n8n vs Zapier 2026: The Complete Automation Comparison
n8n
- Open source and self-hostable
- AI nodes for advanced workflows
- 400+ integrations with community support
- $20/month for cloud hosting or free self-hosted
Zapier
- 7,000+ app integrations
- Easiest to use with minimal setup
- AI actions built-in
- $20/month, no self-hosting option
When to Use Each
- n8n: Choose if you need full control, self-hosting, or want to customize workflows with AI nodes.
- Zapier: Choose if you need simplicity, the most app integrations, and don't want to manage servers.