n8n vs Zapier
Zapier charges per-task, metered monthly. n8n is open source and self-hosted.
The short answer
If your automation volume is growing, n8n replaces a bill that scales with usage with a server that costs the same at 10,000 runs as at 100. If you run a handful of automations, Zapier is cheaper than your own time.
Pick n8n when
- Your per-task bill has started growing faster than your revenue.
- An automation touches data you would rather not hand to a third party.
- You want a step that runs arbitrary code, not just a pre-built connector.
- Someone on the team is comfortable running a Docker container.
Stay with Zapier when
- You have fewer than ~20 automations and they rarely change.
- Nobody on the team wants to own uptime for a workflow engine.
- You need an obscure SaaS connector that only the incumbent has built.
The migration cost nobody mentions
Workflows do not port automatically — you rebuild each one. Budget an afternoon per non-trivial automation, and expect the long tail of error handling to take longer than the happy path.
We deliberately do not quote Zapier's prices — third-party pricing changes without notice and a stale number is worse than none. The pricing model is what determines whether self-hosting wins, and that is stated above. Check current pricing with the vendor.