Zapier vs n8n: Complete Comparison 2026
Searches for "zapier vs n8n" have grown 900% in the past year. This data reflects a reality: businesses need to automate processes, but they don't know which tool to choose. Zapier dominates the market with its ease of use, while n8n is gaining ground among technical teams seeking flexibility and cost control.
In this guide, we compare both platforms from the real experience of having implemented them in dozens of companies. If you're looking for no-code business automation or total control, you'll find the information you need to decide here. And if you prefer to get straight to the point, explore our automation services.
Why Compare Zapier and n8n in 2026
The workflow automation market has matured. We're no longer talking about experimental tools, but critical infrastructure for business operations. Three factors drive this comparison:
Zapier's cost scales rapidly. Companies that started with basic plans are now paying hundreds or thousands of euros monthly. The per-task pricing model penalizes growth.
n8n has reached enterprise maturity. With over 400 native connectors, integrated AI nodes, and a self-hosted option, n8n is no longer just for developers. It's a serious alternative for any organization.
Data sovereignty matters. Regulations like GDPR make control over where data resides a decision factor, not just a technical preference.
This guide is aimed at CTOs, operations managers, and IT teams who need to make an informed decision between both platforms.
What is Zapier
Zapier was founded in 2011 and has established itself as the undisputed leader in the no-code automation market. Its proposition is simple: connect applications without writing code, using an intuitive visual interface that anyone can master in minutes.
Zapier's model is 100% SaaS cloud. There is no on-premise or self-hosted installation option. All automations (called "Zaps") run on Zapier's infrastructure, with data transiting through their servers in the United States.
With over 6,000 native integrations, Zapier covers virtually any SaaS application on the market. From CRMs like Salesforce or HubSpot to niche tools you'll hardly find on other platforms.
Zapier's Strengths
Extreme ease of use. The learning curve is practically non-existent. A user without technical knowledge can create their first functional automation in less than an hour. The step-by-step interface and pre-designed templates speed up the process.
Unmatched integration catalog. If an application has an API, Zapier probably already has a native connector. This eliminates the friction of having to build custom integrations.
Pre-designed templates (Zaps). Thousands of ready-to-use automations. Common use cases like "new lead from form to CRM" or "paid invoice to Slack" are just a click away.
Premium support. For paid plans, support is fast and competent. Documentation is extensive and there's an active community.
Zapier's Limitations
Per-task pricing creates unpredictable costs. Every time a Zap runs, it consumes tasks. A flow that processes 1,000 records daily can spike the monthly bill without warning. Companies with high automation volumes find this model unsustainable.
No self-hosted option. Data always passes through Zapier's servers. For regulated industries (healthcare, finance, legal), this can be a blocker. There's no way to install Zapier on your own infrastructure.
Complex workflows limited. Although Zapier has improved, flows with advanced conditional logic, loops, or complex data processing remain difficult or impossible to implement.
Data on US servers. For strict GDPR compliance, this requires additional assessment and possible contractual mitigation measures.
What is n8n
n8n (pronounced "n-eight-n") was born in 2019 as an open-source alternative to Zapier. Its philosophy is the opposite: maximum flexibility and total control over your automations and data.
The platform offers two modes: managed cloud (similar to Zapier) or self-hosted on your own infrastructure. This second option is free and is what radically differentiates n8n from its competitors.
With approximately 400 native connectors plus the ability to connect to any API using HTTP/Webhook nodes, n8n covers most use cases. What it lacks in integration quantity it makes up for with flexibility to build your own.
n8n's Strengths
Free if self-hosted. You can run n8n at no license cost on your own server. You only pay for hosting (from 10-20 EUR/month on a basic VPS). For companies with many automations, the savings are substantial.
Total data control (GDPR friendly). In self-hosted mode, your data never leaves your infrastructure. Simplified regulatory compliance. Ideal for regulated sectors.
Complex workflows with advanced logic. Loops, nested conditionals, data processing, JavaScript transformations. If you can program it, you can automate it in n8n.
