Compare/Head to head

n8n vs Zapier

Same facts, side by side: starting price, free tier, MCP, API and what each one is actually built for.

Starting price

n8n

€20/mo Free tier Free trial

Workflow automation you can self-host free or run on n8n Cloud. Cloud Starter is €20/mo billed annually; n8n publishes prices in euros.

Where n8n fits

  • Technical teams that want to self-host for free
  • Builders who prefer per-execution billing
  • Teams that want to drive workflows from Claude via MCP
  • Companies under 100 staff looking at Business

Zapier

$19.99/mo Free tier 14 day free trial

Task-based automation across 9,000 apps, with an MCP server on every account. Free plan available; Professional starts at $19.99/mo billed monthly.

Where Zapier fits

  • Ops teams connecting SaaS apps without code
  • People who want Claude or ChatGPT to act in Gmail and Slack
  • Solo users who fit on one Professional seat
  • Orgs that may grow into Team or Enterprise

At a glance

Detailn8nZapier
Starting price€20/mo$19.99/mo
Free tier✓Yes✓Yes
Free trialYes14 day free trial
MCP server✓Yes✓Yes
Public API✓Yes✓Yes
Listed underWorkflow automationWorkflow automation

Where they pull apart

n8n

Stands out: Billing counts full workflow executions, not individual steps, and the Community edition is free to self-host.

Watch out: Cloud prices are published in euros only. The Cloud trial is capped at 1,000 executions, and unused AI Assistant credits do not roll over.

Not the right fit for

  • Buyers who need a USD Cloud price
  • Non-technical users who will not work with nodes

Zapier

Stands out: Zapier MCP is on every plan, including Free, and connects AI assistants to the same 9,000-app catalog.

Watch out: Each MCP tool call uses two tasks. Free Zaps are limited to two steps, and Professional is a single-user plan.

Not the right fit for

  • Builders who need self-hosting and per-execution billing
  • Heavy AI use where every MCP call costs two tasks

Pros and cons

n8n

  • Free self-hosted Community edition
  • Billed per execution, not per step
  • MCP server and public API
  • Cloud prices published in euros only
  • Cloud trial capped at 1,000 executions
  • Unused AI credits do not roll over

Zapier

  • Free plan with 100 tasks a month
  • 14-day Professional trial, no card
  • MCP on every plan, including Free
  • Free Zaps stop at two steps
  • Professional is a single-user plan
  • Each MCP call uses two tasks

What each one costs

n8n

€20/mo

Cloud Starter is €20/mo and Pro €50/mo, both billed annually (about 17% more month to month). Business is €667/mo billed annually and runs self-hosted. The Community edition is free to self-host, and Enterprise is quoted. n8n publishes these prices in euros. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 4 Nov 2026

Zapier

$19.99/mo

Free covers 100 tasks a month. Professional starts at $19.99/mo and Team at $69/mo on monthly billing, with about 33% off when paid yearly; Enterprise is quoted. Agents and Chatbots are priced separately. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 4 Nov 2026

Common questions

Can you try n8n or Zapier for free?
n8n and Zapier carry a free tier on our listing. n8n offers a free trial. Zapier offers a 14 day free trial.
Does n8n or Zapier have an MCP server?
n8n and Zapier ship a first party MCP server, so an AI assistant can work the product directly.

Not the pair you wanted?

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Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 4 Nov 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?