n8n vs Make vs Zapier: which one should you use to automate your business?
Written by Mario Amadeo Muñoz Castellano, founder of dbricks, web developer and automation specialist Published on Updated on
Quick answer
Choose Zapier if you want simple automations running in minutes and don't mind paying more as you grow. Choose Make if you want visual workflows with some logic at a good price. Choose n8n if your processes are complex, you handle a lot of data or you want it on your own server. All three are good; the right one depends on the case.
All three tools do the same basic job: they connect your apps so data moves between them without copying and pasting. What changes is how they bill you, how much logic they can handle and where your data lives. Here we compare them using figures from their official websites and explain when we recommend each one.
What are n8n, Make and Zapier?
n8n, Make and Zapier are no-code or low-code automation platforms. They let you build workflows that start with an event, such as a form submission or a new email, and then carry out actions in other apps: saving data, sending messages or creating invoices. They differ in pricing, flexibility and where they are hosted.
- Zapier
- A cloud platform and the pioneer of the category. Each automation is called a "Zap".
- Make
- Formerly Integromat. A cloud platform with a visual, diagram-style editor. Each automation is called a "scenario".
- n8n
- An automation platform with a visual editor that runs in its own cloud or on your own server. Each automation is called a "workflow".
How are n8n, Make and Zapier different?
The main difference is how they bill you: Zapier counts every completed action, Make counts every module that runs, and n8n counts each full run of a workflow, however many steps it has. On top of that, only n8n can be installed on your own server; Zapier and Make run only in their own cloud.
| Zapier | Make | n8n | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What you pay for | Tasks: each completed action (triggers and filters don't count) | Credits: each module action (most use 1) | Executions: each full run of the workflow |
| Where it runs | Their cloud only | Their cloud only | Their cloud or your server |
| Ease of getting started | Very high | High | Medium |
| Complex logic (branches, loops, code) | Basic to medium | Medium to high | High |
| Free option | 100 tasks/month, 2-step Zaps | 1,000 credits/month, 2 active scenarios | Free Community Edition on your own server |
| Best for | Getting started fast with simple workflows | Visual workflows with some logic | Complex processes, high volume or sensitive data |
Plan details checked on 10 October 2026 on each tool's official pricing page.
How much do n8n, Make and Zapier cost?
All three have a free option and paid plans starting at roughly 9 to 30 dollars or euros a month. But the starting price is misleading: what really decides the cost is how much each tool consumes at your volume. With multi-step workflows, Zapier is usually the most expensive and n8n the most predictable.
| Entry paid plan | Published price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Zapier Professional | $29.99/month ($19.99/month billed annually) | 750 tasks/month |
| Make Core | $9/month | 10,000 credits/month |
| n8n Starter (cloud) | €20/month billed annually | 2,500 executions/month |
| n8n Community (your own server) | €0 licence + the cost of the server | No execution limit |
Official prices checked on 10 October 2026, excluding tax. They may change: check them on Zapier, Make and n8n.
Example: the same workflow in all three tools
A form arrives from your website, and the workflow saves the contact in your CRM, adds it to a spreadsheet, emails you a notification and sends a welcome message. That's 1 trigger and 4 actions. If you get 1,000 form submissions a month:
| Approximate monthly usage | Does it fit the entry plan? | |
|---|---|---|
| Zapier | 4,000 tasks (4 actions × 1,000) | No: the 750-task plan falls short |
| Make | About 5,000 credits (5 modules × 1,000) | Yes, within 10,000 credits |
| n8n | 1,000 executions | Yes, within 2,500 executions |
The takeaway isn't that one tool is better, but that every step you add makes Zapier and Make more expensive, while n8n's usage stays the same.
When does Zapier make sense?
Zapier makes sense when you need a simple automation working today, without learning anything technical, and you only run it a few times a month. Its strengths are how easy it is and its huge catalogue of connected apps. Its weakness is the price once volume grows or workflows have many steps.
- You want to connect two popular apps in minutes.
- Your workflows have few steps and run only occasionally.
- You'd rather not touch anything technical.
When does Make make sense?
Make makes sense when your processes involve some logic, such as conditions, branches or handling lists, and you want to see them in a clear diagram. Its entry plans offer a lot of capacity for the price. Its limits are that it runs only in its own cloud and that usage grows with every module.
- You need conditions and several paths within one workflow.
- You want a good balance between ease of use and power.
- Your volume is moderate and you're fine with data passing through their cloud.
When does n8n make sense?
n8n makes sense when processes are complex, volume is high or the data is sensitive. It can be installed on your own server, so the data stays within your infrastructure and the cost doesn't depend on the number of steps. In exchange, it takes longer to learn and a self-hosted server needs maintenance.
- Your workflows have many steps, loops or custom code.
- You run thousands of automations a month.
- You handle customer or patient data and want to control where it is stored.
- You want to use AI inside your processes with clear rules.
More on our n8n automation service.
Can you move from Zapier to Make or n8n?
Yes. There's no export button between tools, but every automation can be reviewed and rebuilt on the new platform. The safe approach is to document what each Zap does, rebuild it, run both systems side by side for a few days and switch the old one off only when the new one works without errors.
- Inventory: list your automations, what each one does and how often it runs.
- Choice: decide which tool fits best on cost and complexity.
- Rebuild: recreate each workflow and simplify it along the way.
- Parallel testing: compare results before switching.
- Switch and monitor: turn the old system off and watch for error alerts.
Frequently asked questions about n8n, Make and Zapier
Which is cheapest: n8n, Make or Zapier?
It depends on volume and the number of steps. With simple workflows and light use, all three can be free or very cheap. With many steps or thousands of runs, Zapier is usually the most expensive, Make sits in the middle and self-hosted n8n is the most predictable, because you only pay for the server.
Is n8n free?
The n8n Community Edition can be installed on your own server with no licence fee; you only pay for the server and its upkeep. Its licence (the Sustainable Use License) allows you to use it for your own company's processes. If you'd rather not manage a server, n8n offers paid cloud plans.
Is Make better than Zapier?
It isn't better or worse, just different. Make offers more visual logic and more capacity for the price on its entry plans; Zapier is easier to start with and connects a very wide catalogue of apps. If your workflows have conditions or many steps, Make usually works out cheaper.
Do I need to know how to code to use n8n?
Not for the basics: n8n has a visual editor where you connect steps without writing code. Some programming knowledge helps when a workflow needs to transform data or call services without a ready-made integration. Installing it on a server does require technical skills, or someone to manage it for you.
Which tool does dbricks use?
We work with n8n and Make and choose based on each client's case: volume, complexity, budget and where the data needs to live. On the free 30-minute call we review your process and recommend the most cost-effective option, even if it's the simplest one.