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’re a technical team that needs self-hosting/hybrid control (Docker or `npx n8n`), deeper customization (JavaScript/Python, npm packages, custom nodes), and AI workflow building specifically via LangChain—often for complex internal process/ops automations that must run under stricter deployment requirements like air-gapped setups. Pick Zapier when you want a cloud-based, no-code automation platform for reliably wiring common business apps into multi-step Zaps, especially if you value rapid setup and collaboration/governance (shared Zaps/folders, SAML SSO) and built-in AI features like Zapier Copilot and OpenAI-backed AI fields, with additional connectivity via Zapier MCP and Webhooks.
Choose n8n if...
- +Choose n8n if you need **technical-team workflow automation with self-hosting/control** (Docker or local `npx n8n` and also n8n Cloud), especially when you want **advanced enterprise options like air-gapped deployments plus SSO/advanced permissions**.
- +Choose n8n if you need **custom logic beyond pure no-code**: you can embed **JavaScript or Python in workflows**, install **npm packages**, and even extend the platform with **custom nodes** for specialized integrations.
- +Choose n8n if you want **AI-native workflow building using LangChain** to combine app actions with LLM steps inside a reproducible automation pipeline.
- +Choose n8n if you’re building **event-driven, ops-style automations with approvals/branching/code-based edge cases** across many systems (it supports **400+ integrations**).
Choose Zapier if...
- +Choose Zapier if you want a **cloud-first, fast-to-start no-code automation** for connecting business apps—built around **Zaps** with scheduling, branching, and data formatting in a web editor.
- +Choose Zapier if you need **multi-step automations plus built-in AI assistance** for generating workflows (Zapier **Copilot** to generate Zaps/field mappings and **AI fields using an OpenAI account**), without having to embed your own code.
- +Choose Zapier if your use case benefits from **team sharing and governance in the platform**: shared Zaps/folders and **SAML SSO** (Team/Enterprise plans), along with **enterprise admin controls**.
- +Choose Zapier if you want to connect AI tools broadly using **Zapier MCP** (positioned to connect AI tools to **8,000+ apps**) and leverage **Webhooks by Zapier** for additional integrations.