Native AI nodes (LangChain). n8n has natively integrated generative AI capabilities. You can build AI agents, process documents with LLMs, or create advanced chatbots directly in your flows.
n8n's Limitations
Steeper learning curve. The interface is powerful but less intuitive than Zapier. Non-technical users will need training or initial support.
Fewer native integrations. 400 vs 6,000. Although you can build any integration with HTTP nodes, it requires more work than using a ready-made connector.
Requires technical knowledge. Especially for self-hosted: you need to know about servers, Docker, updates. Without a technical team, the cloud version is more practical.
Community support on free plan. Official support requires an enterprise plan. For the free version, you depend on documentation and community forums.
Zapier vs n8n Comparison: Summary Table
| Criteria | Zapier | n8n |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | 19.99 USD/month | Free (self-hosted) |
| Pricing model | Per task executed | Per execution (cloud) or free (self-hosted) |
| Native integrations | 6,000+ | 400+ |
| Self-hosted | Not available | Yes, free |
| Ease of use | Excellent (5/5) | Good (3/5) |
| Complex workflows | Limited | Excellent |
| AI/LLM nodes | Basic | Advanced (native LangChain) |
| Data location | US Cloud | Total control (self-hosted) |
| GDPR compliance | Complies with clauses | Self-hosted = total control |
| Support | Email + Chat (premium) | Community + Docs (free) / Enterprise (paid) |
| Ideal for | Non-technical teams, speed | Technical teams, control, high volume |
When to Choose Zapier
Zapier is the right choice when implementation speed and simplicity take priority over cost and technical control. These are the scenarios where Zapier shines:
1. Small teams without dedicated IT. If you don't have developers or system administrators, Zapier eliminates the technical barrier. Marketing, sales, or operations can create their own automations.
2. You need very specific integrations. Does your niche CRM only have a connector on Zapier? Do you use uncommon tools? The 6,000+ app catalog is hard to match.
3. Available and predictable budget. If you can afford 50-200 EUR/month and the task volume is controlled, Zapier offers excellent value for time invested.
4. Immediate time-to-value. You need to automate something today, not next week. With Zapier, you can have a flow running in hours, not days.
5. Simple automations (2-5 steps). Linear use cases like "new email to Slack" or "form to spreadsheet" are perfect for Zapier.
Real example: A 10-person marketing agency automated their lead pipeline with Zapier in 2 hours. Cost: 49 EUR/month. ROI: 15 hours/week saved in manual tasks.
When to Choose n8n
n8n is the right choice when control, flexibility, and long-term cost are critical factors. These scenarios favor n8n:
1. Technical team available. If you have developers or IT staff who can manage the platform, n8n unlocks possibilities impossible in Zapier.
2. High volume of automations. When you run thousands of daily flows, Zapier's per-task pricing model becomes prohibitive. Self-hosted n8n eliminates this variable cost.
3. Sensitive data requiring on-premise. Financial sector, healthcare, legal. If your data cannot leave your infrastructure, self-hosted n8n is the only viable option.
4. Complex workflows with conditional logic. Flows that require loops, advanced data processing, chained API calls, or complex business logic.
5. Limited budget but technical resources. Startups with developers can automate at no license cost, investing only in basic hosting.
Real example: A logistics company with 500 automations migrated from Zapier to self-hosted n8n. Savings: 2,400 EUR/month. Setup investment: 40 development hours.
Real Case: Migration from Zapier to n8n
This case illustrates a real migration we performed for a Technova Partners client. Data has been anonymized for confidentiality.
The Client
Spanish B2B distributor in the financial sector. 50 employees, operations in Spain and Portugal. Highly digitized with a modern SaaS tool stack.
Initial Situation
The client had been using Zapier for 3 years. They had accumulated 200 active Zaps automating critical processes: order synchronization, customer notifications, automatic reporting, integrations between ERP and CRM.
The Zapier bill had scaled to 890 EUR/month. But the real problem was another: they regularly hit the monthly task limit, causing critical automations to stop mid-month.
