n8n and Zapier both automate work between apps, but they differ on where they run and how they count usage. n8n has a free self-hosted edition plus cloud plans, and Zapier is sold as a hosted service with task-based plans.
This guide explains the choice between self-hosted and hosted automation using documented facts from both vendors. It does not pick a winner, and we did not build workflows in either tool.
How we researched this: we did not run hands-on tests for this article. It is based on the vendor’s own documentation and public sources, checked on 11 November 2026. Features and prices change, so confirm details on the vendor’s site before you buy.
Key takeaways
- n8n counts an execution as one full workflow run regardless of steps; Zapier counts each successful action as a task.
- n8n lists a free self-hosted Community Edition and Cloud plans from EUR 20 a month billed annually; Zapier lists a Free plan with 100 tasks and Professional from $19.99 a month.
- n8n uses the Sustainable Use License and does not describe itself as open source, and hosting it as a service for clients who build workflows is listed as prohibited.
- Self-hosting gives you control of where data is processed but makes you responsible for running and securing it.
- We could not confirm either vendor’s security certifications or n8n’s hosting requirements, so ask in writing before you commit.
Why compare n8n and Zapier
n8n and Zapier both connect apps and automate work between them, and both now include AI features. The most practical difference is where the software runs. n8n offers a free self-hosted edition you run yourself, alongside paid cloud plans. Zapier is described on the pages we read as a hosted service with tiered plans.
This article is a decision framework with documented facts, not a ranking. We did not build workflows in either product. If you are also weighing a third option, our existing guide Zapier vs Make vs n8n: how to decide covers the wider field, and how to compare AI tools side by side fairly explains the method used here.
What we could and could not verify
We read both vendors’ pricing pages, n8n’s licence FAQ, and Zapier’s help article on task counting and AI page. We could not load n8n’s hosting documentation or Zapier’s security pages, so we do not describe self-hosting requirements, certifications or data retention for either.
Quick overview table
| Item | n8n | Zapier |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting | Self-hosted Community Edition (free), cloud plans, and self-hosted paid Business and Enterprise | Hosted plans on the pages we read; we found no self-hosted option |
| Usage unit | Workflow execution (one full run, regardless of steps) | Task (each successful action) |
| Free option | Community Edition on GitHub, per n8n | Free plan with 100 tasks a month and two-step Zaps |
| Entry paid price listed | Starter at EUR 20 a month, billed annually | Professional from $19.99 a month |
| Licence | Sustainable Use License, not described as open source by n8n | Commercial service |
Figures are from vendor pages read on 11 November 2026. Confirm them before you decide.
Criteria that matter
- Who will run it. Do you have someone to maintain a server, updates and backups?
- How usage is counted. Executions or tasks, and how that behaves for long workflows.
- Licence terms. What you may do with self-hosted software.
- Plan limits and team features.
- AI features. What each offers and how it is metered.
- Data location and control.
How usage is counted
This is the most useful technical difference. n8n’s pricing page says an execution is one full run of a workflow, regardless of how many steps it has. Zapier’s help article says a task is any successful action that runs in Zapier, so action steps count and a Zap with a trigger and two actions uses 2 tasks per run. Triggers, polling, Filter and Paths steps, and steps for Tables, Forms, Formatter, Delay, Looping, Sub-Zap, Digest and Storage do not count, per the same article. One Zapier MCP tool call uses 2 tasks, and agents do not use tasks. The article also says that starting 1 December 2026, Next Gen Zaps use the same rates as Classic Zaps, with at least 1 task per completed run.
| Scenario | n8n counting, per its pricing page | Zapier counting, per its help article |
|---|---|---|
| Workflow with 10 action steps, run once | 1 execution | Up to 10 tasks if every action succeeds |
| Run with a failed step | Check how failed runs are counted | Halted or errored actions do not count |
| Trigger polling | Not an execution until a run starts | Not counted |
The first row follows from the two definitions, but it is our reading and not a vendor statement, so run your own numbers. Our guide to reading an AI tool’s pricing page shows how to turn units into a monthly estimate.
n8n plans and self-hosting
n8n’s pricing page lists Cloud plans billed annually (annual billing saves 17%): Starter at EUR 20 a month with 2.5K executions and 1 shared project, Pro at EUR 50 with 10K executions and up to 50 concurrent executions, Business at EUR 667 with 40K executions, SSO and LDAP, queue mode and Git version control, and Enterprise by contact. The page says Business is self-hosted only for now. It lists the Community Edition as a free self-hosted version on GitHub, and says the Business plan needs a licence key that checks in with n8n’s licence server daily, usable on unlimited instances with combined usage counting towards the quota. A Startup plan offers 50% off Business for companies with under 20 employees. Hitting a saved-execution limit does not stop workflows, but the oldest saved executions are removed.
The n8n licence: what self-hosting allows
n8n’s licence FAQ says you can use n8n under the Community license for free if only you or people in your organisation create or modify workflows. It allows building and maintaining workflows for customers and charging for that service, charging for training and consultancy, and embedding n8n behind the scenes in your product where users trigger automations but cannot create or edit workflows. It lists as prohibited hosting n8n as a service and letting clients build workflows, forking the code to launch a competing automation product, white-labelling it, and using enterprise features that need a licence key without an Enterprise licence.
