Zapier vs Make vs n8n
Pick Zapier for the shortest path, Make for visual control, or n8n for technical flexibility. The real decision starts with how each tool counts usage—not the sticker price.
Start with the constraint you cannot compromise on
Zapier
Fastest route to common app automations
Choose it when broad app coverage, a gentle learning curve, and fast setup matter more than maximizing control per dollar.
- Entry
- $0 free; Professional from $19.99/mo
- Allowance
- 100 tasks/mo on Free
- Usage unit
- Successful action steps and connector calls; rates can vary
- Best fit
- Straightforward business workflows across many SaaS apps
Make
Best visual control for multi-step data flows
Choose it when you want to see branches, filters, iterators, and data mapping on a canvas without owning infrastructure.
- Entry
- $0 free; Core from $12/mo at 10k credits
- Allowance
- 1,000 credits/mo on Free
- Usage unit
- Each module action usually consumes one credit
- Best fit
- Visual, branching workflows with detailed data routing
n8n
Best control for technical builders
Choose it when code, self-hosting, custom nodes, or long workflows make infrastructure ownership worthwhile.
- Entry
- Community Edition; Cloud from €20/mo billed annually
- Allowance
- Cloud Starter includes 2,500 executions/mo
- Usage unit
- One full workflow run, regardless of its step count
- Best fit
- Technical workflows, internal APIs, and self-hosted control
Turn your workflow into a plan clue
Enter a real monthly workload. The calculator translates it into each platform's billing unit, shows whether the free allowance is enough, and gives you a starting point based on the constraint you care about.
2,625 estimated tasks likely need a paid tier.
estimated tasks
Paid tier likely100 free tasks/mo · $19.99/mo Professionalestimated credits
Paid tier likely1,000 free credits/mo · $12/mo Core at 10k creditsestimated executions
Fits listed free allowance2,500 Starter executions/mo · €20/mo Starter annuallyThe retry field is a planning buffer, not a provider rule. Zapier and Make can count more or fewer units depending on the connector, AI step, code, router, or module; n8n counts one execution for a full workflow run regardless of step count. Verify the exact plan before buying.
Compare the decision factors that change the outcome
Prices are displayed entry points in USD or EUR, not currency-converted equivalents. Billing period, region, taxes, add-ons, and usage can change the final charge.
| Decision factor | Zapier | Make | n8n |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billing unit | Tasks | Credits | Workflow executions |
| Free entry | 100 tasks/month | 1,000 credits/month | Self-hosted Community Edition |
| Displayed paid entry | $19.99/month | $12/month for 10k credits | €20/month billed annually |
| Workflow shape | Linear to moderately branched | Visual and highly branched | Flexible, code-friendly graphs |
| Self-host the platform | No | No | Yes |
| Code path | JavaScript and Python code steps | JavaScript and Python Code app | JavaScript/Python plus custom nodes when self-hosted |
| Best default buyer | Non-technical operator | Visual systems builder | Technical builder or team |
Choose by the work you need to ship
Lead form → CRM → email
Start with ZapierCommon SaaS connections and a short, predictable flow reward fast setup more than deep customization.
Route orders by product and region
Start with MakeMultiple branches, filters, transforms, and visible data paths play to Make’s visual scenario model.
Enrich data through internal APIs
Start with n8nCode steps, custom API requests, webhooks, and self-hosted custom nodes favor technical ownership.
Keep automation in your environment
Evaluate n8n firstn8n is the only option here with a standard self-hosted Community Edition. Budget for operations, not just software.
Run one long flow thousands of times
Model all threeStep-based and execution-based billing diverge sharply here. Use the estimator, then map the result to current plan tiers.
Still unsure?
Prototype the same workflowBuild one representative automation, count its real actions and runs, and compare maintenance effort before migrating everything.
Five numbers to collect before subscribing
- 01Monthly trigger events
Orders, leads, tickets, scheduled runs, and retries.
- 02Actions or modules per event
Include searches, transforms, loops, writes, and AI steps.
- 03Peak concurrency
Average monthly volume can hide a launch-day bottleneck.
- 04Maintenance time
Price the hours spent debugging, updating, and monitoring.
- 05Ownership requirements
Decide who handles credentials, failures, backups, and upgrades.
Common questions before switching
Is Make always cheaper than Zapier?
No. Make shows a lower entry price and a larger free allowance, but its credits are consumed per module action. A scenario with searches, transforms, iterators, and writes can use many credits per run. Model the exact workflow before comparing tiers.
Is self-hosted n8n free?
n8n offers a standard self-hosted Community Edition. The software entry cost is not the total cost: you still own hosting, updates, backups, security, monitoring, and incident response.
Which is easiest for a non-technical solo business?
Zapier is the strongest default when the priority is connecting common SaaS apps quickly. Make is a better next choice when visual branching and data mapping justify a steeper setup process.
Facts checked against official documentation
Pricing and product facts reviewed August 10, 2026. Product pages can change; open the source immediately before purchase.
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