The Problem
- Growing and unpredictable costs: the bill had tripled in 2 years
- Task limit: critical processes stopped when the quota ran out
- No data control: compliance concerns in the financial sector
- Vendor dependency: no alternative if Zapier changed prices or terms
The Solution
We proposed migration to self-hosted n8n on the client's own infrastructure. The project included:
- Audit of existing Zaps: classification by criticality and complexity
- n8n architecture design: dedicated server with automatic backups
- Progressive migration: starting with less critical flows
- Exhaustive testing: each flow validated before deactivating the original Zap
- Team training: for autonomous post-migration maintenance
Implementation
The project was completed in 3 weeks:
- Week 1: Infrastructure setup + migration of 50 simple flows
- Week 2: Migration of 100 medium complexity flows
- Week 3: Migration of 50 complex flows + final testing + training
Results
| Metric | Before (Zapier) | After (n8n) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | 890 EUR | 150 EUR (hosting) |
| Monthly savings | - | 740 EUR |
| Annual savings | - | 8,880 EUR |
| Execution limit | Yes (plan) | No (unlimited) |
| Data control | US Cloud | On-premise Spain |
| ROI time | - | 2 months |
Additional bonus: the client now has total control of their data, meeting financial sector compliance requirements without the need for additional contractual clauses.
"We went from worrying about the Zapier bill every month to having total control of our automations. The Technova team guided us through the entire migration." — Operations Director
Want to evaluate if n8n is right for your company? Request a free automation audit.
How to Decide: Recommendation Matrix
This matrix summarizes recommendations based on your specific situation:
| If your situation is... | We recommend |
|---|---|
| Team under 10 people, no IT | Zapier |
| More than 50 monthly automations | n8n |
| Sensitive data (healthcare, finance, legal) | n8n self-hosted |
| Need more than 100 specific integrations | Zapier |
| Workflows with advanced AI logic | n8n |
| Limited budget, technical team available | n8n |
| Maximum simplicity, budget not an issue | Zapier |
| Tech startup with developers | n8n |
| Traditional company digitalizing | Zapier |
| Strict GDPR requirements | n8n self-hosted |
Hybrid Approach
Some companies opt to use both platforms:
- Zapier for specific integrations that n8n doesn't cover natively
- n8n for complex and high-volume workflows
This hybrid approach can be transitional (during a migration) or permanent if there are critical integrations only available in Zapier.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Zapier and n8n together?
Yes, some companies use Zapier for specific integrations that n8n doesn't cover, and n8n for complex workflows. It's a valid hybrid approach, especially during a gradual transition. You can even connect both platforms via webhooks.
How much does it cost to migrate from Zapier to n8n?
It depends on complexity and volume. For 50-100 simple automations, estimate 20-40 development hours. For complex workflows with advanced logic, it may require 60-100 hours. Typical ROI is achieved between 2 and 6 months depending on the current Zapier bill.
Is n8n secure for business data?
Yes, especially in self-hosted mode where data never leaves your infrastructure. The n8n cloud version complies with SOC 2 Type II. For maximum control, self-hosted allows you to apply your own security, encryption, and backup policies.
Does Zapier have a self-hosted alternative?
No. Zapier is 100% cloud with no on-premise installation option. If you need self-hosted, the main alternatives are n8n, Activepieces (also open source), or Apache Airflow (more oriented toward data engineering).
Conclusion: There Is No Universal Winner
The Zapier vs n8n comparison has no absolute winner. The right choice depends on your specific context:
Choose Zapier if you value simplicity, have available budget, don't have a technical team, and need immediate results.
Choose n8n if you prioritize control, have technical capacity, handle high automation volume, or your data is sensitive.
What matters is not which tool you use, but that you automate. Repetitive manual processes drain resources, generate errors, and slow growth. Both platforms are excellent for eliminating that burden.
Not sure which to choose? At Technova Partners, we've implemented both platforms in dozens of companies. Request a free audit and we'll recommend the best option for your specific case.
If you're already clear that you want to automate but need help with implementation, explore how our automation service can help you. And if you're interested in going further with artificial intelligence, discover our enterprise AI Agents.
