Low-code workflow automation platforms are on the rise, with 1 in 2 companies already using them for their business processes. But why? As its name suggests, they allow you to connect different apps and services to handle repetitive tasks without extensive coding. They save you time, reduce manual errors, and free up your team to focus on more strategic work.
Over the past few years, the workflow automation field has established three major players: n8n, Make, and Zapier. But, in the n8n vs Make vs Zapier comparison, which one is right for you? What are the core differences, and how do you choose the platform that best fits your company’s needs and technical expertise? Let’s find out.
Pricing model
Per workflow execution
Per task
Per credit
Free version
Self-hosted community edition
Yes, 100 tasks/mo
Yes, 1k credits/mo
Paid plans
Starter: €24/mo (2.5k executions)
Pro: €60/mo (10k executions)
Business: €800/mo (40k executions)
Pro: $29.99/mo (750 tasks)
Team: $103.5/mo (2k tasks)
Core: $10.59/mo (10k credits)
Pro: $18.89/mo (10k credits)
Teams: $34.12/mo (10k credits)
Free trial
Yes, 14 days
Yes, 14 days
Unlim. users
Enterprise only
Supported code
JavaScript, Python (Pyodide)
JavaScript, Python (snippets)
JavaScript (Enterprise only)
Integrations
1,145+
8,715+
2,965+
Custom apps
HTTP Request + custom nodes
Via Developer Platform
HTTP module + custom apps
Hosting
Cloud + self-hosted
Cloud only
Cloud only
User interface
Node-based flow editor
Step-by-step editor
Visual drag-and-drop canvas
AI automation
85+ AI integrations, agents, LangChain, AI assistant
300+ AI connectors, agents, chatbots, AI assistance
350+ AI connectors, agents, AI Provider, AI assistance
API access
Full REST API on all plans; no platform caps
Via Developer Platform; can be rate-limited
For paid users only; rate-limited (starts at 60 calls/minute on Core plan)
Webhooks
Full Webhook node
Limited to paid users
Custom Webhooks module
Error handling
Logs, error workflows, debug editor, retries, custom actions
Step error handlers, branching, autoreplay
Module-level handlers, manual or logic-driven retries
Community
Active with 40k+ members, GitHub (137k+ stars), 5,3k+ templates
Active with 63k+ members, large tutorial base
Growing number of resources, active support articles
Best for
Developers & technical teams
Non-technical users
Semi-technical users
n8n (pronounced “n-eight-n” or “nodemation”) is a source-available workflow automation tool that empowers you to connect various apps and services. In general, it’s a visual builder where you create workflows using nodes (n8n pre-built blocks), often without or a minimal amount of code. You can use its cloud version or host it on your own servers.
In n8n, you build automation through a visual canvas where you connect different “nodes.” Each workflow begins with a trigger node, which is an event that initiates the automation. For example, as a trigger, you can receive a new email in Gmail or an entry in a Google Sheet.
Once the trigger fires, data flows through a series of connected action nodes. Each action performs a specific task, like sending a message or adding a new contact to the CRM.
You can chain as many nodes as you need, creating complex logic with branches and data transformations. The power of n8n lies in how data flows from one node to the next, where you can manipulate it at every step.
When considering a n8n vs Zapier or n8n vs Make comparison, it’s helpful to look at its specific strengths and weaknesses. But what benefits does n8n have? And what are the disadvantages of n8n? Let’s take a look.
Powerful customization
You can integrate practically any service with an open API using its HTTP Request node. So, n8n gives you limitless integration possibilities beyond the pre-built options.
Steeper learning curve
The n8n node-based interface and advanced features require a more technical mindset to master fully. In this regard, it’s one of the more complex Make alternatives.
Self-hosting and data control
The option for self-hosting on your own servers means your data never has to leave your infrastructure. It’s a significant advantage for companies with strict data privacy and security requirements.
Fewer built-in integrations
While you can connect to almost anything via API, n8n has fewer pre-built, one-click integrations than Zapier or Make.
Cost-effective
The n8n pricing model for its cloud plans is often more affordable for complex workflows, as it charges per execution, not per task.
Requires technical setup
To use the self-hosted version, you need a proper server and infrastructure setup. It requires technical skills that not all businesses have in-house.
Advanced AI capabilities
n8n provides integrations with advanced AI options, including direct LangChain support for building sophisticated AI agents and autonomous workflows.
Make (formerly known as Integromat) is a powerful visual workflow automation platform. It lets you design, build, and automate anything from simple tasks to complex processes. Make stands out for its highly intuitive, drag-and-drop interface, where you can watch your automation run in real-time.
Automation in Make is built using “scenarios.” A scenario is a visual representation of your workflow, where you connect different “modules” that represent your apps and services. You start with a trigger module, just like in n8n or Zapier. From there, you can add an unlimited number of action modules and even routers that create multiple branches for your workflow.
