Automation tools compared
Make vs n8n: which automation platform should you actually use?
By Jacky Lei · Updated June 10, 2026
Make
Visual, cloud-hosted, fastest for non-developers
n8n
Developer-friendly, self-hostable, flexible at scale
Make vs n8n, side by side
| Dimension | Make | n8n |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting | Cloud only (managed SaaS) | Cloud or self-hosted (open source) |
| Best for | Non-developers, fast builds | Developers, custom and complex logic |
| App integrations | ~2,000 native apps | ~500 native + universal HTTP and code |
| Custom code | Limited inline JavaScript | Full JavaScript and Python in nodes |
| Pricing model | Per operation | Per execution (cloud) or server cost only (self-hosted) |
| Learning curve | Gentle, fully visual | Steeper, more technical |
| Data privacy | Data flows through Make's cloud | Full control when self-hosted |
| Cost at high volume | Climbs with operation count | Flat and low when self-hosted |
| Maintenance | Zero (fully managed) | You maintain the server when self-hosted |
Where Make wins
Make wins on breadth and speed. The native app catalog is roughly four times larger, so the SaaS tool you need is usually already integrated, no custom HTTP work required. The visual canvas, built-in error handling, and managed reliability mean a non-technical operator can build, run, and trust a workflow without touching a server. For a standard app-to-app flow that needs to be live this week, nothing is faster.
- Solo founders and small teams with no developer
- Needing a specific SaaS integration live fast
- Operators who prefer a visual canvas over code
- Anyone who wants managed hosting with zero upkeep
Where n8n wins
n8n wins on control and economics. Self-hosting means your data never leaves your infrastructure, which matters for regulated or privacy-sensitive workloads. You get real code (JavaScript and Python) inside nodes, so complex branching, custom transforms, and unusual APIs are no problem. And because self-hosted n8n has no per-operation meter, a pipeline processing thousands of records a day costs a flat server bill instead of a runaway subscription.
- Teams with in-house engineering resources
- Complex branching, loops, and custom code
- Sensitive data that must stay on your own servers
- High volume where per-operation pricing gets painful
Pricing
Make
Free tier with 1,000 operations a month. Paid plans start around $9 a month and scale by operations used.
n8n
Open-source self-hosted is free (you pay only for the server). Managed cloud starts around $20 a month and scales by executions.
Pricing directional, as of early 2026. Always confirm current plans on each vendor's site.
What we actually use, and when
We are certified in both and choose per project, not per preference. For a client who needs a CRM-to-Slack flow shipped this week with no developer on staff, Make every time. For a data-heavy pipeline moving thousands of records a day, or anything touching information that cannot sit on a third-party cloud, n8n self-hosted. On bigger builds we often run both: Make for the front-line app connections, n8n for the heavy data processing behind them.
Lean Make
Pick Make if you want the quickest path to a working automation without a developer.
Lean n8n
Pick n8n if you have technical resources, complex logic, or data that cannot leave your own servers.
Proof: Capcon Networks: $3.5M+ pipeline from AI-driven outreach
Make vs n8n: FAQ
- Is n8n really free?
- The open-source, self-hosted version is free to run, but you pay for the server it lives on and the time to maintain it. n8n's managed cloud is a paid subscription. So n8n is cheapest at scale only if you can host and maintain it yourself.
- Can Make do everything n8n can?
- For standard app-to-app integrations, mostly yes, and often faster. n8n pulls ahead when you need full custom code, unusual API logic, or self-hosting for privacy. Make's inline scripting is more limited than n8n's full JavaScript and Python.
- Which is cheaper at scale?
- Self-hosted n8n, usually by a wide margin, because there is no per-operation meter. Make's operation-based pricing is fine at low volume but climbs as workflows get busy. The trade-off is that self-hosting n8n requires technical upkeep.
- Do I need to know how to code to use either?
- Make is built for non-developers and needs no code for most workflows. n8n is usable without code but rewards technical skill heavily, and self-hosting it definitely requires a developer.
- Can you migrate an existing Make setup to n8n?
- Yes. We rebuild Make scenarios as n8n workflows regularly, usually to cut cost at volume or to bring sensitive data in-house. We map each module to its n8n equivalent and test in parallel before cutting over.