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 |
32-point evaluation
Agenticness
11/32
Guided Assistant
n8n
12/32
Adaptive Collaborator
Zapier
Dimension Breakdown (0-4 each)
Action Capability
n8n
3
Zapier
2
Autonomy
n8n
1
Zapier
1
Planning
n8n
2
Zapier
1
Adaptation
n8n
1
Zapier
1
State & Memory
n8n
0
Zapier
2
Reliability
n8n
0
Zapier
1
Interoperability
n8n
2
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
If your team needs self-hosting (including air-gapped options) and developer-grade flexibility—dropping in JavaScript/Python, installing npm packages, extending via custom nodes, and orchestrating AI-native LangChain steps—pick n8n. If instead you want a cloud-first platform optimized for quick, dependable no-code business automation with built-in productivity components (Zaps + Tables + Forms), AI-assisted Zap generation (Zapier Copilot + AI fields), and broad connectivity through Zapier MCP to a very large app ecosystem, pick Zapier.
Choose n8n if...
- +Choose n8n if you need a workflow automation platform you can run self-hosted (including via Docker or even `npx n8n`) for tighter control over data, deployment, and enterprise requirements like air-gapped deployments, SSO, and advanced permissions.
- +Choose n8n if your automations require technical extensibility beyond typical no-code—e.g., embedding custom JavaScript or Python inside workflows, installing npm packages, and building custom nodes to extend functionality.
- +Choose n8n if you want AI-native workflow construction using LangChain, where app actions and LLM steps are orchestrated as part of the same workflow with more developer control.
- +Choose n8n if you’re managing event-driven, engineering-style automations across 400+ integrations and need approval logic plus code-based edge cases in the workflow.
Choose Zapier if...
- +Choose Zapier if you want the fastest path to reliable app-to-app automation in a fully hosted setup—start from the web editor, connect apps, and build multi-step Zaps without managing infrastructure.
- +Choose Zapier if your workflows benefit from its bundled “business objects” and UI primitives—Zaps plus Tables (workflow data storage) plus Forms—so you can build end-to-end processes like lead capture and routing without stitching together separate systems.
- +Choose Zapier if you want AI assistance oriented around generating and wiring automations—Zapier Copilot to generate Zaps and field mappings, plus AI fields using an OpenAI account (and lower friction for non-developers).
- +Choose Zapier if you want broad automation access via Zapier MCP to connect AI tools to 8,000 apps, along with team governance features like shared Zaps/folders/app connections, SAML SSO, and enterprise options like VPC peering and observability.