| n8n | Zapier | |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting | n8n Cloud or self-host (Docker, npm, etc.) | Hosted only |
| License | Fair-code (Sustainable Use License): source available, free for internal use; commercial license needed to host or white-label it for others | Proprietary SaaS |
| What's metered | Executions: one run of a whole workflow, however many steps | Tasks: each successful action step; some actions use more than one task |
| Free option | Free self-hosted Community edition (you pay for servers and maintenance) | Free plan with a limited monthly task allowance |
| AI | AI agent and LLM nodes, code steps | AI steps, agents and MCP, sharing your task allowance |
| Best for | Technical teams, long multi-step workflows, data control | Non-technical teams, broad app catalog, zero ops |
Which should you pick?
Pick Zapier if you want the fastest setup, the widest catalog of app integrations, and no infrastructure to manage. Pick n8n if you're comfortable with technical tools, run long workflows (one execution covers every step), or need to self-host for data control.
Pricing changes often. Compare n8n pricing and Zapier pricing against your actual workflow volume.
FAQ
Is n8n open source?
n8n is 'fair-code': the source is public under the Sustainable Use License, which isn't an OSI-approved open-source license. Internal business use of the self-hosted Community edition is free.
Why can n8n be cheaper than Zapier?
n8n counts a whole workflow run as one execution, while Zapier counts each successful action as a task. Long workflows use far fewer units on n8n.