Quick answer
For more technical teams: they host their own infrastructure when needed and keep it maintained. It delivers full control over code and data, with predictable cost per workflow execution, regardless of the number of steps.
To start with no infrastructure: it connects the largest app catalog on the market — but per-task billing can add up in flows with many steps.
Tip: if your flows have many steps and run at high volume, n8n tends to be cheaper. For short flows and teams without their own infrastructure, Zapier's free plan already does the job.
n8n vs Zapier: comparison table
See the 12 criteria comparing the tools side by side.
| Criterion | n8n | Zapier |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting model | Self-hosted or Cloud | Cloud only |
| Free plan | Unlimited self-hosted | 100 tasks/month (2 steps) |
| Server setup | Required (self-hosted) | No (runs in the cloud) |
| Entry paid price | €24/mo (cloud Starter) | US$ 19.99/mo (annual) |
| Pricing model | Per workflow execution | Per task (each action) |
| Number of integrations | ~400 native | 9,000+ native |
| Learning curve | High | Low |
| Portuguese interface | English only | English only |
| Portuguese support | Community (English) | English |
| Native BR apps | Limited | RD Station, Bling and others |
| Code customization | Native JavaScript | Limited (code steps) |
| Open-source | Yes (Community Edition) | No |
Is your team non-technical and your apps Brazilian? Maybe neither one is the best option.
Meet PlugaWhat are n8n and Zapier?
n8n and Zapier are two of the best-known platforms for automating tasks between apps without relying on a dedicated development team. The difference starts at the root: n8n was born open-source and can run on your own infrastructure; Zapier is closed, runs entirely in the cloud and was designed to work with no installation.
Note: this doesn't mean one is technically superior to the other. They're simply different strategies aimed at different audiences.
Neither has Portuguese support, and both bill in foreign currencies (euro and dollar) or require your own technical infrastructure, in n8n's case. One alternative is Pluga, an integration platform focused on the Brazilian ecosystem, with robust solutions from the most basic integration to the most advanced use case, with Portuguese-language support and pricing in reais.
Meet Pluga →Strengths and limitations of n8n and Zapier
Strengths
- +Free, unlimited Community Edition when self-hosted.
- +Open-source, with full control over data and infrastructure.
- +Billing per execution (not per step).
Limitations
- −Self-hosted requires a server.
- −Cloud version has no free plan (from US$ 25/mo).
- −Interface and support in English only.
Strengths
- +Over 9,000 integrations.
- +No installation: start automating in minutes.
- +More intuitive interface for non-technical users.
Limitations
- −Per-task cost scales fast with volume and complex flows.
- −Interface and support in English only.
- −Very limited free plan (100 tasks, only 2 steps).
When to use each one
Use n8n when…
- •There is a developer to set up and maintain the server.
- •Data privacy demands your own infrastructure.
- •You need advanced logic with code.
- •The team is comfortable with technical infrastructure.
Use Zapier when…
- •The team isn't technical and needs agility.
- •The 9,000+ integrations catalog is needed.
- •Monthly task volume is still low.
- •There is no interest in managing infrastructure.
Use another alternative when…
- •Your team is not technical and needs Portuguese-language support.
- •Your tools are Brazilian (Conta Azul, RD Station, PipeRun, PagSeguro…).
- •You want billing in reais and a free plan with no time limit.
- •You don't want to worry about servers and have no in-house DevOps.
