Zapier, Make, n8n and Power Automate cover almost every small business automation need. Zapier is the easiest and connects the most apps. Make offers powerful visual workflows at lower cost. n8n gives technical teams self-hosting and AI agents. Power Automate is the natural choice inside Microsoft 365.
Pricing units differ — tasks, operations, executions and users — so the cheapest platform depends on your workflows.
The bottom line
Choose Zapier for the easiest setup and broadest app coverage. Choose Make for complex visual workflows at lower cost. Choose n8n if you have technical staff and need self-hosting, high volumes or AI agents. Choose Power Automate if you run on Microsoft 365 or need desktop RPA.
The contenders
- 1
Best for ease and app coverageZapier8.7Editorial score 8.7 out of 10 - 2
Best visual power for the priceMake8.5Editorial score 8.5 out of 10 - 3
Best for technical teamsn8n8.5Editorial score 8.5 out of 10 - 4
Best for Microsoft 365Microsoft Power Automate8.2Editorial score 8.2 out of 10
Scores are editorial assessments based on research. Prices are indicative.
Zapier
ResearchedThe simplest builder and the largest app catalogue.
Zapier connects thousands of apps through triggers and actions, with multi-step Zaps, paths, tables, interfaces and AI steps. It is the easiest automation platform to start with, though costs grow with task volume.
Ideal for: Non-technical teams and mixed SaaS stacks.
Watch out for: Costs rise with task volume.
Pros
- Largest app library
- Very easy builder
- AI steps and copilots
Cons
- Task-based pricing can climb
- Complex logic gets clunky
Make
ResearchedBranching, iterators and error handling on a visual canvas.
Make (formerly Integromat) uses a visual canvas to build scenarios with routers, iterators and data transformations. It offers more control than Zapier for complex flows and typically more operations per dollar.
Ideal for: Operations teams with complex workflows.
Watch out for: Operation counting needs care.
Pros
- Powerful visual builder
- Strong value
- Advanced data handling
Cons
- Steeper learning curve
- Fewer apps than Zapier
n8n
ResearchedSelf-hostable, code-friendly and strong for AI agents.
n8n is a workflow automation platform with a visual editor, code nodes and strong AI-agent tooling. It can be self-hosted for data control or used as a cloud service.
Ideal for: Developers and data-sensitive teams.
Watch out for: Self-hosting requires maintenance.
Pros
- Self-hosting option
- Code nodes for flexibility
- Strong AI tooling
Cons
- More technical
- Smaller app library
Microsoft Power Automate
ResearchedIncluded standard connectors and desktop RPA.
Power Automate automates workflows between Microsoft 365 and hundreds of other apps, and adds robotic process automation (RPA) for desktop tasks. Standard connectors are included with many Microsoft 365 plans; premium connectors and RPA need paid licences.
Ideal for: Microsoft-centric organisations.
Watch out for: Premium connectors cost extra.
Pros
- Deep Microsoft 365 integration
- Desktop RPA
- AI Builder and Copilot features
Cons
- Confusing licensing
- Premium connectors cost extra
Comparison table
| Tool | Best for | Score | From (indicative) | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zapier | Best for ease and app coverage | 8.7 | Free plan; paid from around $20–30 / month | Yes |
| Make | Best visual power for the price | 8.5 | Free plan; paid from around $9–11 / month | Yes |
| n8n | Best for technical teams | 8.5 | Self-hosted community edition free; cloud from around $20–25 / month | Yes |
| Microsoft Power Automate | Best for Microsoft 365 | 8.2 | Included with some Microsoft 365 plans; Premium from around $15 / user / month | No |
Feature matrix
| Feature | Zapier | Make | n8n | Microsoft Power Automate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free option | Free plan | Free plan | Free self-hosted | Included with many M365 plans |
| Paid entry | ~ $20 / month | ~ $9 / month | ~ $24 / month (cloud) | ~ $15 / user / month |
| Billing unit | Tasks | Operations / credits | Executions (cloud) | Per user / per bot |
| Self-hosting | No | No | Yes | No |
| Code steps | Code by Zapier | Limited | JavaScript / Python | Expressions |
| Desktop RPA | No | No | No | Yes |
| Ease of use | Excellent | Good | Technical | Moderate |
Based on vendor documentation and public plan pages; features change often, so confirm on the plan you intend to buy.
Estimate your volume
Count how many times each workflow runs per month and how many steps it has. A 5-step workflow running 2,000 times a month uses 10,000 tasks on Zapier (counting actions), a similar number of operations on Make, and 2,000 executions on n8n Cloud. Self-hosted n8n has no execution fees.
Who will maintain it?
Automation is software. Someone must monitor failures, update credentials and adjust workflows when apps change. Choose a platform that matches the skills of the person responsible.
How we chose
- We compared the four automation platforms small businesses shortlist most often, using vendor documentation, public plan pages, trust pages and our full reviews of each product.
- Scores are the same weighted scores shown on each review; the overall score is calculated from six criteria and is never typed in by hand. Affiliate relationships have no influence on scores or order.
- We compared billing units at realistic volumes, builder usability, self-hosting, AI features and Microsoft integration.
- Matrix entries describe typical plans as of the update date. Features and limits change frequently — confirm details on the exact plan you intend to buy.
Read our full scoring methodology →
Check connectors
Confirm your critical apps are supported natively or via HTTP/API.
Plan error handling
Set up alerts for failures and assign an owner.
Secure credentials
Use shared connections with least-privilege access and SSO where possible.
Document workflows
Record what each automation does and who owns it.
See every option we rank in Workflow Automation.
Buying checklist
Before you commit, confirm each of these on the exact plan you will buy:
- Connectors for your specific apps and events
- Clear pricing unit and volume estimate
- Error handling and alerts
- Multi-step logic and branching
- Self-hosting option if data residency matters
Avoid these mistakes: Automating a broken process instead of fixing it first. Not counting how many tasks a multi-step workflow consumes. No owner or alerting, so failures go unnoticed.
Frequently asked questions
Which automation platform is easiest?
Zapier.
Which is cheapest?
Self-hosted n8n has no licence fees; Make is usually cheapest among cloud platforms for multi-step workflows.
Is Power Automate included with Microsoft 365?
Standard connectors are included with many Microsoft 365 plans; premium features cost extra.
Can these tools use AI?
Yes. All four offer AI steps or agents, with n8n popular for custom AI agents.
Can I switch platforms later?
Yes, but workflows must be rebuilt. Start with the platform that fits your skills.
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