Comparison
Zapier vs Make vs n8n: which automation platform?
How Zapier, Make and n8n differ in pricing model, ease of use, integrations, self-hosting and data control, and which suits which business. Reviewed November 2026.
VAULT 33|27 · Updated 12 November 2026 · Reviewed 12 November 2026 · 2 min read
Reviewed on 12 November 2026. Check each official pricing page before you budget: plans and limits change. No affiliate relationships.
The verdict
| If you... | Choose |
|---|---|
| Want the easiest start and the widest choice of ready-made app connections | Zapier |
| Need complex, branching workflows at a moderate cost | Make |
| Run high volumes, want full control over data, or need self-hosting | n8n |
How each one charges
The pricing model matters more than the headline price, because it decides how costs grow.
| Platform | You pay for | What that means |
|---|---|---|
| Zapier | Tasks: each successful action step | A 5-step workflow uses roughly 5 tasks each time it runs |
| Make | Operations or credits: each module that processes data | Similar counting, typically more units for the money |
| n8n (cloud) | Executions: each run of a workflow | A 10-step workflow counts as one execution |
| n8n (self-hosted) | Your own server | No per-run charge, but you run and maintain it |
At a glance
| Zapier | Make | n8n | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ease for non-technical teams | Easiest | Moderate, visual builder | Most technical |
| Ready-made integrations | Largest library | Large | Smaller, plus flexible HTTP and code steps |
| Complex logic and branching | Possible, can get costly | Strong | Strong |
| Self-hosting | No | No | Yes |
| Data control | Vendor cloud | Vendor cloud | Full control if self-hosted |
| Licence | Commercial | Commercial | Fair-code (Sustainable Use License), not classic open source |
For a typical service business
- Starting out, a handful of simple automations: Zapier or Make, whichever connects your tools most cleanly.
- Dozens of workflows, many steps each: Make or n8n usually cost less as volume grows.
- Sensitive data, EU hosting needs, or AI workflows at volume: n8n self-hosted gives the most control, if someone maintains it properly.
- First check your CRM's built-in automation. Many follow-ups and reminders need no extra platform at all.
What matters more than the platform
Every automation should be documented, monitored for failures, and owned by the business. A broken automation that nobody notices is worse than none. Our workflow automation and system integrations services choose the simplest reliable option and set up error alerts on everything.
Sources
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