COST MODEL
Automation pricing: compare the bill for the same job
A credit, a Task and a workflow execution are not interchangeable. Start with one workload, then translate it into each vendor’s unit.
Count the same month three ways. Include retries, branching and repair time. The cheapest list price can still produce the most expensive operation.
1 workloadsame trigger and output
3 billing unitscredits, executions, Tasks
1 ownerincluding failed Tuesday
LIKE-FOR-LIKE WORKSHEET
Translate the job before comparing the plan
| Question | Make | n8n | Zapier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Published unit | Credits; many non-AI module operations consume one credit | Completed workflow executions, with unlimited steps on current cloud plans | Successful actions counted as Tasks |
| What expands use | Modules, bundles, branches and selected AI features | How often the whole workflow runs | How many successful actions each run performs |
| Also budget | Error handling and scenario ownership | Cloud plan or self-host infrastructure and maintenance | Task volume, premium features and repair work |
Plan names, included volume and USD checkout totals can change. Confirm the current official pages before contracting.
Example: 1,000 orders is not one number
TriggerOrder arrives
WorkLookup → transform → write → notify
Exceptions8% need human correction
DecisionPrice the full run and the repair queue
Reject a pricing comparison when…
- The examples use different workloads for each vendor.
- Retries and exception handling disappear from the estimate.
- Self-hosting is priced at zero because the server already exists.
- No one has measured a representative workflow.
FREE FIRST STEP