Independent head-to-head
Make vs n8n
Both are on our shortlist, and most people only need one. Here is where each genuinely wins.
Which fits your work better: Make or n8n?
Make suits workflows with real branching logic — conditional paths, loops, multiple data transformations — that a linear Zapier Zap struggles to express clearly. n8n suits technically comfortable teams who want to self-host automation and avoid per-task billing entirely, or who need Git-based version control over workflows. Make is cheaper to start with ($9/month against $22/month), so price alone favours it.
Make
Marketing Automation ToolsA visual, node-based canvas for automation that outgrows Zapier's linear steps.
n8n
Marketing Automation ToolsSelf-hostable automation — own your data and your infrastructure bill.
Decision view
Compare what changes the answer
| Decision factor | Make$9/mo | n8n$22/mo |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $9/mo | $22/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | None | None |
| Best for | Workflows with real branching logic — conditional paths, loops, multiple data transformations — that a linear Zapier Zap struggles to express clearly. | Technically comfortable teams who want to self-host automation and avoid per-task billing entirely, or who need Git-based version control over workflows. |
| Not for | Anyone who wants the largest integration library or the simplest possible setup — Zapier still wins on both counts. | Anyone without the appetite to run and maintain their own server — the free tier's real cost is your own time, not a subscription fee. |
Shared answers are dimmed so trade-offs stay visible.
Plan comparison
Published plans as recorded on each vendor’s pricing page on its verification date. Limits and add-ons differ between vendors, so compare at your own volume.
Make
| Plan | Monthly | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Up to 1,000 operations/month |
| Core | $9 | 10,000 operations/month at this tier; scales via a credit slider |
| Pro | $16 | 10,000 operations/month at this tier; adds custom variables, priority execution |
| Teams | $29 | 10,000 operations/month at this tier; team collaboration features |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom credit allocation and support |
n8n
| Plan | Monthly | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Community Edition | Free | Free, self-hosted; you run and maintain the infrastructure |
| Cloud Starter | $22 | ~€20/month; 2,500 workflow executions/month, 5 concurrent |
| Cloud Pro | $55 | ~€50/month; 10,000 workflow executions/month, 20 concurrent |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom execution volume, SSO/SAML, dedicated SLA support |
Where Make wins
- Visual canvas makes complex branching logic genuinely easier to build and debug than a linear step list
- Credit-based pricing can work out cheaper than Zapier's task pricing for workflows with many small steps
- Built-in scenario replay makes debugging a failed run far less painful than starting over
Where n8n wins
- Self-hosted Community Edition genuinely has no per-task or per-operation cost, just infrastructure
- Execution-based Cloud pricing is more predictable than per-task billing for workflows with many internal steps
- Open-source and self-hostable means no vendor lock-in on where the automation actually runs
Make or n8n?
Make suits workflows with real branching logic — conditional paths, loops, multiple data transformations — that a linear Zapier Zap struggles to express clearly. n8n suits technically comfortable teams who want to self-host automation and avoid per-task billing entirely, or who need Git-based version control over workflows. Make is cheaper to start with ($9/month against $22/month), so price alone favours it.
Workflows with real branching logic — conditional paths, loops, multiple data transformations — that a linear Zapier Zap struggles to express clearly.
Technically comfortable teams who want to self-host automation and avoid per-task billing entirely, or who need Git-based version control over workflows.
What decides it
- Entry price
- Make starts at $9/month; n8n at $22/month. Compare the plan that matches your real usage, not the entry tier.
- Trial
- Make offers a free plan; n8n offers a free plan.
- What each gives up
- Make: smaller integration library than Zapier's — worth checking a specific app is supported before committing. n8n: self-hosting requires real technical setup and ongoing maintenance most agencies won't want to take on.