Zapier charges $20/mo for 750 tasks and locks advanced features behind a $69/mo plan. n8n is open source, has no per-task limits, and you can self-host it on InstaPods for $3/mo.
| Feature | Zapier | n8n |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $20/mo (Starter) | $3/mo (self-hosted on InstaPods) |
| Task Limits | 750 tasks/mo on Starter | Unlimited - no per-task fees |
| Workflows | Unlimited (Starter+) | Unlimited |
| Multi-Step Workflows | Starter plan and above | All plans - no restrictions |
| Code Nodes | JavaScript only (paid plans) | JavaScript + Python |
| Self-Hosting | Not available | Full control - your server, your data |
| Data Retention | Limited by plan | Unlimited - stored on your server |
| API Access | Available on paid plans | Full REST API included |
| Community Nodes | App marketplace (curated) | 900+ community nodes |
| Source Code | Closed source | Open source (fair-code license) |
Limitations that push you toward self-hosting.
Zapier charges per task execution. A workflow with 5 steps counts as 5 tasks. High-volume automations can cost $100+/mo easily.
Paths (conditional logic), filters, and custom code require the $69/mo Professional plan. Basic automation shouldn't cost that much.
Your workflow data lives on Zapier's servers. No way to export execution history, and you're subject to their data retention policies.
Workflows built in Zapier can't be exported. If you want to switch, you rebuild everything from scratch.
What you get when you own your infrastructure.
Run as many tasks as your server can handle. A $3/mo pod handles thousands of workflow executions without extra charges.
Workflow data stays on your server. No third-party access, no retention limits, full GDPR compliance by default.
Code nodes, conditional logic, error handling, webhooks - everything is available. No features locked behind higher tiers.
Install community nodes, modify the source code, integrate with internal APIs. No marketplace approval process.
Running 5 workflows with 2,000 total task executions per month.
Yes. n8n supports 400+ integrations, has a visual workflow builder similar to Zapier, and adds features Zapier charges extra for - like code nodes, conditional logic, and error handling. The main trade-off is that you manage the hosting, but InstaPods makes that a one-click process.
n8n has 400+ built-in nodes plus 900+ community nodes. It covers most popular services (Slack, Google Sheets, GitHub, Notion, etc.). For services without a dedicated node, you can use the HTTP Request node to connect to any API.
On InstaPods, it takes about 30 seconds. Click deploy, and you get a fully configured n8n instance with HTTPS, persistent storage, and automatic updates. No Docker, no reverse proxy setup, no SSL certificates to manage.
Upgrade your InstaPods plan with one click. The $7/mo Build plan gives you 1 GB RAM and 10 GB storage, which handles most automation workloads. Even the $15/mo Grow plan is cheaper than Zapier's starter tier.
Deploy n8n on InstaPods and stop paying for features that should be free.
Deploy n8n