Both are strong choices. The short answer: pick n8n if you are technical teams and AI agent workflows. Pick Zapier if you are non-technical automation between popular apps.
| n8n | Zapier | |
|---|---|---|
| In one line | Source-available automation you can self-host, with native AI nodes. | Connect 7,000+ apps with no-code automated workflows. |
| Pricing | Free self-hosted; cloud from $24/mo | Free plan; from $19.99/mo |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Technical teams and AI agent workflows | Non-technical automation between popular apps |
| Category | Automation & Integration | Automation & Integration |
| Website | n8n.io | zapier.com |