprietary |
| Best For | Technical users, high volume | Non-technical teams |
| Integrations | 400+ (growing) | 8,000+ built-in |
| Price (Cloud) | $20/month (2,500 executions) | $19.99/month (750 tasks) |
| Self-Hosting | ✅ Free (server costs only) | ❌ Not available |
| Custom Code | ✅ JavaScript & Python | ⚠️ Limited code steps |
| Data Control | ✅ Full (self-hosted) | ⚠️ Zapier's servers |
n8n: The Open-Source Powerhouse
What Is n8n?
n8n (pronounced "n-eight-n") is a fair-code workflow automation tool that you can self-host or run in the cloud. Think of it as "automation infrastructure" you control.
The platform uses a visual, node-based editor where you connect apps, APIs, and custom logic into sophisticated workflows.
Key Differences: Self-Hosted vs Cloud
| Aspect | Self-Hosted (Free) | Cloud (n8n.cloud) |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free (server costs: $5-$500/mo) | $20+/month |
| Maintenance | You handle updates, security | Fully managed by n8n |
| Data Privacy | Complete control (your servers) | n8n's infrastructure |
| Setup Time | 30-60 minutes | Instant |
| Best For | Technical teams, scale | Quick starts, small teams |
2025 AI Features
n8n went "AI-first" in 2025 with massive improvements:
-
✅ 70+ AI Nodes – Including:
- LLM integrations (OpenAI, Claude, Gemini)
- Vector databases (Pinecone, Qdrant, Milvus)
- Speech-to-text & text-to-speech
- OCR for PDF/image parsing
- Image generation & vision models
- Sentiment analysis & toxicity filtering
-
✅ AI Agents – Tools Agents, Conversational Agents, Plan-and-Execute Agents for autonomous task handling
-
✅ RAG Workflows – Built-in support for document chunking, embeddings, and retrieval-augmented generation
-
✅ Custom AI Models – Self-host models or connect to any API
Technical Capabilities
What makes n8n powerful for developers:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Custom Code | Embed JavaScript or Python directly in nodes |
| Any API | HTTP Request node connects to any endpoint |
| Error Handling | Advanced conditional branching and retry logic |
| Version Control | Export workflows as JSON for Git |
| Webhooks | Create custom API endpoints |
n8n Pricing (2025)
| Plan | Price | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Self-Hosted | Free | Server costs ($5-$500/mo) |
| Cloud Starter | ~$20/mo | 2,500 workflow executions |
| Cloud Pro | ~$50/mo | 10,000 executions |
| Enterprise | Custom | SSO, RBAC, SLA, audit logs |
Note: An "execution" = one full workflow run (all steps count as one).
Who Should Use n8n?
- ✅ Developers who want full control
- ✅ High-volume automation users (cheaper at scale)
- ✅ Data-sensitive organizations (GDPR, HIPAA)
- ✅ AI workflow builders (RAG, agents, custom models)
- ✅ Teams with dev resources for self-hosting
Zapier: The No-Code Giant
What Is Zapier?
Zapier is the industry-standard automation platform for non-technical teams. It pioneered the "app integration" category and remains the most user-friendly option.
You build "Zaps" – automated workflows where a trigger in one app causes actions in others.
Zapier's Strengths
What makes Zapier dominant:
| Strength | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| 8,000+ Integrations | Every SaaS tool you use likely connects |
| No-Code Interface | Anyone can build automations (zero coding) |
| Pre-Built Zaps | Templates for common workflows |
| Reliability | 99.95% uptime SLA (Enterprise) |
| Support | Extensive docs, community, live chat |
2025 AI Features
Zapier added significant AI capabilities:
-
✅ AI Copilot – Build Zaps using natural language ("Connect new Gmail to Slack")
-
✅ AI-Powered Suggestions – Recommends relevant triggers and actions
-
✅ Built-In AI Actions – ChatGPT, Claude, and other AI integrations
-
✅ Natural Language Processing – Analyze text, extract data, generate responses
Workflow Capabilities
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Multi-Step Zaps | Chain up to 100 actions together |
| Filters & Paths | Conditional logic (if/then) |
| Delay & Schedule | Time-based triggers |
| Error Handling | Retry failed tasks automatically |
| Code Steps | Python/JavaScript (limited) |
Zapier Pricing (2025)
| Plan | Price | Task Limit | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 100 tasks/mo | Single-step Zaps |
| Professional | $19.99/mo | 750 tasks | Multi-step,filters |
| Team | ~$69/mo | 2,000 tasks | Team features |
| Enterprise | Custom | Unlimited | SSO, SLA, support |
Critical: A "task" = each action in a Zap. A 5-step Zap running once = 5 tasks.
Who Should Use Zapier?
