n8n vs Zapier
Pricing
n8n: Self-host free, cloud from $20/mo
Zapier: Free tier, paid from $19.99/mo
Description
n8n: Open source workflow automation
Zapier: Connect apps and automate workflows without code
Pros
- Self-hostable
- More powerful than Zapier/Make
- 70k+ GitHub stars
- 5000+ app integrations
- No-code automation
- Reliable and battle-tested
Cons
- Steeper learning curve
- Self-hosting needs technical skill
- Gets expensive at scale
- Complex zaps can be fiddly
Details
n8n is automation for people who want control. Founded by Jan Oberhauser in 2019, it’s “fair-code”: source is open, you can self-host free, but can’t commercialize it. 70k GitHub stars. Quadrupled revenue in 8 months after pivoting to AI automation. Europe’s 25th fastest-growing startup in 2024.
Zapier connects your apps so they talk to each other automatically. If this, then that, but for everything. Founded by Wade Foster and Bryan Helmig, essentially bootstrapped from $0 to $5B valuation (only raised $1.2M seed in 2012). Profitable since 2014. Remote-first since day one.
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