Quick comparison: n8n vs Make vs Zapier
Here is the summary for people who want the answer fast:
n8n is the most powerful and flexible option. Best for technical teams, complex workflows, AI integrations, and businesses that want full control. Self-hosting available. Steeper learning curve.
Make (formerly Integromat) is the visual workflow builder that balances power and usability. Best for marketing teams, mid-complexity workflows, and businesses that want more capability than Zapier without the technical overhead of n8n.
Zapier is the simplest option with the largest app library. Best for non-technical users, simple automations, and businesses that need to connect popular tools with minimal setup.
Pricing: where the real differences show
Pricing is where these platforms diverge most sharply, and it is the factor that catches businesses off guard as they scale.
n8n pricing
Self-hosted: Free. Unlimited workflows, unlimited executions. You pay only for hosting (typically $5 to $50 per month on a cloud server). This is the option that does not exist on the other platforms.
Cloud: Starter at $24 per month for 2,500 executions. Pro at $60 per month for 10,000 executions. Enterprise pricing is custom.
Make pricing
Free: 1,000 operations per month. Enough to test, not enough to run a business on.
Core: $10.59 per month for 10,000 operations. Pro at $18.82 per month for 10,000 operations with additional features. Teams at $34.12 per month for 10,000 operations.
Important: Make counts operations, not executions. A single workflow with 10 steps uses 10 operations per run. This adds up fast on complex workflows.
Zapier pricing
Free: 100 tasks per month with single-step automations only.
Professional: $29.99 per month for 750 tasks. Team at $103.50 per month for 2,000 tasks. Company pricing from $148.50 per month.
Zapier is the most expensive per task at scale. A business running 10,000 tasks per month can expect to pay $250 or more on Zapier, versus $60 on n8n cloud or $0 on n8n self-hosted.
Pricing verdict
Winner: n8n. Self-hosting eliminates per-execution costs entirely. Even on cloud, n8n is significantly cheaper than both Make and Zapier at scale. The $3.50 CPC on "n8n vs Make" search queries confirms the commercial intent behind this comparison: businesses are actively evaluating because costs matter.
Features and flexibility
Workflow complexity
n8n: Handles branching, looping, error handling, sub-workflows, and custom code nodes (JavaScript and Python). You can build workflows of virtually any complexity. The visual builder supports complex logic that would require multiple separate automations on other platforms.
Make: Strong visual workflow builder with routers (branching), iterators (loops), and error handlers. Handles mid to high complexity well. The visual interface is more polished than n8n for complex scenarios.
Zapier: Primarily linear workflows. Paths (branching) are available on paid plans. Loops require workarounds. Best for simple trigger-action automations. Complex logic is possible but awkward.
Winner: n8n for maximum flexibility. Make for complex workflows with a better visual experience. Zapier for simplicity.
App integrations
Zapier: Over 7,000 app integrations. The largest library by far. If a SaaS tool exists, Zapier probably connects to it.
Make: Over 2,000 app integrations. Covers all major tools. Fewer niche integrations than Zapier.
n8n: Over 400 built-in integrations plus the ability to connect to any API through HTTP request nodes and custom code. The built-in library is smaller, but the flexibility to connect to anything makes up for it.
Winner: Zapier for breadth. n8n for depth and flexibility. For most businesses, all three cover the tools that matter.
AI integration
n8n: Native nodes for Claude (Anthropic), OpenAI, Google Gemini, and other AI models. AI agents can be built directly within n8n workflows. This is where n8n pulls far ahead. You can build intelligent, multi-step AI workflows that use language models to make decisions, generate content, and process data.
Make: Integrations with OpenAI and some AI tools. Less native AI support than n8n. AI workflows are possible but require more workarounds.
Zapier: OpenAI integration available. AI features focused on simple text generation and transformation. Limited support for complex AI workflows.
Winner: n8n by a wide margin. If AI automation is part of your strategy, n8n is the only platform that treats it as a first-class feature.
Self-hosting and data control
n8n: Full self-hosting support. Run it on your own servers, keep all data in your infrastructure. This matters for businesses with compliance requirements (HIPAA, GDPR, SOC 2) or those that process sensitive data.
Make: Cloud only. EU and US data centers available. No self-hosting option.
Zapier: Cloud only. US-based infrastructure. No self-hosting option.
Winner: n8n. The only platform offering self-hosting. Non-negotiable for regulated industries.
