n8n vs Zapier vs Make
Side-by-side comparison of the three major automation platforms — pricing, capability, hosting, AI support and which fits your situation.
Most businesses will do fine on any of the three. The cost differences only become material at volume, and the capability differences only matter once your logic gets complicated.
Below is how we actually decide when advising a client.
How they compare
| Criterion | n8n | Zapier / Make |
|---|---|---|
| Cost at low volume (<5k tasks) | n8n: server overhead not worth it | Zapier or Make: cheaper all-in |
| Cost at high volume (>50k) | n8n: dramatically cheaper | Zapier or Make: expensive |
| Self-hosting | n8n only | Neither |
| App breadth | n8n: lowest | Zapier highest, Make middle |
| AI and agents | n8n: strongest | Both improving, less depth |
| Non-technical maintainers | n8n: hardest | Zapier easiest, Make middle |
| Complex logic | n8n: strongest | Make strong, Zapier weakest |
What we'd tell you on a call
Our default recommendation
Start on Zapier or Make to prove the process works. Move the workflows that grow expensive to n8n once volume justifies the infrastructure. Trying to standardise on one platform for everything usually costs more than running two.
Frequently asked questions
Which do you build on most?
n8n, by a wide margin — most of our clients come to us because volume has made per-task pricing painful. But we build on all three and have no reseller incentive in any direction.
Other comparisons
n8n vs Zapier
An honest comparison of n8n and Zapier — pricing at volume, app coverage, self-hosting, AI features, and the volume at which switching pays for itself.
n8n vs Make
Compare n8n and Make on pricing, self-hosting, complexity handling, AI capability and operations cost.
Zapier vs Make
Compare Zapier and Make on cost, ease of use, app coverage and how each handles complex multi-step logic.
Still not sure which to pick?
Book the free audit. We'll look at your actual volumes and complexity and tell you which platform fits — including when the answer is to change nothing.
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