Most teams connect them with webhooks. In Zapier, add “Webhooks by Zapier” to send data to an n8n Webhook URL, or use a Zapier “Catch Hook” and have n8n POST to it. In n8n, create a workflow with a Webhook trigger, test the request, then map fields to the next steps (Sheets, Slack, CRM, etc.). Add error handling so failed runs don’t silently drop tasks. Honestly, this setup stays flexible as your process grows.

Anything that starts with an app event and ends with a repeatable action: new form submissions to a spreadsheet, lead alerts in Slack, email follow-ups, ticket creation, calendar updates, and simple cross-tool data syncs.

Yes, if the workflow relies on Zapier triggers, actions, or Zapier webhooks you create inside your workspace. You’ll connect your apps in Zapier, then pass the data to n8n for the parts that need more logic or more steps. If you’re only using n8n to call a public Zapier webhook endpoint that someone else already set up, you might not need your own account, but in practice most businesses do.

Common wins include routing leads (Typeform/Jotform → Zapier → n8n → Sheets/CRM + Slack), keeping records in sync (Notion ↔ Google Sheets), and enriching data with AI (OpenAI) before it hits your systems. A key limitation is that Zapier steps can get pricey or constrained, so teams often use Zapier for the “connect anything” part and n8n for heavy lifting. Watch for rate limits, field mapping quirks, and duplicate triggers; add idempotency checks in n8n to keep things clean.