vs 
n8n vs Zapier
Workflow Automation n8n wins overall
n8n edges ahead with a SaaSTweaks Score of 85/100 vs Zapier's 59/100, so it's our default workflow automation pick for most teams. n8n offers exceptional value and flexibility, especially for technical teams, with strong discounts and a powerful free self-hoste Where n8n leads is value for money; Zapier, scoring 59/100, is the stronger choice when time to value is your priority — Zapier offers powerful, broad automation capabilities with fast setup, but its value is highly dependent on task volume control an Both are verified, real deals; the right pick comes down to which pillars below matter most for your team.
The verdict
n8n edges ahead with a SaaSTweaks Score of 85/100 vs Zapier's 59/100, so it's our default workflow automation pick for most teams. n8n offers exceptional value and flexibility, especially for technical teams, with strong discounts and a powerful free self-hoste Where n8n leads is value for money; Zapier, scoring 59/100, is the stronger choice when time to value is your priority — Zapier offers powerful, broad automation capabilities with fast setup, but its value is highly dependent on task volume control an Both are verified, real deals; the right pick comes down to which pillars below matter most for your team.
Feature by feature
7 points of difference, taken from each vendor's published plans.
| n8n | Zapier | |
|---|---|---|
| SaaSTweaks Score | n8n 85/100 | Zapier 59/100 |
| Deal strength | n8n 8.0/10 | Zapier 5.0/10 |
| Value for money | n8n 10.0/10 | Zapier 5.0/10 |
| Capability | n8n 9.0/10 | Zapier 8.0/10 |
| Time to value | n8n 6.0/10 | Zapier 8.0/10 |
| Trust & reliability | n8n 8.0/10 | Zapier 5.0/10 |
| Flexibility & exit | n8n 10.0/10 | Zapier 3.0/10 |
What each one actually costs
Published rates at the time we checked. Confirm at checkout — vendors re-cut plans often.
| Plan | n8n | Zapier | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry price | Custom | Custom | |
| Free plan | No | Yes | |
| The deal | Save up to $4,800 on Business plan | — |
Which one is right for you?
Pick n8n if
- Value for money matters most to you: n8n scores 10.0/10 vs Zapier's 5.0/10. Self-hosted Community Edition is completely free with unlimited workflows; discounted cloud plans (e.g., $12/month Starter) offer
- Flexibility & exit matters most to you: n8n scores 10.0/10 vs Zapier's 3.0/10. Self-hosted option has no lock-in; cloud plans likely standard terms. Free self-hosting allows full data control and portability.
- Capability matters most to you: n8n scores 9.0/10 vs Zapier's 8.0/10. Over 400 integrations, JavaScript/Python code nodes, LangChain for AI agents, visual workflow builder, and raw API data access; ed
- Deal strength matters most to you: n8n scores 8.0/10 vs Zapier's 5.0/10. Verified percentage discount on Business plan (saving up to $4,800) and a 50% discount on Cloud Starter via JoinSecret, as per edi
Pick Zapier if
- Time to value matters most to you: Zapier scores 8.0/10 vs n8n's 6.0/10. Editorial summary states 'fastest path from idea to first Zap' and 'working automation in under 10 minutes', with examples like a
Moving from one to the other
The migration cost is part of the price. Here is what it actually involves.
It depends on your priorities. Overall, n8n scores 85/100 versus Zapier's 59/100 on the SaaSTweaks benchmark, so n8n is our default pick. That said, Zapier is the better choice when time to value matters more to you. Both are scored across the same six pillars below.
n8n starts at Custom and Zapier at Custom on their entry paid tiers. Factor in each verified deal too: n8n — Save up to $4,800 on Business plan; Zapier — see deal page. The cheaper option depends on your seat count and which plan you need.
On deal strength specifically, n8n scores 8.0/10 and Zapier scores 5.0/10. Verified percentage discount on Business plan (saving up to $4,800) and a 50% discount on Cloud Starter via JoinSecret, as per edi See each deal page for the live offer and terms.
Yes. Before migrating, check each tool's data export and onboarding — most workflow automation tools support CSV or API export. n8n scores 10.0/10 on flexibility & exit and Zapier 3.0/10, which is a good proxy for how painless switching will be.
Each tool earns a 0–100 SaaSTweaks Score weighted across six pillars: deal strength, value for money, capability, time to value, trust & reliability, and flexibility & exit. The ranking here is strictly by score — never by commission. See our methodology at /how-we-score.