At a glance
- How the billing difference plays outn8n counts one execution per workflow run, "regardless of complexity" in its own words, so a ten-step flow costs the same as a two-step one.
- What to check before you chooseList each flow you want, the apps it touches and how often it runs.
Side by side
| n8n | Zapier | |
|---|---|---|
| What you pay for | Workflow executions: one run of a workflow, however many steps it has | Tasks: each action a Zap completes |
| Free option | The Community Edition, self-hosted on your own server | A Free plan: 100 tasks a month, two-step Zaps |
| Plans | n8n Cloud Starter (2,500 executions a month), Pro (10,000), Business and Enterprise; or the self-hosted Community Edition | Free, Professional, Team and Enterprise plans |
| Where it runs | n8n's cloud, or your own server | Zapier's cloud |
| Users | All plans include unlimited users and workflows | Team plan for 25 users; Enterprise for unlimited |
| Good fit | Flows with many steps, custom code, or data that must stay on your servers | Short flows between well-known apps, owned by non-technical staff |
How the billing difference plays out
n8n counts one execution per workflow run, "regardless of complexity" in its own words, so a ten-step flow costs the same as a two-step one. Zapier counts tasks, so every action in a multi-step Zap adds to the month's total.
- Few runs, few steps: either works, and Zapier's Free plan may be enough to start
- Many steps per run: n8n's execution count grows more slowly than Zapier's task count
- Data that must stay in-house: only n8n can run on your own server
What to check before you choose
List each flow you want, the apps it touches and how often it runs. Confirm both tools connect to those apps, then read both pricing pages against your own numbers, since plans change.
Sources
- n8n pricing, checked 2026-11-04
- Zapier pricing, checked 2026-11-04
Updated 2026-11-04. General guidance, not advice for your situation; we scope each project in writing before any work starts.
Questions people ask first
Is n8n free?
The Community Edition is self-hosted from GitHub. You still pay for the server it runs on and the time to keep it updated.
Can I move my Zaps to n8n?
Not with an export. Each Zap is rebuilt as an n8n workflow and tested before you switch it off.
Which is easier to learn?
Zapier, for most people. n8n is closer to a developer tool and rewards some comfort with data and code.
Tell us what you need built.
Tell us the process and the tools involved, or call. We reply with questions or a written scope.
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