Which platform fits your business
Choose Zapier if
You need simple automations between popular tools. Your team is non-technical. You want the fastest setup time. You do not need complex logic or AI workflows. Budget is not a primary concern at current volume.
Typical use case: A small team connecting their CRM to their email marketing tool with basic trigger-action automations.
Choose Make if
You need more complex workflows than Zapier supports. Your team is comfortable with visual builders. You want good value at moderate volumes. You need branching and conditional logic but do not need custom code or self-hosting.
Typical use case: A marketing team running multi-step campaign automations with conditional routing based on lead behavior.
Choose n8n if
You need maximum flexibility and control. You want AI-powered workflows. You have compliance or data residency requirements. You want to eliminate per-execution pricing at scale. You have a technical team member or work with a development partner.
Typical use case: A growing business building intelligent automation workflows that combine AI processing with multi-step business logic across multiple tools.
Migrating between platforms
If you are currently on Zapier or Make and considering a switch, migration is straightforward but requires rebuilding workflows rather than importing them. The platforms use different workflow formats.
The typical migration process: audit your existing workflows, identify which ones to migrate first (start with the highest-volume ones), rebuild them on the new platform, run both in parallel during testing, then switch over once you are confident in the new setup.
We have migrated dozens of clients from Make and Zapier to n8n. The most common catalyst is cost: businesses hitting high volumes and seeing their Zapier or Make bills climb. The second most common catalyst is needing AI capabilities that the other platforms do not support natively.
For a detailed look at alternatives, see our guides on Zapier alternatives and n8n alternatives. If you are specifically moving from Make to n8n, we have a migration guide for that.
The right platform depends on your needs
Zapier is the simplest. Make is the visual middle ground. n8n is the most powerful. For businesses that need AI integration, cost control at scale, or data sovereignty, n8n is the clear choice. For simple automations where ease of use matters most, Zapier still wins.
If you want your automation infrastructure built properly from the start, our n8n agency team has built production automation for dozens of businesses. Talk to us about what you need automated.
Harish Malhi
Founder of Goodspeed
Harish Malhi is the founder of Goodspeed, one of the top-rated Bubble agencies globally and winner of Bubble’s Agency of the Year award in 2024. He left Google to launch his first app, Diaspo, built entirely on Bubble, which gained press coverage from the BBC, ITV and more. Since then, he has helped ship over 200 products using Bubble, Framer, n8n and more - from internal tools to full-scale SaaS platforms. Harish now leads a team that helps founders and operators replace clunky workflows with fast, flexible software without writing a line of code.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is n8n better than Zapier?
For complex workflows, AI integration, and cost at scale, yes. n8n offers self-hosting, native AI nodes, and no per-execution fees on self-hosted plans. Zapier is better for non-technical users who need simple automations with the widest app library.
Is Make better than Zapier?
Make offers more complex workflow capabilities at a lower price point than Zapier. Its visual builder handles branching and conditional logic better. Zapier has more app integrations and is simpler to learn. For mid-complexity workflows, Make is typically the better value.
Can I self-host n8n?
Yes. n8n is the only major automation platform that supports self-hosting. You can run it on your own server for free with unlimited workflows and executions. This eliminates per-execution costs and keeps all data within your infrastructure.
How much does n8n cost compared to Zapier?
n8n self-hosted is free. n8n cloud starts at $24 per month for 2,500 executions. Zapier starts at $29.99 per month for 750 tasks. At 10,000 monthly executions, n8n cloud costs $60 versus $250 or more on Zapier. The gap widens at higher volumes.
Which automation platform is best for AI workflows?
n8n. It has native nodes for Claude, OpenAI, and other AI models. You can build AI agents directly within n8n workflows. Make and Zapier have basic AI integrations but do not support the complex, multi-step AI workflows that n8n handles natively.
Can I migrate from Zapier or Make to n8n?
Yes, but workflows need to be rebuilt rather than imported. The migration process involves auditing existing workflows, rebuilding on n8n, parallel testing, and switchover. Most businesses migrate high-volume workflows first to capture immediate cost savings.
Which platform has the most app integrations?
Zapier with over 7,000 integrations. Make has over 2,000. n8n has over 400 built-in plus the ability to connect to any API through HTTP request and custom code nodes. For most businesses, all three cover the essential tools.
Is n8n hard to learn?
n8n has a steeper learning curve than Zapier but is comparable to Make. Technical team members typically become productive within a day. Non-technical users need more time. The visual workflow builder makes it accessible, but complex features like custom code nodes require technical knowledge.
