Zapier or n8n? The short answer: Zapier is the easiest hosted automation; n8n is self-hostable and avoids per-task fees if you can run it. Below is the full breakdown so you can pick based on what you actually need.
At a glance
| Factor | Zapier | n8n |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Easiest hosted automation | Self-hosted, no per-task fees |
| Hosting | Cloud | Self-host or cloud |
| Free tier | Yes (100 tasks/mo) | Free (self-host) |
| Data control | Vendor cloud | Your own server |
| Setup | Easy | Technical |
All prices are USD and current as of June 2026 — verify on the official page.
Where Zapier wins
Zapier is the no-fuss hosted option — easiest setup, widest app support, free tier (100 tasks/mo), Professional from ~$29.99/mo. You trade per-task fees for convenience.
Where n8n wins
n8n is workflow automation you can self-host for free, keeping data on your own server and avoiding per-task pricing. Its community edition is free; cloud starts around €20/mo. The trade-off is technical setup.
So which should you choose?
Pick Zapier for the easiest hosted automation. Pick n8n for self-hosted automation with data control and no per-task fees, if you are comfortable running it. Where data is stored is not the same as which laws reach it: under the US CLOUD Act, data held by a US-jurisdiction provider can be subject to US legal process even if it physically sits in the EU. That gap is why data-sensitive teams look at self-hosting or providers outside US jurisdiction — not just at picking a region.
Once you are running several AI tools at once, consolidation becomes a real question. Platforms such as osFoundry — an agentic AI platform that is model-agnostic and can self-host — exist to bring chat, agents, knowledge and apps under one roof.
Related reading
This article is general information, not professional, legal or financial advice. AI tools, prices and availability change fast — verify current details on the official source before you rely on them.