n8n vs Zapier AI
n8n wins for engineers building complex AI architectures starting at $25/mo. Zapier AI wins for non-technical operations teams managing cross-platform data flows starting at $29.99/mo.
When to Choose n8n vs Zapier AI
The question that matters: “In what situation will I regret choosing A over B after 3 months?”
The agent builder chains prompts, calls external APIs for customer context, and formats replies before they hit team chat or email. Manual handoffs drop by 40%.
Chatbot builder classifies requests via conditional SLA logic and resolves FAQs instantly. First-response time drops from 4 hours to 8 minutes; escalation volume cuts 35%.
Connect CRM, CRM, team chat, and custom APIs through the visual workflow editor. Triggers, transforms, and webhooks sync leads, statuses, and notifications in real time.
Deploy on private infrastructure. Code nodes handle encryption, audit logging, and compliance checks - same 400+ integrations as cloud with zero external data exposure.
Document extraction pulls line items, vendor names, and payment terms from invoices, feeding structured output directly to NetSuite or QuickBooks. Processing drops from 3 weeks to.
Describe a workflow in the AI Zap builder. team chat notifications, database rows, and CRM contact updates trigger automatically - no 2-week engineering queue.
Pricing Comparison & PlansHigh· Verified May 30, 2026
n8n Plans
Free tier available
Community
FreeBest for: Ideal for individuals or small teams exploring automation, offering core features to get started without cost.
- ✓Self-hosted
- ✓Unlimited executions
- ✓Full access to all integrations
- ✓Unlimited active workflows
- ✓Core features
Starter
$24/moBest for: A great entry point for small businesses needing reliable automation
- ✓2,500 executions/month
- ✓5 concurrent workflows
- ✓1 shared project
- ✓50 AI Workflow Builder credits/month
- ✓Email/forum support
Pro
$60/moBest for: Suited for growing teams requiring more advanced features and higher usage limits
- ✓10,000 executions/month
- ✓20 concurrent workflows
- ✓Workflow history
- ✓3 shared projects
- ✓Unlimited users
Business
$800/moBest for: Designed for larger organizations with significant automation needs
- ✓40,000 executions/month
- ✓200+ concurrent workflows
- ✓SSO/SAML
- ✓Git integration
- ✓Multiple environments
Enterprise
Contact SalesBest for: very large enterprises needing tailored solutions, dedicated support, and advanced security
- ✓Custom pricing
- ✓Unlimited executions
- ✓Dedicated support
- ✓Advanced security
- ✓Dedicated infrastructure
Zapier AI Plans
Free tier available
Free
FreeBest for: You get 100 tasks/mo, 5 Zaps, Basic features
- ✓100 tasks/mo
- ✓2-step Zaps
- ✓AI-assisted Zap building
- ✓Access to 6,000+ app integrations
- ✓Basic no-code chatbot builder
Professional
$30/moBest for: 2,000 tasks/mo, Unlimited Zaps, Custom logic paths, Priority support
- ✓750 tasks/mo
- ✓Multi-step Zaps
- ✓AI Copilot & AI steps
- ✓Paths (conditional logic)
- ✓Filters & Formatters
Team
$104/moBest for: Custom pricing for Shared workspace, Collaboration tools, Custom pricing
- ✓2,000 tasks/mo
- ✓Unlimited users
- ✓Shared app connections
- ✓Folder permissions
- ✓Shared workspace
Enterprise
Contact Sales- ✓Custom task limits
- ✓Single Sign-On (SSO)
- ✓Advanced admin controls
- ✓Dedicated account management
- ✓HIPAA compliance
Capability Breakdown
8 differences found across 20 standardized features
- •400+ integrations
- •AI agent builder
- •Code nodes
- •Self-hostable
- •Visual workflow editor
- •Error handling
- •Webhooks
- •Custom nodes
- •Scheduled triggers
- •Sub-workflows
- •Version control
- •Enterprise SSO
- •AI Zap builder
- •Chatbot builder
- •AI actions
- •6000+ app integrations
- •Natural language automation
- •AI formatter
- •Document extraction
- •Conditional logic
- •Multi-step zaps
- •Webhook support
- •Scheduling
- •Error handling
Strengths & Limitations
Evaluative strengths and weaknesses: not feature lists
- +Self-hostable for full data control and security
- +Source-available code allows for custom extensions
- +Build multi-step AI agents with memory and tools
- +Generous free tier for personal and small projects
- +Visual workflow editor with code node for complex logic
- −Steeper learning curve than no-code alternatives like Zapier
- −Self-hosting requires technical expertise and maintenance
- −Fewer pre-built app integrations compared to market leaders
- −Community support can be slower than dedicated enterprise support
- −UI can feel complex for non-technical business users
- +Build multi-step automations from a single natural language prompt.
- +Connects AI actions to an unparalleled 6,000+ app ecosystem.
- +Create custom AI chatbots with access to your specific knowledge bases.
- +Generous free plan includes 250 AI credits and 2 single-step Zaps.
- +Zapier Tables provides a built-in database for complex AI workflows.
- −AI credits on paid plans can be consumed quickly, leading to overages.
- −The AI's interpretation of complex prompts can sometimes require manual tweaking.
- −Debugging AI-generated Zaps can be less intuitive than manual building.
- −Chatbot customization options are less advanced than dedicated platforms.
- −Reliance on third-party LLMs (e.g., OpenAI) can introduce external latency.
At a Glance
Recent Price History
n8n added a new "Business" plan at $800/mo
Plan added · May 30, 2026
n8n lowered "Starter" from $25/mo to $24/mo (-4%)
Price change · May 30, 2026
n8n raised "Starter" from $24 to $25/mo (4%)
Price change · May 21, 2026
n8n removed the "Free" plan
Plan removed · May 21, 2026
n8n added a new "Enterprise" plan
Plan added · May 21, 2026
Zapier AI lowered "Professional" from $69 to $29.99/mo (57%)
Price change · May 21, 2026
Zapier AI removed the "Starter" plan
Plan removed · May 21, 2026
Zapier AI added a new "Enterprise" plan
Plan added · May 21, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Comparisons
Sources & Data Trail · n8n
- 1.Official Pricing Page·Source of verified tiers(Checked: 2026-05-30)
- 2.Official Website·Official vendor website
- 3.G2·G2 verified reviews · 4.7/5 · 207 reviews
- 4.Capterra·Capterra verified reviews · 4.7/5
- 5.TrustRadius·TrustRadius verified reviews
- 6.PeerSpot·PeerSpot enterprise peer reviews
Sources & Data Trail · Zapier AI
- 1.Official Pricing Page·Source of verified tiers(Checked: 2026-05-21)
- 2.Official Website·Official vendor website
- 3.G2·G2 verified reviews · 4.5/5 · 2,056 reviews
- 4.Capterra·Capterra verified reviews · 4.5/5
- 5.TrustRadius·TrustRadius verified reviews
- 6.PeerSpot·PeerSpot enterprise peer reviews