I’m trying to choose between n8n and Zapier for streamlining my business tasks. Both tools appear to provide comparable capabilities for linking various applications and services, but I’m uncertain which would best suit my requirements.
I’ve learned that n8n is open-source and can be hosted on my own servers, while Zapier operates more on a cloud basis. What are the key differences between these two automation solutions? Which one delivers superior value and is simpler to set up?
I’m especially keen on learning about their pricing structures, available integrations, and the overall user experience. Any advice from users who have tried both would be greatly appreciated.
zapier destroys n8n on integrations - they’ve got 5000+ apps vs n8n still playing catch-up. but for heavy data processing? n8n wins since you can run it locally. zapier chokes on complex workflows and those execution limits are brutal. setup’s easier with zapier, but n8n’s cloud version isn’t hard to get running if you skip the self-hosting route.
I’ve used both for about two years. Your choice comes down to tech skills and budget. Zapier’s dead simple - workflows up in minutes, no setup needed. Great interface, solid support when stuff breaks. But n8n gets way cheaper once you go beyond basic automation. I switched because Zapier’s pricing got crazy expensive as my workflows got more complex. Self-hosting means I own all my data, which my clients need. n8n’s harder to learn though. You’ll need some tech knowledge to set up servers and fix problems yourself. Both handle most popular services, but n8n lets you build custom connections since it’s open-source. Want quick and easy? Go Zapier. Want cheaper long-term with more control? Choose n8n.
Been using n8n for 8 months after ditching Zapier. Your choice depends on how complex your workflows are and how technical you get. Zapier’s great for simple trigger-action stuff but gets crazy expensive once you need conditional branches or data manipulation. n8n crushes complex logic and the visual editor’s pretty intuitive after you learn it. But when things break, n8n needs more technical know-how to debug compared to Zapier’s cleaner error messages. Price-wise, self-hosting n8n saves thousands yearly on high volumes, just remember server costs and maintenance time. Community support’s decent but can’t touch Zapier’s professional help. If you’re dealing with sensitive data or custom API work, n8n’s flexibility makes the extra setup worth it.