n8n vs Zapier
Compared across 3 shared tasks, including automate repetitive workflows and build an AI agent without code.
Short verdict
In the 3 TaskRanking use cases where both appear, Zapier ranks higher in 3 and n8n in 0. Average rank across these: n8n 3.7, Zapier 1.3 (1 = best).
Computed from our published rubric rankings, not paid placement.
Prices from vendor pages; Unverified and Contact sales are shown as-is.
Side by side
| Attribute | n8n | Zapier |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Starter €20/mo billed annually pricing source · checked 2026-10-14 | $19.99/mo pricing source · checked 2026-10-14 |
| Free tier | Unverified | yes |
| Pricing model | From €20 | Free tier |
| What it is | Workflow automation, self-hostable | No-code automation with AI |
| Use cases ranked in | 5 | 5 |
| Shared use cases won | 0 of 3 | 3 of 3 |
| Where it ranks (rank of 5) |
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Head to head on shared use cases
| Shared use case | n8n | Zapier | Higher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Automate repetitive workflows | #3 | #1 | Zapier |
| Build an AI agent without code | #4 | #1 | Zapier |
| Enterprise integration platform | #4 | #2 | Zapier |
Best for
Best for: n8n
- Security workflow automation (SOAR) (#3; the other isn’t ranked here)
- Open-source data pipelines (#4; the other isn’t ranked here)
Best for: Zapier
- Automate repetitive workflows (#1 vs #3)
- Build an AI agent without code (#1 vs #4)
- Enterprise integration platform (#2 vs #4)
- Move data between apps (ETL) (#3; the other isn’t ranked here)
FAQ
Is n8n or Zapier better?
Across the 3 TaskRanking use cases where both are ranked, Zapier places higher in 3 and the other in 0. Best pick depends on the task; see the shared use cases table.
Is n8n or Zapier cheaper?
n8n: paid from Starter €20/mo billed annually (free tier: Unverified; checked 2026-10-14). Zapier: paid from $19.99/mo (free tier: yes; checked 2026-10-14). Prices come from each vendor's own pricing page.
Do n8n and Zapier have free plans?
n8n: Unverified. Zapier: yes. As listed on vendor pricing pages, last checked 2026-10-14.
Which tasks do both n8n and Zapier cover?
Both are ranked for: Automate repetitive workflows; Build an AI agent without code; Enterprise integration platform.