Comparison guide · automation
n8n vs Zapier: which automation platform should you buy?
Zapier's managed integration catalog may suit teams that value a hosted workflow editor; n8n may suit teams that need self-hosting or custom logic. Zapier Agents uses a separate activities meter from Zap tasks, so compare the relevant meters rather than quoting one 'Zapier AI price.' Pick from operating constraints, not “more AI features.”
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What actually matters
- List the apps you must connect today and the ones you expect within six months — connector gaps kill more rollouts than missing AI nodes.
- Decide whether workflows must stay in your VPC or on self-hosted infra; that single constraint often picks n8n before feature lists do.
- Price Zapier as tasks + Agents activities (if you use Agents); price n8n Cloud in EUR and convert to GBP — not a single screenshot plan.
- Judge failure modes: retries, error alerts, versioning, and who gets paged when a payment or CRM sync silently stops.
- Relay.app's official notice says the service shut down in September 2026 and all accounts, workflows, and run history were permanently deleted. If you still need to rebuild an automation, use any independent exports, documentation, or backups that you retained; the live service is no longer an export path.
The shortlist
- Zapier when a broad managed integration catalog and accessible workflow editor fit; check each required connector and price its tasks separately from Agents activities.
- Make when visual credit-based flows fit better than Zapier tasks — still map AI module costs separately.
- n8n when self-hosting, data residency, or custom code nodes are the buying reason. Its pricing page lists Cloud Starter at €20/month and Pro at €50/month when billed annually; confirm current monthly rates and hosted-region terms before budgeting.
Evidence-backed entries
A sensible test workflow
- 01Write three real automations you need this quarter, including the failure case for each.
- 02Build the same three in both products (or a time-boxed spike) and record build time, readability, and who can maintain them.
- 03Check data residency, logging, and credential storage against your security bar before connecting production systems.
Common mistakes
- Choosing on “AI automation” marketing while the actual need is a reliable webhook and a CRM update.
- Underestimating the ops cost of self-hosting n8n — or overpaying Zapier task volume because nobody pruned dead zaps.
- Connecting finance or HR systems without an owner for credentials, audit logs, and break-glass access.
Popular-AI shortlist snapshot: September 26, 2026. This guide is a starting framework, not a permanent ranking. Model prices, access, policies, and capabilities move quickly. Check the provider before committing spend or sending sensitive data.