n8n vs Zapier
Our S-tier and A-tier picks in Best Agent Builder, side by side.
| Attribute | n8n | Zapier |
|---|---|---|
| Our tier | S-TIER | A-TIER |
| Best for | Self-hosted automations and agents | No-code automations across thousands of apps |
| Verdict | Open-source, self-hostable workflow automation. Added native Agents (preview) in Sep 2026 that can use your workflows as tools. | Biggest no-code app catalog (9,000+ apps). Its standalone Agents product is now 'AI by Zapier' steps inside Zaps, with per-tool approvals. |
| Details | n8n page | Zapier page |
Which should you pick?
Pick n8n if you want: self-hosted automations and agents. Pick Zapier if you want: no-code automations across thousands of apps. See the full Best Agent Builder tier list for more options.
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