- ✅ Non-technical teams (marketing, sales, ops)
- ✅ Quick setup needed (no server management)
- ✅ Wide integration needs (obscure SaaS tools)
- ✅ Small-medium task volumes (under 2,000/month)
- ✅ Budget for simplicity (willing to pay premium)
Head-to-Head Comparison
Cost at Scale
Let's compare costs for 10,000 monthly executions/tasks:
| Platform | Setup | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| n8n (Self-Hosted) | Setup server once | $20-100 (server only) |
| n8n (Cloud) | Instant | $50 (Pro plan) |
| Zapier (Professional) | Instant | $599+ |
Winner: n8n saves 80-90% at high volumes.
Integration Coverage
| Platform | Count | Quality |
|---|---|---|
| Zapier | 8,000+ | Excellent (official partnerships) |
| n8n | 400+ | Good (community + custom) |
Winner: Zapier for breadth, n8n for custom APIs.
Ease of Use
| Aspect | n8n | Zapier |
|---|---|---|
| Learning Curve | Medium (visual but technical) | Easy (guided setup) |
| Setup Time | 1+ hours (self-hosting) | Instant |
| Debugging | Full visibility of data flow | Limited (black box) |
Winner: Zapier for simplicity, n8n for power users.
AI Automation
| Feature | n8n | Zapier |
|---|---|---|
| AI Nodes | 70+ specialized | Limited AI actions |
| Custom Models | ✅ Self-host or API | ❌ Only partner APIs |
| RAG Workflows | ✅ Native support | ⚠️ Requires hacks |
| AI Agents | ✅ Multiple types | ⚠️ Basic |
Winner: n8n dominates AI use cases.
Data Privacy & Control
| Aspect | n8n (Self-Hosted) | Zapier |
|---|---|---|
| Data Location | Your servers | Zapier's cloud |
| Compliance | You control (GDPR, HIPAA) | SOC 2, GDPR compliant |
| Audit Logs | Full (if set up) | Enterprise plan only |
Winner: n8n for control, Zapier for standard compliance.
Real-World Use Cases
When to Choose n8n
Scenario 1: High-Volume CRM Automation
- 50,000 monthly contact syncs between systems
- n8n cost: ~$50-100 (self-hosted)
- Zapier cost: ~$5,000+ (massive task volume)
Scenario 2: AI-Powered Customer Support
- RAG system for support tickets using company docs
- n8n: Native RAG nodes, embed custom LLMs
- Zapier: Limited AI integrations, no RAG support
Scenario 3: Regulated Industry
- Healthcare data that can't leave your servers
- n8n: Self-host on compliant infrastructure
- Zapier: Not an option (cloud-only)
When to Choose Zapier
Scenario 1: Marketing Team Automation
- Connect Instagram, Mailchimp, Google Sheets, Slack
- Zapier: All integrations work out-of-box
- n8n: May need custom HTTP requests
Scenario 2: Startup with No Dev Team
- 1,000 monthly tasks, non-technical users
- Zapier: Anyone can build Zaps in minutes
- n8n: Requires dev time for setup/maintenance
Scenario 3: Rapid Prototyping
- Test automation ideas quickly
- Zapier: Template marketplace, instant setup
- n8n: More configuration required
The Verdict
| If You... | Choose |
|---|---|
| Have dev resources for self-hosting | n8n |
| Are non-technical and need simplicity | Zapier |
| Run 10,000+ tasks/month | n8n (cost savings) |
| Need obscure SaaS integrations | Zapier (8,000 apps) |
| Build AI workflows (RAG, agents) | n8n (70+ AI nodes) |
| Want to start in under 5 minutes | Zapier |
| Require full data control (HIPAA) | n8n (self-hosted) |
| Are a small team with <1,000 tasks | Zapier (easier) |
My Hybrid Approach: Many teams use both:
- Zapier for quick, simple integrations
- n8n for complex, high-volume, or AI workflows
Migration Guide: Zapier → n8n
Thinking about switching? Here's the realistic breakdown:
| Step | Effort | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Set up n8n server | Medium | 1-2 hours |
| 2. Recreate top 5 Zaps | Medium | 2-4 hours |
| 3. Test workflows | Low | 1 hour |
| 4. Migrate remaining | High | Varies |
Recommended: Keep Zapier for simple Zaps, migrate high-volume workflows to n8n first.
FAQ
Can I use n8n without self-hosting?
Yes! n8n.cloud offers a managed cloud version starting at $20/month. You lose full data control but gain ease of use.
Does Zapier ever allow self-hosting?
No. Zapier is cloud-only and has no plans for self-hosted deployments.
Which has better AI integrations?
n8n has 70+ specialized AI nodes and supports custom models. Zapier has basic AI actions for ChatGPT, Claude, etc.
Can I migrate Zaps to n8n automatically?
Not automatically, but most Zaps can be recreated in n8n. Simple triggers/actions translate well; complex branching requires rebuilding.
What's the real cost of self-hosting n8n?
- Hobby: ~$5-20/month (DigitalOcean, AWS Lightsail)
- Production: ~$50-200/month (proper server, backups)
- Enterprise: ~$200-500/month (high availability)
Related Tools
- Bardeen – Browser automation alternative
- Make.com – Another Zapier competitor
- LangChain – AI workflow framework
Last updated: January 2026