{
  "slug": "zapier-to-n8n",
  "title": "Zapier Professional to self-hosted n8n",
  "summary": "Zapier bills by task volume; n8n on your own box does not. The crossover depends on how much you automate, not how many people you employ.",
  "publishable": true,
  "block_reason": null,
  "freshness": {
    "state": "fresh",
    "publishable": true,
    "oldest_input_days": 46.5,
    "problems": []
  },
  "incumbent": {
    "vendor": "Zapier",
    "vendor_id": "zapier",
    "plan": "Professional",
    "plan_id": "professional",
    "amount": 19.99,
    "period": "month",
    "per_seat": false,
    "billed": "annual",
    "seats": 1,
    "quote": "Professional Starting from $19.99 /month",
    "caveat": "Entry tier. Zapier prices by task volume, so the real bill rises with usage; this is the floor, not the typical spend.",
    "source_url": "https://zapier.com/pricing",
    "verified_at": "2026-10-19",
    "needs_reverification": false
  },
  "alternative": {
    "name": "n8n (self-hosted)",
    "repo": "n8n-io/n8n",
    "project": {
      "full_name": "n8n-io/n8n",
      "url": "https://github.com/n8n-io/n8n",
      "homepage": "https://n8n.io",
      "description": "Fair-code workflow automation platform with native AI capabilities. Combine visual building with custom code, self-host or cloud, 400+ integrations.",
      "stars": 207985,
      "forks": 61185,
      "open_issues": 1215,
      "license": null,
      "archived": false,
      "pushed_at": "2026-10-19T10:53:50Z",
      "days_since_push": 0,
      "latest_release": {
        "tag": "n8n@2.43.8",
        "published_at": "2026-10-19T07:23:26Z",
        "url": "https://github.com/n8n-io/n8n/releases/tag/n8n%402.43.8"
      },
      "days_since_release": 0,
      "health": "active",
      "recommended": true,
      "verified_at": "2026-10-19T10:53:59.742Z"
    },
    "box": {
      "provider": "Vultr",
      "name": "vc2-1c-2gb",
      "id": "vultr:vc2-1c-2gb",
      "vcpu": 1,
      "ram_gb": 2,
      "disk_gb": 55,
      "bandwidth_tb": 2,
      "monthly_usd": 10,
      "url": "https://www.vultr.com/pricing/",
      "verified_at": "2026-10-19T10:53:42.716Z"
    },
    "storage": {
      "id": "backblaze-b2",
      "name": "Backblaze B2",
      "usd_per_gb_month": 0.00695,
      "egress": "free up to 3x stored volume per month, then $0.01/GB",
      "pricing_url": "https://www.backblaze.com/cloud-storage/pricing",
      "quote": "the amount of data stored per byte-hour over the last month at a rate of $6.95/TB/30-day",
      "verified_at": "2026-09-03",
      "verified_by": "human",
      "affiliate": true,
      "gb": 20,
      "monthly_usd": 0.14
    },
    "requirements": {
      "ram_gb": 2,
      "vcpu": 1,
      "disk_gb": 25
    },
    "box_alternatives": [
      {
        "provider": "Vultr",
        "name": "vc2-1c-2gb",
        "monthly_usd": 10,
        "vcpu": 1,
        "ram_gb": 2,
        "disk_gb": 55,
        "url": "https://www.vultr.com/pricing/",
        "chosen": true
      },
      {
        "provider": "Linode",
        "name": "Linode 2GB",
        "monthly_usd": 12,
        "vcpu": 1,
        "ram_gb": 2,
        "disk_gb": 50,
        "url": "https://www.linode.com/pricing/",
        "chosen": false
      },
      {
        "provider": "DigitalOcean",
        "name": "1 vCPU · 2 GB",
        "monthly_usd": 12,
        "vcpu": 1,
        "ram_gb": 2,
        "disk_gb": 50,
        "url": "https://www.digitalocean.com/pricing/droplets",
        "chosen": false
      }
    ],
    "migration_hours": 8,
    "maintenance_hours_per_month": 0.5
  },
  "result": {
    "computable": true,
    "inputs": {
      "seats": 1,
      "horizon_months": 36,
      "hourly_rate": 50
    },
    "incumbent": {
      "cash_monthly": 19.99,
      "time_monthly": 0,
      "monthly": 19.99,
      "one_time": 0,
      "annual": 239.88
    },
    "alternative": {
      "cash_monthly": 10.14,
      "time_monthly": 25,
      "monthly": 35.14,
      "one_time": 400,
      "cash_one_time": 0,
      "time_one_time": 400,
      "annual": 421.67
    },
    "delta": {
      "monthly": -15.15,
      "upfront_to_switch": 400,
      "annual": -181.79
    },
    "break_even_month": null,
    "break_even_hourly_rate": 13.64,
    "totals": {
      "at_12_months": {
        "incumbent": 239.88,
        "alternative": 821.67
      },
      "at_36_months": {
        "incumbent": 719.64,
        "alternative": 1665
      },
      "at_horizon": {
        "incumbent": 719.64,
        "alternative": 1665
      }
    },
    "savings": {
      "year_1": -581.79,
      "year_3": -945.36,
      "at_horizon": -945.36
    },
    "verdict": "stay"
  },
  "managed": {
    "provider": "PikaPods",
    "app": "n8n",
    "url": "https://www.pikapods.com/",
    "note": "Runs the same open-source software, applies updates, and takes daily encrypted backups to storage you own.",
    "source_url": "https://www.pikapods.com/apps",
    "quote": "n8n n8n is an … Run Your Own From $3.7/month",
    "monthly_usd": 3.7,
    "verified_at": "2026-10-19T10:54:00.624Z",
    "migration_hours": 4,
    "result": {
      "computable": true,
      "inputs": {
        "seats": 1,
        "horizon_months": 36,
        "hourly_rate": 50
      },
      "incumbent": {
        "cash_monthly": 19.99,
        "time_monthly": 0,
        "monthly": 19.99,
        "one_time": 0,
        "annual": 239.88
      },
      "alternative": {
        "cash_monthly": 3.7,
        "time_monthly": 0,
        "monthly": 3.7,
        "one_time": 200,
        "cash_one_time": 0,
        "time_one_time": 200,
        "annual": 44.4
      },
      "delta": {
        "monthly": 16.29,
        "upfront_to_switch": 200,
        "annual": 195.48
      },
      "break_even_month": 13,
      "break_even_hourly_rate": 146.61,
      "totals": {
        "at_12_months": {
          "incumbent": 239.88,
          "alternative": 244.4
        },
        "at_36_months": {
          "incumbent": 719.64,