What sets Make apart is its ability to handle complex logic visually. You can create multiple branches, loops, and error handlers, creating a flowchart-like structure. This visual approach makes it easy to understand and debug even the most complex, non-linear workflows.
In any n8n vs Make.com vs Zapier discussion, Make carves out a strong middle ground.
Intuitive visual interface
It allows you to see the entire workflow at a glance, making it easier to design and manage complex, multi-step scenarios.
Complex scenarios can be overwhelming
While the visual builder is great, scenarios with many branches and modules can become cluttered and hard to navigate.
Advanced flow control
Make offers powerful tools like routers (to branch workflows) and aggregators (to merge data from different branches), giving you more control over the automation logic.
Learning curve for advanced features
Getting started is easy, but mastering Make’s more advanced features, like error handling and data structures, requires some time and practice.
Real-time execution view
You can watch your scenarios run in real-time, which is helpful for troubleshooting and confirming that everything is working as expected.
Zapier is arguably the most well-known and user-friendly workflow automation tool on the market. It excels at connecting a massive number of web applications with a simple, linear “if this, then that” logic. Its primary appeal is its simplicity and the sheer volume of its app ecosystem.
Zapier’s automations are called “Zaps.” A Zap is a simple, linear workflow that starts with a trigger and performs one or more actions. For example, a trigger could be “When I get a new email in Gmail,” and the action could be “Copy the attachment to Dropbox.”
You set up Zaps through a straightforward, step-by-step editor. You choose your trigger app, select the event, connect your account, and then do the same for your action app. This linear, guided process makes it incredibly easy for non-technical users to get started with automation.
Let’s take a further look at Zapier’s strengths and weaknesses in our short review.
Massive number of integrations
With support for over 8,700 apps, you can connect almost any tool your business uses right out of the box.
Very limited free version
The free plan offers only 100 tasks per month and two-step Zaps. It’s suitable for testing but not for any meaningful business use.
User-friendly
The platform is designed for simplicity. Its clean, step-by-step editor makes it easy for anyone, regardless of technical skill, to build and launch automations.
Can become expensive
Zapier’s pricing is based on the number of tasks you perform. For workflows that run frequently or have many steps, the costs can add up quickly.
Large community and support
Being the market leader, Zapier has a vast library of tutorials, templates, and community support resources to help you get started.
Less flexible for complex workflows
Its linear, step-by-step approach can be limiting for creating multi-path automations that are easier to build in Make or n8n.
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Obviously, all three platforms occupy the same niche and share the general goal of automating workflows. They all connect apps to reduce manual work, streamline processes, and incorporate AI capabilities. All three can help you reduce time-to-market for new internal processes and lower operational costs.
How are they different, though? In this section, you’ll find a detailed look at n8n vs Make comparison and see how Zapier fits in. Keep reading!
Here is a breakdown of the cost differences in the n8n vs Make vs Zapier price overview.
So, how much does n8n cost monthly? For cloud hosting, costs start at €24/month for the Starter plan, which includes 2,500 workflow executions. It offers 1 shared project, 5 concurrent executions, and unlimited users.
Additionally, there is a Pro plan at €60/month (10k workflow executions, 3 shared projects, 20 concurrent executions), and an Enterprise plan with custom pricing, unlimited shared projects, and 200+ concurrent executions.
For n8n pricing, you also have a unique advantage: a free self-hosted community edition. This version includes almost the complete feature set offered by the platform. The main limitations are on the following features:
To unlock the features above in self-hosting, n8n offers the Business plan at €800/month per 40k workflow executions paid monthly, or €667/month billed annually.
A key difference is that n8n counts a full workflow run as one execution, no matter how many steps it has. So, it can be more cost-effective for complex workflows (especially, cloud-based). And, there is a 14-day free trial for paid plans.
Source: n8n
Make offers a free plan with 1,000 credits per month, but limits you to two active scenarios and has a 15-minute interval between runs. It also doesn’t include Make API endpoints.
Paid plans are affordable, starting with the Core plan at $10.59/month for 10,000 credits. Make’s pricing scales based on the number of credits you need, so, for example, if you’ll use 80,000 credits at the Core plan, you’ll pay $64,71/month.
Besides the Core plan, Make offers:
Before August 27th, 2025, Make charged per operation, but now they use a credit system where different modules consume different numbers of credits. And Make doesn’t offer a free trial for its paid plans.
Source: Make.com
Finally, Zapier pricing is task-based. The platform offers a free plan, which includes 100 tasks per month. But it restricts you to two-step Zaps (one trigger, one action) and doesn’t include premium apps or webhooks. The free plan is a great option for testing Zapier capabilities, but it is very limited for actual workflow automations.
