n8n vs Zapier Agents

What each tool actually is

n8n is a workflow automation platform made by n8n GmbH in Berlin. You build on a visual canvas, drop into JavaScript or Python when a step needs it, and add AI with its AI Agent node, an MCP client and an MCP server trigger. It connects to 1,500+ integrations, and you can run it on n8n Cloud or host it yourself. The self-hosted Community edition is free and source-available under n8n's fair-code Sustainable Use License.

Zapier Agents is the AI agent product inside Zapier. You describe the job, Zapier Copilot helps you set the agent up, and the agent works across the same 9,000+ apps that power Zaps, using knowledge sources you give it, such as docs, FAQs and public links. It runs entirely on Zapier's cloud, so there's nothing to host, and every Zapier plan includes basic access.

Pricing: executions vs activities

n8n Cloud is priced in euros. On annual billing, Starter is €20 a month, Pro is €50 a month and Business is €667 a month, and every plan includes unlimited users, unlimited workflows and every integration. You pay per execution, meaning one full run of a workflow no matter how many steps it has, so long multi-step agents don't cost more per run. There's no free cloud plan, but the cloud trial needs no credit card, and the self-hosted Community edition costs nothing beyond your own server.

Zapier Agents is billed in activities, separate from the tasks your Zaps use. Each trigger, knowledge lookup, action, web search or page browse counts as one activity. The free tier includes 400 activities a month, and Agents Pro includes 1,500 and starts at about $33.33 a month on annual billing. Zapier sets prices in USD and can bill in 19 currencies, including euros and rupees, converted at the exchange rate when you pay, so a euro invoice can shift from month to month. Classic multi-step Zaps need a separate core plan, starting at $19.99 a month (billed annually) for 750 tasks.

GDPR and data residency

This is where the two split most clearly for European teams. Zapier says it hosts customer data on AWS servers in the United States and does not offer an option to keep data only in the EU. It does commit to complying with GDPR and UK GDPR, and it is certified under the EU-US Data Privacy Framework, which many EU companies rely on for transfers to the US. For plenty of teams that's enough. For teams whose clients or internal policies require EU-only storage, it isn't.

n8n states that n8n Cloud stores data in the EU, on servers in Frankfurt, Germany. If you need tighter control, self-host it on infrastructure you choose, whether that's an EU cloud region, your own servers or a data center in India, and the data stays where you put it. One detail: self-hosted instances on a paid Business or Enterprise license ping n8n's license server daily, and telemetry is on by default but can be turned off. Neither tool makes you compliant on its own. You still need to review each vendor's data processing terms and what data flows through the apps you connect.

Building agents: canvas and code vs plain language

n8n suits builders who think in flows. An agent is a node on the canvas with a model and tools attached, and you can wire it into webhooks, queues, schedules and code steps. It speaks MCP both ways: the MCP client lets an agent use outside tools, and the MCP server trigger exposes your workflows to MCP-compatible AI clients. You can require human approval before an agent's tool call runs, and anything with an API, like a Supabase database, is one HTTP request step away.

Zapier Agents suits people who'd rather describe the job than build it. You tell the agent what to do in plain language, point it at your knowledge sources, and it acts across your connected apps on command or on a trigger. There's also a Chrome extension, so an agent can work alongside you on the web. Each run pauses at 40 activities on paid plans (10 on Free) and asks before going further, which keeps a runaway agent from draining your quota. The trade-off is less control over exactly how each step runs.

Other agent tools worth a look

If neither fits, browse more AI agent tools in the Stackdrop directory. Lindy and Relevance AI are hosted agent platforms closer to Zapier's approach, while CrewAI, LangGraph and Mastra are frameworks for developers who want to build agents in code. Our Build an AI agent shortlist includes a recommended stack, and the Best AI tools for vibe coders 2026 guide covers the wider toolkit.

Our take

If you're building in Europe, or selling to EU clients who ask where their data lives, n8n is the safer default: EU hosting out of the box, the option to self-host, and pricing that doesn't penalize long workflows. If you're a solo founder who wants an agent triaging leads or support emails this afternoon, Zapier Agents is faster to set up, and the free tier is enough to find out whether it works.

Both let you start without paying (n8n by self-hosting or the cloud trial, Zapier on its free tier), so build the same small agent in each before you commit. Pricing changes often, so check n8n pricing and Zapier pricing before you buy. Building an agent tool yourself? Get it featured on Stackdrop.

FAQ

Does n8n store data in the EU?

Yes for n8n Cloud: n8n says hosted data is stored in the EU, on servers in Frankfurt, Germany. If you self-host n8n, data stays wherever you run it.

Does Zapier store data in the EU?

No. Zapier says it hosts customer data on AWS servers in the United States and does not offer EU-only storage. It commits to GDPR and UK GDPR compliance and is certified under the EU-US Data Privacy Framework.

Is n8n free?

The self-hosted Community edition is free; you pay only for your own server. n8n Cloud has a free trial with no credit card required, then paid plans from €20 a month on annual billing.

Is Zapier Agents free?

Yes, there's a free tier with 400 activities a month. Agents Pro includes 1,500 activities a month and starts at about $33.33 a month billed annually. Agent activities don't count against your Zap tasks.

Can I pay for n8n or Zapier in euros?

n8n lists its cloud prices in euros. Zapier sets prices in USD but can bill in 19 currencies, including EUR, GBP and INR, converted at the exchange rate when you pay.

Which is better for non-developers?

Zapier Agents, because you set agents up by describing them and there's nothing to host. n8n is visual too, but it rewards some technical comfort, especially if you self-host.