Question 1

Is n8n Better Than Zapier?

Accepted Answer

For developers and teams with self-hosting requirements, n8n is the stronger choice. It runs on your own infrastructure, charges a flat monthly fee rather than per-task, and exposes full JavaScript execution inside nodes for custom logic. Zapier wins on ease of setup and breadth of native app connectors. For event-driven pipelines where you own the data, n8n is typically the better fit.

Question 2

Can n8n Replace Pipedream?

Accepted Answer

n8n and Pipedream overlap heavily for webhook-triggered automation, but differ in hosting model and pricing. n8n self-hosted is free and unlimited; Pipedream charges per workflow execution above its free tier. n8n has a richer visual canvas for complex branching; Pipedream has a larger library of pre-built triggers and is faster for one-off event pipelines. Teams that want infrastructure ownership tend to prefer n8n; teams optimizing for developer speed lean toward Pipedream.

Question 3

Why Is Debugging n8n Workflows So Difficult?

Accepted Answer

n8n's debugging experience has a well-documented ceiling: failed nodes surface raw HTTP status codes and JSON error objects rather than plain-language explanations. For complex workflows with branching logic, the built-in 'Error Trigger' node helps catch failures, but it requires engineers to manually inspect the $json payload to understand what broke and why. The practical fix: use the 'Set' node to log intermediate data at key stages, and route all errors to a Slack node with a structured summary. Power users building beyond simple webhook triggers typically need JavaScript-level error handling inside Function nodes to get actionable failure messages.