n8n vs Zapier
If you are wiring apps together to move data and trigger actions, these two come up first. n8n is open-source and self-hostable, so you can run it on your own box and drop into code inside a step when you need to. Zapier is a no-code SaaS with a huge app catalog, built so non-engineers can ship a working automation in an afternoon.
| Dimension | n8n | Zapier |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Open-source workflow automation you can self-host | No-code automation SaaS |
| License | Open-source (fair-code) | Commercial / hosted |
| Hosting | Self-host or their cloud | Cloud only |
| How you build | Visual editor plus code steps | UI-first guided steps |
| App catalog | Large, plus a generic HTTP node for anything | Very large, the widest catalog |
| Logic | Branching, loops, and custom code | Paths and filters, more limited |
| Who it fits | Developers who want control | Non-technical builders |
| Best for | Complex flows, data privacy, cost control at scale | Fast wins across many SaaS apps |
Pick n8n if you want to self-host for data privacy or to avoid per-task pricing at volume, or if your flows need branching, loops, and custom code. It gives you an engineer's level of control, and the generic HTTP node means you can hit any API even when there is no prebuilt connector.
Pick Zapier if you want something running today without touching a server, and the apps you use are already in the catalog. It is the fastest path for a non-technical person to connect two SaaS tools and have it just work, while someone else handles uptime.
For a solo builder or a team with any engineering muscle, I reach for n8n. Self-hosting kills the per-task bill that Zapier can run up at scale, and the code steps handle logic that a pure no-code tool struggles with. Zapier still wins when the person building is non-technical, or when you need a connector that only Zapier has. The common mistake is picking Zapier for speed, then getting stuck when the automation grows past simple triggers or the monthly bill climbs. Start by checking whether your apps have connectors in both. Then be honest about whether you will ever need branching or custom code. If yes, the up-front effort of n8n pays for itself.