The page identifies the licence as the Sustainable Use License and does not describe n8n as open source. That wording matters if your organisation has an open-source policy. We are not lawyers, and this is general information, not legal advice. For licensing questions, the page directs you to n8n.
Zapier plans
Zapier’s pricing page lists Free at $0 a month with 100 tasks and two-step Zaps. Professional starts at $19.99 a month and adds multi-step Zaps, unlimited premium apps, webhooks and AI fields, with a 14 day trial. Team starts at $69 a month for up to 25 users, with shared Zaps, folders and app connections, SAML SSO and priority support. Enterprise is custom, with unlimited users and annual task limits. Task tiers range from 100 to 2 million a month, paying yearly saves 33%, and higher tiers lower the cost per task. If you exceed your limit, you can enable pay-per-task billing at a higher rate, otherwise Zaps pause until the next billing period.
| Plan | Zapier price listed | Notable inclusions |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 100 tasks, two-step Zaps |
| Professional | From $19.99 a month | Multi-step Zaps, premium apps, webhooks, AI fields |
| Team | From $69 a month | Up to 25 users, shared Zaps, SAML SSO |
| Enterprise | Custom | Unlimited users, admin controls |
AI features
Zapier’s AI page describes Agents, Chatbots, MCP and Copilot. It says Zapier MCP connects AI tools such as Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT and Gemini to more than 9,000 apps, with admins choosing which apps and actions are available and every agent action appearing in an admin audit log. Its pricing page lists separate Agents and Chatbots plans, such as Agents Pro at $400 a year for 1,500 activities a month and Chatbots Pro at $160 a year for up to 5 chatbots. For n8n, the pricing page mentions an AI Assistant and says self-hosted users bring their own API key, so no assistant credit limits apply. We did not review n8n’s wider AI node features.
Privacy and data control
Self-hosting means your workflow data is processed on infrastructure you control, which can help with data residency. It also makes you responsible for security, updates and backups, and the pages we read did not say what support is included for the free edition. For Zapier, we could not load its security pages, so we do not state its certifications or data practices. Ask each vendor for written answers and read our guide on protecting company data when using AI tools before you route customer data through either.
Who each may suit
n8n may suit you if
- You have technical staff to run a server and want to self-host.
- Your workflows have many steps and you prefer counting whole runs.
- Only your own team will build workflows, which fits the licence terms.
Zapier may suit you if
- You want a hosted service with no server to maintain.
- Your Zaps are short, so per-task counting stays modest.
- You want SSO and shared folders on a Team plan.
Look elsewhere or ask more if
- You want to resell hosted automation to clients who build their own workflows, which the n8n licence FAQ lists as prohibited.
- You need documented security certifications we could not verify here.
How to run your own test
- Pick one real workflow with at least five steps.
- Build it in each tool, using free options.
- Run it 20 times and record executions or tasks used.
- Multiply by your monthly volume to estimate usage and price.
- For n8n, have someone estimate the time to host and maintain it.
- Check licence terms and security answers in writing.
See how to test an AI tool before you pay for it for more.
Decision checklist
- Do I have the skills and time to self-host?
- How many steps are my typical workflows, and what does that cost under each counting model?
- Does the n8n licence fit how I will use it?
- Which plan has the team and SSO features I need?
- Have I confirmed current prices on both vendor pages?
Frequently asked questions
Is n8n free?
n8n lists a free Community Edition you can self-host, and paid Cloud plans from EUR 20 a month billed annually. Business self-hosting needs a licence key.
Is n8n open source?
n8n’s licence FAQ identifies the Sustainable Use License and does not describe n8n as open source. Read the licence if this matters to you.
How does Zapier count tasks?
A task is any successful action that runs in Zapier. Triggers, Filter and Paths steps, and several built-in tools do not count, per Zapier’s help article.
Can I use n8n for my clients?
The licence FAQ allows building workflows for customers and charging for that, but lists hosting n8n as a service where clients build workflows as prohibited. This is general information, not legal advice.
Which is cheaper?
It depends on workflow length and volume, because n8n counts runs and Zapier counts actions. Self-hosting also has server and maintenance costs. Test one real workflow in both.
Does Zapier have AI features?
Yes. Its AI page describes Agents, Chatbots, MCP and Copilot, and its pricing page lists separate Agents and Chatbots plans.
Conclusion
The choice between n8n and Zapier is partly about software and partly about who carries the work of running it. Count your own workflow steps, check the n8n licence against your plans, and ask both vendors for written answers on security. For the wider market, read Zapier vs Make vs n8n: how to decide, and begin with how to choose an AI tool if your requirements are still loose.
Sources
- n8n, pricing, accessed 11 November 2026
- n8n Docs, license FAQ, accessed 11 November 2026
- Zapier, pricing, accessed 11 November 2026
- Zapier Help, how task usage is measured, accessed 11 November 2026
- Zapier, AI, accessed 11 November 2026
