Our verdict
Choose Make if non-developers will build automations and you want a hosted service. Choose n8n if you have technical capacity, need self-hosting or data control, or run volumes and AI agents that would be expensive elsewhere.
Make and n8n are the two most popular alternatives to Zapier for teams that want more power per dollar. Make is a cloud platform with a visual scenario builder that non-developers can learn. n8n is source-available and can be self-hosted for free or used in the cloud, with code nodes and AI agent tooling that appeal to technical teams.
Choose Make if…
- You want a hosted, visual builder that operations staff can use
- You prefer predictable cloud pricing without managing servers
- Your workflows connect mainstream SaaS apps
- You do not have developers available
Choose n8n if…
- You have technical staff comfortable with JavaScript or Python
- Data residency or self-hosting matters
- You run high volumes where per-operation pricing gets expensive
- You are building AI agents and custom integrations
Side by side
| Criterion | Make | n8n |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 8.5 / 10 | 8.5 / 10 |
| Features & fit | 9.0 | 9.1 |
| Ease of use | 7.8 | 7.2 |
| Value for money | 9.0 | 9.2 |
| Support & reliability | 7.6 | 7.2 |
| Security & privacy | 8.0 | 8.4 |
| Integrations & ecosystem | 9.0 | 8.8 |
| Starting price (indicative) | Free plan; paid from around $9–11 / month | Self-hosted community edition free; cloud from around $20–25 / month |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | No | Yes |
| Best for | Complex multi-branch workflows | Technical teams |
Feature by feature
| Feature | Make | n8n |
|---|---|---|
| Free option | Free plan (limited operations) | Free self-hosted community edition |
| Paid entry (indicative) | Core ~ $9 / month | Cloud Starter ~ $24 / month |
| Self-hosting | No | Yes |
| Billing unit | Operations / credits | Executions (cloud); none self-hosted |
| Code steps | Limited | JavaScript and Python nodes |
| AI agent tooling | AI modules and agents | Strong agent and LLM nodes |
| Pre-built integrations | Very large | Large plus HTTP/code |
| Best fit | Non-technical operations teams | Technical teams, data control, high volume |
Pricing compared
Make
| Plan | Indicative price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | — |
| Core | ≈ $9 / mo | Billed annually; scales with operations |
| Pro | ≈ $16 / mo | — |
| Teams | ≈ $29 / mo | — |
n8n
| Plan | Indicative price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Community (self-hosted) | Free | You pay for your own server |
| Starter (cloud) | ≈ $24 / mo | Billed annually |
| Pro (cloud) | ≈ $60 / mo | — |
| Enterprise | Custom quote | — |
Indicative USD list prices; excludes tax, add-ons and promotions. Confirm on each vendor’s site.
Hosting and control
Make runs only in its cloud. n8n can be self-hosted on your own server at no licence cost (you pay for infrastructure and maintenance) or used via n8n Cloud.
Pricing model
Make charges by operations or credits, with paid plans from around $9 per month billed annually. n8n Cloud charges by workflow executions, from around $24 per month; self-hosting has no execution limits.
Ease of use
Make's visual canvas is approachable for non-developers. n8n is visual too, but it rewards technical knowledge — expressions, code nodes and debugging.
AI and agents
Both offer AI modules. n8n's AI agent nodes and LangChain-based tooling are popular with teams building custom agents; Make offers AI modules and agent features in its cloud.
Integrations
Make has a large library of pre-built app modules. n8n has fewer pre-built nodes but an HTTP node and code nodes that can connect to almost anything.
Pros & cons
Make
- Powerful visual builder
- Strong value
- Advanced data handling
- Steeper learning curve
- Fewer apps than Zapier
n8n
- Self-hosting option
- Code nodes for flexibility
- Strong AI tooling
- More technical
- Smaller app library
Key features of each
Make
- Scenario canvas. Visual flow with routers and filters.
- Iterators & aggregators. Work with lists and bundles.
- HTTP module. Connect any API.
- AI modules. Use AI models inside scenarios.
Integrates with: Google Sheets, Slack, Airtable, Shopify, HubSpot.
n8n
- Self-hosting. Run on your own servers.
- Code nodes. JavaScript or Python steps.
- AI agents. Build agent workflows with tools.
- Git & environments. Version control on higher tiers.
Integrates with: Slack, Postgres, Google Sheets, OpenAI, GitHub.
Who should avoid each
Skip Make if…
- Absolute beginners
- Teams needing the largest app catalogue
Best for: Complex multi-branch workflows; Cost-conscious automation; Data transformations.
Skip n8n if…
- Non-technical users
- Teams without hosting skills (for self-hosted)
Best for: Technical teams; Self-hosting for data control; AI agent workflows.
Switching between Make and n8n
Migration difficulty: Hard
There is no direct importer between Make and n8n. Workflows must be rebuilt, so migrate the highest-value scenarios first.
- List scenarios by business importance and run volume.
- Rebuild the top scenarios and run them in parallel with logging.
- Recreate credentials and webhooks; update webhook URLs in source apps.
- Monitor error handling for two weeks before switching off originals.
- Retire remaining low-value scenarios rather than migrating them.
Weigh it your way
Adjust the weights to your priorities to see which tool comes out ahead for you. Print or export the result for your team.
| Tool | Features | Ease | Value | Support | Security | Integrations | Your score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Make | 9.0 | 7.8 | 9.0 | 7.6 | 8.0 | 9.0 | 8.48 |
| 2. n8n | 9.1 | 7.2 | 9.2 | 7.2 | 8.4 | 8.8 | 8.46 |
Drag the sliders to match your priorities. Scores are our editorial sub-scores; weights start at the values we publish on the methodology page. Nothing you change is stored or sent anywhere.
How our scores and weights work · Add a third tool side by side
Frequently asked questions
Is n8n free?
The self-hosted community edition is free to use under its licence; you pay for hosting and maintenance. n8n Cloud is a paid service.
Is Make easier than n8n?
For non-developers, generally yes. n8n is very capable but rewards technical skills.
Which is cheaper at high volume?
Self-hosted n8n is usually cheapest at high volume because there are no per-execution fees, but include server and maintenance costs.
Can n8n connect to apps without a built-in node?
Yes. Its HTTP Request node and code nodes can connect to almost any API.
Does Make or n8n have a free plan?
Make has a free plan; n8n has a free plan. Indicative starting prices: Make — Free plan; paid from around $9–11 / month; n8n — Self-hosted community edition free; cloud from around $20–25 / month.
Which scores higher in our review, Make or n8n?
Make scores 8.5/10 and n8n 8.5/10 on our weighted rubric. Make leads on 3 of six criteria. A higher score does not make it right for every buyer — see the “choose if” lists above.