Zapier paid options begin with the Pro plan at $29.99/month for 750 tasks. It provides multi-step zaps, access to premium integrations, and webhooks.
Also, they offer a Team plan for up to 25 users with sharing options and SAML SSO. The Zapier Enterprise plan has custom pricing and adds access for unlimited users, advanced admin permissions, annual task limits, and observability.
As you scale, Zapier tends to be the most expensive option of the three, especially for high-volume automations. And Zapier also offers a 14-day free trial for its paid plans.
Source: Zapier
When it comes to pre-built connections, Zapier is the undisputed leader.
However, numbers don’t tell the whole story. While Zapier has the most ready-made connections, n8n’s true power is its ability to connect to any open API. Its HTTP Request is a node that allows n8n developers to create custom integrations for any service without limitation.
Both Make and Zapier also offer API and webhook support, but n8n is fundamentally designed for this kind of customization.
Here’s how the three platforms stack up for more advanced technical customization.
In terms of programming, n8n is the most flexible, with full support for JavaScript and Python (the latter is still limited to Pyodide). Make supports JavaScript functions, but only on its higher-tier Enterprise plan. Zapier allows small JavaScript or Python snippets within a “Code by Zapier” step, but it’s more limited than n8n’s implementation.
For APIs, n8n provides a full REST API on paid plans to manage workflows and executions programmatically. Make’s API is also available on paid plans, but is rate-limited based on your subscription tier. Zapier doesn’t offer a general REST API; instead, developers build apps on the Zapier Platform.
When it comes to webhooks, n8n and Make both offer robust webhook support on all plans, including the free ones. Zapier, in contrast, restricts its Webhooks app to paid plans only. This factor makes the n8n vs Make vs Zapier choice clear for anyone who relies heavily on webhooks for their automations.
Finally, the learning curve varies significantly. Zapier is the easiest to learn for simple, linear automations. Make has a moderate learning curve; its visual interface is intuitive, but mastering complex branching logic takes time. n8n has the steepest learning curve due to its node-based system and advanced capabilities. So, it’s better suited for users with some technical background.
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Now, let’s discuss the capability to build AI-powered workflow automations. At this point, all three platforms are embracing AI, but they do so in different ways.
n8n is geared towards developers who want to build sophisticated AI systems. It integrates with LangChain, which allows you to design autonomous AI agents that can chain LLMs, databases, and APIs. Thus, n8n developers can create complex AI pipelines for document ingestion, vector retrieval, and structured data output.
To integrate AI with your software stack, n8n offers 85+ native AI integrations (ChatGPT, Hugging Face, Cohere) and unlimited custom connectors. Moreover, the platform provides a vast array of community resources, including over 3,500 templates designed for AI and LLM use cases.
Compared to n8n and Zapier, Make offers the broadest set of ready-made AI tools, with over 350 AI app connectors. It features a native AI module to send prompts to multiple LLMs, an AI assistant to help design scenarios, and even allows you to build and manage AI Agents (currently in beta).
Last but not least, Make features an AI Content Extractor that simplifies working with unstructured data directly within your workflows.
Ultimately, Zapier aims to make AI accessible to everyone. With its AI Actions, you can connect GPT-style models to its 8,000+ app ecosystem to build lightweight AI agents that trigger actions. It also has pre-built pathways for launching AI chatbots and can even generate entire Zaps for you based on a plain English prompt.
Deciding between n8n vs Make vs Zapier comes down to your team’s technical skills, the complexity of your workflows, and your budget. No single platform is universally “best”, and the right choice depends on your specific needs.
But how do you decide which is better: Zapier, Make, or n8n?
Choose n8n if:
Choose Make if:
Choose Zapier if:
If your business plans to use one of these platforms for workflow automation but you lack the in-house expertise, DOIT Software can help. We have a talent network of vetted n8n, Make, and Zapier developers and can connect you with the right fit for your requirements. Contact us and get the first relevant CVs within one business week.
No, they are fundamentally different. Zapier is a user-friendly, proprietary platform with a vast number of integrations, ideal for simple, linear tasks. n8n is a source-available, developer-focused tool that offers deep customization, self-hosting capabilities, and the ability to build more complex, node-based workflows.
Make is generally easier for non-technical users to learn. Its drag-and-drop, visual flowchart interface is very intuitive for building and understanding workflows. n8n has a steeper learning curve, especially if you need to write custom code or set up a self-hosted instance.
A wide range of companies use n8n, from startups to large enterprises. Due to its self-hosting capabilities and data privacy advantages, it is popular among companies in regulated industries, such as finance and healthcare. Well-known users include Vodafone, Microsoft, Zendesk, Mistral AI, deda.tech, and Stepstone.
