n8n vs Zapier (2026): Per-Run Billing vs Per-Task
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Quick answer
Choose n8n if you build longer, multi-step workflows, want the option to self-host, and are comfortable with a more technical editor. Choose Zapier if you want the simplest path from idea to working automation on a fully hosted service. The deciding difference is billing: n8n counts one execution per workflow run, while Zapier counts a task for each successful action step.
n8n and Zapier both connect apps and automate repetitive work, but they charge for it differently and suit different people. Zapier is a hosted, no-setup service. n8n offers hosted plans too, plus a free Community Edition you can run on your own server.
We compared both vendors' pricing explanations, help center articles and comparison pages, which each side writes about the other, so we weighed them with that bias in mind. We did not test either product ourselves, and we left out plan prices because figures differ between pages. Check the pricing pages before you buy.
Below you will find a side-by-side table, how billing works in each tool, the self-hosting trade-off, and which kind of team suits which.
Our Top Picks
n8n7.8/10
A workflow automation tool with hosted cloud plans billed per execution and a free, source-available Community Edition to self-host.
Read our full take ↓Zapier6.5/10
A hosted automation service billed per task, with a free plan and tiers that add multi-step Zaps, faster polling and team features.
Read our full take ↓1. n8n — Best for Multi-Step Workflows and Self-Hosting
What we like
- A full multi-step workflow counts as one execution, per n8n's pricing model
- Community Edition is free to self-host
- Hosted plans exist for teams that do not want to run servers
- Can run on your own infrastructure, which helps with data-location needs
Keep in mind
- Self-hosting means you own updates, backups and security
- The free Community Edition lacks collaboration and role-based access controls, according to Zapier's comparison
- Licensed as fair-code, not as traditional open source
n8n bills hosted plans per workflow execution. The vendor says you pay for full runs, not for each step, so a workflow with ten steps counts once. Its pricing page lists Starter with 2,500 executions and Pro with 10,000 executions, and a 14-day trial is documented in its help material.
The Community Edition is free to self-host. n8n describes its model as fair-code under the Sustainable Use License, which means the source is available but the terms differ from a classic open source license. Zapier's comparison notes that this edition lacks collaboration and role-based access controls, which paid editions add.
Skip it if nobody on your team is comfortable with a node-based editor or with running software on a server.
2. Zapier — Best for Quick, Fully Hosted Automations
- Free plan with 100 tasks
- Billed per task
- Fully hosted, no self-hosting
Best for: Non-technical users and small teams who want working automations quickly without running anything themselves
What we like
- Free plan includes 100 tasks a month, per Zapier's help center
- Paid plans add multi-step Zaps and faster polling
- Filter, Paths and Formatter steps do not count as tasks, according to Zapier
- Checking for new data does not use a task
Keep in mind
- Cost grows with every action step in every run
- The Free plan is limited to two-step Zaps and 15-minute polling
- No self-hosting option
Zapier counts a task each time a Zap successfully completes an action. The Free plan includes 100 tasks a month, two-step Zaps and 15-minute polling, according to Zapier's help center. Professional adds multi-step Zaps and 2-minute polling, and Team adds 1-minute polling and shared folders for up to 25 users, per the vendor's pricing material.
Zapier says built-in tools such as Filter, Paths and Formatter do not count toward tasks, which softens the per-step model. Paid plans can also continue past the monthly limit with pay-per-task billing, which the vendor says is capped at 3x the plan's task limit.
Skip it if you run high volumes of long workflows and cost per run matters more than setup speed.
Side-by-side comparison
| n8n | Zapier | |
|---|---|---|
| Billing unit | One execution per workflow run | One task per successful action |
| Free option | Community Edition (self-host); 14-day cloud trial | Free plan, 100 tasks a month |
| Self-hosting | Yes | No |
| Hosted entry tier | Starter, 2,500 executions | Free, then Professional |
| Free plan limits | Self-hosted lacks collaboration and role controls | Two-step Zaps, 15-minute polling |
All details are from the vendors’ own pages and comparison articles, so each reflects what that vendor chooses to emphasize.
How billing differs
This is the heart of the comparison. n8n says it charges for a full workflow execution regardless of how many steps it contains. Zapier charges a task for each action that completes successfully, though it states that Filter, Paths and Formatter steps and checks for new data do not count.
For a short two-step automation the models land close together. For a workflow that enriches a lead, writes to a CRM, posts to chat and logs a row, n8n counts one run where Zapier counts several tasks. That gap widens as volume rises, which is why teams with heavy usage often look at n8n first.
Self-hosting and control
Zapier is cloud-only. n8n lets you run the Community Edition on your own server, which is attractive when data must stay on infrastructure you control. The cost is responsibility: updates, backups, access control and uptime become yours. A site monitor such as the one in our UptimeRobot review is a sensible companion for a self-hosted setup.
n8n’s licence is fair-code rather than open source, and Zapier’s comparison notes that the free edition lacks collaboration and role-based access controls. Teams that need shared projects will need a paid n8n edition.
Ease of use and speed
Zapier is built for people who want a result today. Its free plan is limited to two-step Zaps, and moving to Professional unlocks multi-step logic and faster polling at 2 minutes, with Team reaching 1 minute. n8n’s editor suits people who think in branches and data transformations, but the learning curve is steeper.
Where each fits in a business
Both tools often sit behind other systems. A small sales team might connect forms to a CRM, and our best CRM for small business guide covers options that integrate with either. Teams automating document signing can look at the Signeasy review, and agencies pricing client automation may find the GoHighLevel pricing guide useful as a different approach to bundled automation.
Which one fits whom
Non-technical founder. Zapier gets you running fastest. Start on the free plan and watch task use before upgrading.
Developer or technical operations. n8n fits long workflows, custom logic and self-hosting, and its per-execution billing helps as volume grows.
Agency. Count steps per client workflow. If most are short, Zapier’s simplicity wins; if they are long and numerous, n8n’s billing and hosting choices usually matter more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is n8n cheaper than Zapier?
It depends on the shape of your workflows. n8n bills per execution and Zapier per task, so a workflow with many steps counts once on n8n but several times on Zapier. Self-hosting n8n has no plan fee but adds server and maintenance effort. Check both pricing pages for current figures.
Can I self-host Zapier?
No. Zapier is a hosted service. n8n offers a Community Edition that you can run on your own infrastructure.
Is n8n open source?
n8n calls its model fair-code. The source is available under the Sustainable Use License, which differs from a standard open source license, so read the terms if you plan to resell or embed it.
Does Zapier have a free plan?
Yes. Zapier's help center says the Free plan includes 100 tasks a month, with two-step Zaps and 15-minute polling.
Does n8n offer a free trial?
n8n's documentation describes a 14-day cloud trial with limits on executions. The Community Edition is free to self-host.
Which is easier for beginners?
Zapier is generally positioned as the simpler, fully hosted option. n8n's editor gives more control but expects more technical comfort.
Final Verdict
Pick Zapier when speed and simplicity matter most and your workflows are short, and pick n8n when workflows are long, volumes are high or you need to run automations on your own server. Count the action steps in your busiest workflow before deciding, because that is where the two billing models diverge. Use each vendor's free option to prove one real workflow first.
Sources We Checked
Specs and features in this guide come from these manufacturer pages and independent sources, checked on Oct 18, 2026.
