At a Glance — n8n vs Zapier
- Billing unit: n8n counts one execution per workflow run, whatever the number of steps. Zapier counts one task per successful action step; triggers don't count.
- Entry price: Zapier Professional is $19.99 a month billed annually ($29.99 monthly) for 750 tasks. n8n Starter is €20 a month (billed annually) for 2,500 executions.
- Hosting: n8n has a free self-hosted Community Edition plus paid cloud plans. Zapier is a hosted service.
- Integrations: Zapier says it connects 10,229+ apps; n8n lists 2,329 integrations. Both can reach any API without a ready-made connector.
- Code: both run JavaScript and Python. In Zapier it uses tasks; in n8n it is a normal node.
- Pick n8n if you need self-hosting, run multi-step or code-heavy workflows, or expect high volume. Pick Zapier if you want the simplest hosted editor and the widest app coverage, and your workflows are short.
n8n or Zapier: the short answer
n8n vs Zapier comes down to who builds the workflows, where they run, and how usage is counted. If developers or technical operators build them, you want them on your own infrastructure, or each workflow has several steps, n8n usually fits better and costs less at volume. If a non-technical team builds them in a browser, you want nothing to host, and the workflows are short, Zapier is simpler to start with. We build on n8n, so we lean that way, which is why the figures here come straight from each vendor's published pages and are linked at the end.
n8n vs Zapier pricing, from the vendors' own pages
Prices change, so treat this as a snapshot from October 8, 2026 and check the live pages. n8n lists euros and "billed annually"; Zapier lists US dollars and a lower rate for annual billing.
| Plan | Price | Included usage | Other limits shown |
|---|---|---|---|
| n8n Community Edition | Free | Self-hosted; you pay for your own server | No per-execution fee |
| n8n Starter (cloud) | €20 / month, billed annually | 2,500 workflow executions | 5 concurrent executions |
| n8n Pro (cloud) | €50 / month, billed annually | 10,000 workflow executions | 20–50 concurrent executions |
| n8n Business | €667 / month, billed annually | 40,000 workflow executions | 200+ concurrent; listed as self-hosted |
| Zapier Free | $0 | 100 tasks / month | Two-step Zaps only, 1 user |
| Zapier Professional | $29.99 / month, or $19.99 / month billed annually | 750 tasks / month (base tier) | Multi-step Zaps, 1 user |
| Zapier Team | $103.50 / month, or $69 / month billed annually | 2,000 tasks / month (base tier) | Up to 25 users, shared workflows, SSO |
Both vendors also sell Enterprise plans with custom pricing. On Zapier, the figures above are the base tier and the price rises with the number of tasks, so the exact cost of a given volume comes from Zapier's pricing page, which we don't quote here.
Executions vs tasks: how each tool counts usage
This is where most n8n vs Zapier cost comparisons go wrong. According to n8n, "an execution is a single run of your entire workflow. It doesn't matter how many steps are in the workflow or how much data it processes." According to Zapier, "a task is any successful action that runs in Zapier." Triggers, Filter and Paths steps, Formatter, Delay and Looping steps, and actions that fail or halt don't use tasks.
A worked example, using those definitions:
- A workflow has a trigger and 4 action steps and runs 10,000 times a month.
- In n8n: that is 10,000 executions, which fits the 10,000 included in Pro.
- In Zapier: that is 40,000 tasks (4 successful actions × 10,000 runs), far above the 750 and 2,000 of the base tiers, so you would move up to a larger task allowance and pay for it.
The more action steps a workflow has, the bigger the gap. For a Zap with a single action, each run uses one task, and Zapier's free and entry plans are the easier place to start. If you self-host n8n, there is no execution fee at all, only the cost of the server and the time to run it. One Zapier detail worth knowing: Code by Zapier and some AI features use more than one task per run.
Hosting and data control
n8n offers a free self-hosted Community Edition on GitHub as well as paid cloud plans, so you can keep workflow data on your own infrastructure. That matters when a data-residency or compliance policy says where data can go. Zapier is sold as a hosted service, so your workflow data runs on Zapier's platform.
Self-hosting isn't free of work: you handle upgrades, backups and monitoring. If nobody on your team wants that job, a cloud plan on either tool is the easier route.
Integrations and connectors
Zapier states that it connects 10,229+ apps, and n8n's integrations page lists 2,329 integrations (October 8, 2026). The two numbers aren't measured the same way, so don't treat them as a score. What matters is whether the specific apps you use are covered, and whether you are comfortable calling an API directly when one isn't: n8n's HTTP Request node and Zapier's webhooks can both do it, but it takes more setup than a ready-made connector. Zapier's catalog is the stronger argument for it if your stack includes niche or long-tail tools.
Custom code in n8n and Zapier
Both can run code:
- n8n: the Code node supports JavaScript and Python. On n8n Cloud, the Python option can't import libraries; self-hosted instances can import them if they are allowed in the runner configuration.
- Zapier: Code by Zapier runs JavaScript and Python inside a Zap and supports npm and PyPI packages. It uses one or more tasks per run.
If your workflows need heavy data transformation, the practical difference is that in n8n code is an ordinary node inside a workflow that counts as one execution, while in Zapier each code step is a billable task.
When to use n8n and when to use Zapier
Choose n8n when
- You need to self-host, or must keep data on your own infrastructure.
- Workflows have many action steps, so per-run counting saves money.
- You run code or complex branching inside workflows regularly.
- Developers or technical operators will build and maintain the workflows. Our n8n error handling guide shows what production reliability involves.
Choose Zapier when
- You want a hosted tool with nothing to set up or maintain.
- A non-technical team will build and maintain the automations.
- Your workflows are short, with one or two actions, at modest volume.
- You rely on an app that only has a ready-made Zapier connector.
Comparing a third tool? See n8n vs Make, and for NetSuite-centred integration work, n8n vs Celigo. If you're moving off Zapier, our guide to migrating from Zapier to n8n covers what actually breaks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is n8n cheaper than Zapier? For multi-step workflows at volume, usually yes. n8n counts one execution per run however many steps there are; Zapier counts one task per successful action. A workflow with four actions that runs 10,000 times a month is 10,000 n8n executions but 40,000 Zapier tasks. For single-action automations at low volume the two cost about the same.
What counts as a task in Zapier? Any successful action. Triggers, Filter and Paths steps, failed actions and built-in tools like Formatter, Delay and Looping don't use tasks. Code by Zapier uses one or more.
Can you self-host Zapier? Zapier is sold as a hosted service. n8n offers a free self-hosted Community Edition as well as paid cloud plans.
Does Zapier support custom code? Yes, through Code by Zapier (JavaScript and Python, with npm and PyPI packages), which uses tasks. n8n's Code node also supports JavaScript and Python.
How many integrations do n8n and Zapier have? As of October 8, 2026, Zapier states 10,229+ apps and n8n lists 2,329 integrations. They count differently, so check the apps you need.
Sources
- n8n pricing, n8n integrations and the n8n Code node documentation
- Zapier pricing and Zapier apps
- How Zapier measures task usage and Code by Zapier
Entech Solutions is an n8n implementation agency. If you're deciding between the two for a real project, see our n8n automation services or get in touch and we'll give you an honest answer, including when Zapier is the better choice. For what n8n itself costs on each plan, see n8n pricing in 2026.