Three tools. Three different approaches to automation. Here's which one you actually need.
The short version
- n8n is for developers who want full control over workflows
- Zapier is for power users who want to connect apps
- [Oxian](https://oxian.ai) is for non-technical builders who want to create AI agents and sell them
The key difference: Oxian has a built-in marketplace. You can monetize what you build. n8n and Zapier don't offer that.
Detailed comparison
| Feature | Oxian | n8n | Zapier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Non-technical builders | Developers | Power users |
| Coding required | No | Yes (for advanced) | No |
| AI-native | Yes — agents think and decide | Limited AI nodes | AI add-on |
| Marketplace | Yes — sell your agents | No | No |
| Revenue share | 80% to builder | N/A | N/A |
| Setup time | 20 minutes | Hours to days | 30–60 minutes |
| Pricing | Free to build, buyers pay $19–$149/mo | Free (self-hosted) or $20+/mo | $19.99–$69/mo |
| Agent types | Email, CRM, support, finance, social | Any workflow | App-to-app triggers |
When to use n8n
n8n is powerful. It's open-source, self-hostable, and gives you complete control over every node in your workflow.
Choose n8n if:
- You're a developer comfortable with JSON, APIs, and self-hosting
- You need complex multi-step workflows with custom logic
- You want to run everything on your own infrastructure
- You don't need to sell your automations to others
Skip n8n if:
- You're not technical
- You want to monetize your automations
- You need AI decision-making (not just triggers and actions)
When to use Zapier
Zapier is the market leader for connecting apps. It has 6,000+ integrations and a clean interface.
Choose Zapier if:
- You want to connect two specific apps (e.g., "when a form is submitted, add to spreadsheet")
- You need simple trigger → action workflows
- You're willing to pay per-task pricing
- You don't need AI reasoning — just data movement
Skip Zapier if:
- You want your automation to make decisions (not just move data)
- You want to sell your automations
- You need agents that understand context (email content, customer history)
When to use Oxian
Oxian is built for a different use case entirely. It's not a workflow builder — it's an agent builder with a marketplace.
Choose Oxian if:
- You want to build AI agents that think, not just trigger
- You want to sell your agents and earn recurring revenue
- You're not technical but understand business problems
- You want agents that handle email, CRM, support, or finance tasks
Skip Oxian if:
- You need to connect 50 different apps in a complex pipeline
- You want full developer control over every step
- You're building internal tools, not products to sell
The bottom line
If you're a developer building internal workflows: n8n.
If you're connecting apps with simple triggers: Zapier.
If you're a freelancer or entrepreneur who wants to build AI agents and sell them to small businesses: [Oxian](https://oxian.ai).
The real question isn't which tool is "better." It's which one matches what you're trying to do.
*Related: The freelancer's guide to productizing AI automation*