Case Study: We Cut Automation Costs X% by Moving to n8n
· By AI Compare
Before-and-after costs, the migration process and results from a Zapier to n8n move.
Draft template. Replace the example figures below with a real client's numbers before publishing. Only publish results you can document.
Summary
| Before (Zapier) | After (n8n) | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly automation cost | $[X] | $[Y] |
| Automations | [N] Zaps | [N] workflows |
| Monthly volume | [X] tasks | [X] executions |
| Migration time | – | [X] days |
| Savings | – | [X]% / $[X] per year |
The client
[Company type, size and location.] They used Zapier to [main processes: lead routing, order processing, reporting]. As volume grew, their bill rose from $[X] to $[Y] a month.
The problem
- [Number] Zaps using [X] tasks a month, mostly from [the 3 largest Zaps].
- Multi-step Zaps processing lists, so every item multiplied task usage.
- [Other issues: failed runs, missing logic, data residency requirements.]
What we did
- Audit: listed all Zaps, found [X] unused ones and turned them off.
- Prioritised the [X] Zaps responsible for [X]% of tasks.
- Deployed n8n on [n8n Cloud / a VPS costing $X/month].
- Rebuilt [X] workflows, combining [X] Zaps into [X] workflows where logic overlapped.
- Ran in parallel for [X] days, then cut over.
Example: how the numbers work
Illustrative example, not client data. A Zap with a trigger and 6 actions processing 1,500 orders a month uses 9,000 Zapier tasks. In n8n, the same workflow is 1,500 executions: inside n8n Cloud Pro's 10,000 limit, or unlimited on a self-hosted server.
Results
- Cost: $[X]/month → $[Y]/month ([X]% lower).
- Reliability: [error rate before/after, alerts added].
- New capabilities: [AI step, faster processing, internal database access].
What the client said
"[Quote from the client, with permission.]"
Could you save too?
Use our pricing comparison to estimate your savings, or book a free Zap audit.