          "alternative": 333.2
        },
        "at_horizon": {
          "incumbent": 719.64,
          "alternative": 333.2
        }
      },
      "savings": {
        "year_1": -4.52,
        "year_3": 386.44,
        "at_horizon": 386.44
      },
      "verdict": "switch"
    },
    "crossover": 146.61
  },
  "curve": [
    {
      "month": 0,
      "incumbent": 0,
      "alternative": 400
    },
    {
      "month": 1,
      "incumbent": 19.99,
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    },
    {
      "month": 2,
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    },
    {
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    },
    {
      "month": 4,
      "incumbent": 79.96,
      "alternative": 540.56
    },
    {
      "month": 5,
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      "alternative": 575.7
    },
    {
      "month": 6,
      "incumbent": 119.94,
      "alternative": 610.84
    },
    {
      "month": 7,
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      "alternative": 645.98
    },
    {
      "month": 8,
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    },
    {
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    },
    {
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    },
    {
      "month": 11,
      "incumbent": 219.89,
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    },
    {
      "month": 12,
      "incumbent": 239.88,
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    },
    {
      "month": 13,
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    },
    {
      "month": 14,
      "incumbent": 279.86,
      "alternative": 891.96
    },
    {
      "month": 15,
      "incumbent": 299.85,
      "alternative": 927.1
    },
    {
      "month": 16,
      "incumbent": 319.84,
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    },
    {
      "month": 17,
      "incumbent": 339.83,
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    },
    {
      "month": 18,
      "incumbent": 359.82,
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    },
    {
      "month": 19,
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    },
    {
      "month": 20,
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    },
    {
      "month": 21,
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    },
    {
      "month": 22,
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    },
    {
      "month": 23,
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      "alternative": 1208.22
    },
    {
      "month": 24,
      "incumbent": 479.76,
      "alternative": 1243.36
    },
    {
      "month": 25,
      "incumbent": 499.75,
      "alternative": 1278.5
    },
    {
      "month": 26,
      "incumbent": 519.74,
      "alternative": 1313.64
    },
    {
      "month": 27,
      "incumbent": 539.73,
      "alternative": 1348.78
    },
    {
      "month": 28,
      "incumbent": 559.72,
      "alternative": 1383.92
    },
    {
      "month": 29,
      "incumbent": 579.71,
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    },
    {
      "month": 30,
      "incumbent": 599.7,
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    },
    {
      "month": 31,
      "incumbent": 619.69,
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    },
    {
      "month": 32,
      "incumbent": 639.68,
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    },
    {
      "month": 33,
      "incumbent": 659.67,
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    },
    {
      "month": 34,
      "incumbent": 679.66,
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    },
    {
      "month": 35,
      "incumbent": 699.65,
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    {
      "month": 36,
      "incumbent": 719.64,
      "alternative": 1665.04
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  ],
  "sensitivity": [
    {
      "hourly_rate": 0,
      "verdict": "switch",
      "break_even_month": 0,
      "savings_at_horizon": 354.64
    },
    {
      "hourly_rate": 25,
      "verdict": "stay",
      "break_even_month": null,
      "savings_at_horizon": -295.36
    },
    {
      "hourly_rate": 50,
      "verdict": "stay",
      "break_even_month": null,
      "savings_at_horizon": -945.36
    },
    {
      "hourly_rate": 75,
      "verdict": "stay",
      "break_even_month": null,
      "savings_at_horizon": -1595.36
    },
    {
      "hourly_rate": 100,
      "verdict": "stay",
      "break_even_month": null,
      "savings_at_horizon": -2245.36
    },
    {
      "hourly_rate": 150,
      "verdict": "stay",
      "break_even_month": null,
      "savings_at_horizon": -3545.36
    },
    {
      "hourly_rate": 200,
      "verdict": "stay",
      "break_even_month": null,
      "savings_at_horizon": -4845.36
    }
  ],
  "tradeoffs": {
    "you_lose": [
      "Zapier's 8,000+ prebuilt integrations; n8n has a few hundred plus generic HTTP",
      "Someone else fixing an integration when a vendor changes their API",
      "Zero-maintenance reliability — a failed workflow at 3am is now your pager"
    ],
    "you_gain": [
      "Unmetered task volume, which is the whole point if you run high-frequency automations",
      "Arbitrary JavaScript in a workflow without paying for a higher tier",
      "Data that never leaves your server, which matters for regulated workloads"
    ]
  },
  "caveats": [
    "n8n's licence is a fair-code Sustainable Use Licence, not OSI open source. Self-hosting for your own internal use is permitted; reselling it as a service is not.",
    "The $19.99 Zapier figure is the entry tier. If you are over its task allowance your real bill is higher and n8n wins sooner than this page shows.",
    "Rebuilding Zaps is manual — there is no importer. The 8-hour estimate assumes roughly a dozen workflows."
  ],
  "category": "automation",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-19"
}