n8n vs Zapier
Two automation AI tools compared on the facts: what each one does, how it charges, and where their capabilities overlap. We track tools, we don't rate them, so there is no winner declared here. The differences below should make the right pick for your use case obvious.
n8n
Connect apps and automate workflows visually with code optionality
n8n is an open-source workflow automation tool that helps users integrate various applications and services. It allows for the creation of custom workflows to automate tasks and data flows. Workflows can be designed using a visual editor or by incorporating custom code.
Zapier
Connect apps and automate workflows across thousands of services
Zapier connects web apps and automates repetitive tasks between them without code. Workflows, called Zaps, run when a trigger event happens in one app and carry out actions in others. It integrates with more than 8,000 apps.
At a glance
| n8n | Zapier | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | freemium | freemium |
| Website | n8n.io ↗ | zapier.com ↗ |
| Shared capabilities | workflow-automation app-integration no-code | |
| Only here | developer-api templates | ai-agents |
Capability tags are factual labels we assign when a tool is added; they describe what a tool does, not how well it does it.
Key features
n8n
- Visual workflow builder
- Hundreds of pre-built integrations
- Custom JavaScript code execution
- Self-hosted and cloud options
- Data transformation capabilities
Zapier
- Integrates with more than 8,000 web apps
- Creates automated workflows called Zaps
- Supports multi-step Zaps and conditional logic
- Offers pre-built Zap templates
- Provides task history and monitoring
What each one does well
n8n
- ✓ Self-hosting automation to keep data on your own infrastructure
- ✓ Workflows that mix visual building with custom JavaScript
- ✓ Building custom data pipelines between services and databases
Zapier
- ✓ Automating repetitive tasks between web apps
- ✓ Connecting SaaS tools that don't integrate natively
- ✓ Standardizing multi-step business workflows without code
Full fact sheets, FAQs, and discussion links: n8n · Zapier · all automation tools