Zapier and n8n both connect your apps and automate repetitive work. They suit different businesses, and the difference matters more once you pay in rand.
How they charge
Zapier charges by tasks, so every step that runs counts toward your plan. Busy workflows can get expensive in dollars quickly. n8n charges by workflow executions on its cloud plans, and it can also be self hosted, which keeps costs predictable as volume grows.
Flexibility
Zapier is very easy to start with and has a huge library of ready made connections. n8n has fewer prebuilt connectors but lets you call any API, write custom code steps and build complex logic with branches, loops and AI steps. For integrations with local platforms that lack a Zapier app, n8n is usually the better fit.
Data and hosting
Self hosting n8n means you control where your data lives, which helps when you need to think carefully about POPIA and client data.
Which should you choose?
- Choose Zapier for a handful of simple automations between popular apps
- Choose n8n for high volume workflows, custom integrations, WhatsApp bots and AI steps
We build most client automations on n8n. See our business automation service or ask us which fits your business.