What's the best AI agent builder? (And what it really costs)
Lindy, n8n and Zapier all build agents without code, and they bill in three different units: credits per person, runs of any size, and tasks with a separate agent meter on top. Which unit you are charged in decides your bill far more than the price on the plan does.
What each builder charges you for
| Question | Lindy | n8n | Zapier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billed by | Credits, per person | Runs, whatever size | Tasks, plus a separate agent meter |
| Entry price | $29.99 per person a month for 3,000 credits | 20 euros a month for 2,500 runs, or free on your own server | $19.99 a month for 750 tasks, billed yearly |
| Free plan | None, 7 day trial only | Yes, if you host it yourself | 100 tasks and 400 agent activities a month |
| Where the setup lives | Lindy's account | A file on your own server | Zapier's account |
Do the credit math before you commit
Lindy's pricing page puts one piece of deep work at 250 to 1,000 credits, and the entry plan gives you 3,000 a month per person. That is three to twelve real runs. Zapier counts every action an agent takes as an activity, drawn from a pot separate from the 750 tasks you thought you bought. n8n charges the same for a 3 step job and a 30 step one. Multiply your honest number of runs a month by the cost of one run, then look at the sticker price again.
Ask what happens if it closes
OpenAI told Agent Builder users on June 3, 2026 that the product leaves the platform on November 30, 2026, roughly six months after it launched. A developer on OpenAI's forum running setups for several clients called the rebuild economically unviable. Build one real job on the free tier or trial of whichever tool already reaches the apps your team lives in, run it for a month, and only then pay.
Last updated: Aug 28, 2026