No-code AI automation platform for building AI-powered workflows and agents.
Make vs n8n
Features, pricing, strengths and trade-offs — and which one fits your situation.
The verdict
Editor’s verdict
Make and n8n both use visual node-based canvases, but Make is a managed cloud service billed per module action, while n8n can be self-hosted and bills per full workflow run. Choose Make if you want a hosted tool with a larger library of ready-made app modules, a polished interface for non-developers, and no infrastructure to manage. Choose n8n if you need to self-host for data residency, want JavaScript or Python code nodes as a normal part of workflows, or run long workflows where per-execution pricing is cheaper than per-step credits. n8n is also more flexible for building LLM agents with custom tools and approval steps. Make is generally easier for operations staff without coding experience, while n8n rewards technical teams. If your needs are simple two-step automations across mainstream apps, Zapier may be quicker than either.
Both Make and n8n offer a free plan, so you can try each before paying.
Which should you choose?
Choose Make if…
- You need visual, multi-branch automations across thousands of SaaS apps at a moderate cost
- You're one of: operations teams, automation agencies, small businesses scaling workflows
- You want something quicker to learn
- Visual canvas makes complex branching logic easy to follow
Choose n8n if…
- You need technical teams wanting self-hostable automation and AI agents billed per workflow run
- Self-hosting matters to you
- You're one of: developers and technical ops teams, companies with data residency requirements, teams building llm agents
- Free self-hosted Community Edition with no execution limits
At a glance
| Make | n8n | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Visual, multi-branch automations across thousands of SaaS apps at a moderate cost | Technical teams wanting self-hostable automation and AI agents billed per workflow run |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Starting price | From $9/mo | From €20/mo |
| Learning curve | Medium | High |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android, API | Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, API |
| Ideal for | Operations teams, Automation agencies, Small businesses scaling workflows, Marketers with multi-step processes | Developers and technical ops teams, Companies with data residency requirements, Teams building LLM agents, High-volume automation users |
Feature comparison
| Make | n8n | |
|---|---|---|
| Visual workflow builder | Yes | Yes |
| Integrations, approx. | 3,000+ | 400+ native nodes |
| AI agents | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosting | No | Yes |
| Custom code steps | Yes | Yes |
| Webhooks | Yes | Yes |
| Human approval steps | — | Yes |
| Billed per | Credit (per module action) | Execution (per workflow run) |
IncludedLimited / higher plansNot available— Not confirmed
Security & enterprise
| Make | n8n | |
|---|---|---|
| Business / enterprise plan | Yes | Yes |
| SSO (SAML / OIDC) | Enterprise plan | Enterprise plan |
| SCIM user provisioning | — | — |
| SOC 2 | Type II | Type II |
| ISO 27001 | Yes | — |
| HIPAA (BAA available) | — | — |
| GDPR DPA | Yes | Yes |
| Data residency options | US, EU | — |
| No training on your data | — | — |
| Audit logs | Enterprise plan | — |
| Admin controls | Yes | Yes |
| Deployment | Cloud | Cloud, self-hosted |
From each vendor's security documentation. "—" = not confirmed. What to ask vendors · Compare all tools
What each tool does
Make
Make is a cloud automation platform where users build scenarios on a visual canvas, connecting modules with routers, filters and iterators. Billing is per credit, with each module action generally counting as one credit and AI or code steps costing more. It is used by operations teams, agencies and small businesses that outgrow simple linear automations.
Key features- Drag-and-drop scenario canvas with routers and iterators
- 3,000+ app integrations
- Make AI Agents available on all plans
- Maia assistant that builds scenarios from chat
- Code app for JavaScript or Python
- Make Grid map of scenarios and dependencies
n8n
n8n is a fair-code workflow automation tool with a node-based visual editor, available as a managed cloud service or self-hosted via the free Community Edition. Cloud plans are billed per workflow execution regardless of how many steps a run contains. It is favoured by developers and technical operations teams building integrations and LLM agents that need code-level control.
Key features- Node-based visual workflow editor
- AI Agent node with LangChain-based tools and memory
- JavaScript and Python Code node
- Webhook triggers and HTTP Request node
- Human review of AI tool calls via Slack, Teams, Gmail or chat
- Self-hosting with Docker or npm
Pricing
Make
Free plan (1,000 credits/mo); Make plan from $9/mo
n8n
Free self-hosted Community Edition + cloud free trial; Cloud Starter from EUR 20/mo
Prices last checked September 2026. Plans change often — confirm on each vendor's site.
Pros and cons
Make
Strengths- Visual canvas makes complex branching logic easy to follow
- Large app library with detailed module options
- Generally cheaper per action than Zapier at similar volumes
- Free plan available for testing
- Free plan limited to two active scenarios and 15-minute intervals
- Data mapping, iterators and aggregators take time to learn
- Cloud only: no self-hosted edition, just an on-prem agent for local network access
- Credit costs for AI and code steps are harder to estimate than plain module actions
Not ideal for: Teams that must keep data on their own servers should look at n8n, and complete beginners may find Zapier quicker to start with.
n8n
Strengths- Free self-hosted Community Edition with no execution limits
- Per-execution billing is cheaper than per-step billing for long workflows
- Code nodes allow custom logic in any workflow
- Unlimited users and workflows on all cloud plans
- Fewer native integrations than Zapier or Make
- Assumes comfort with JSON, expressions and APIs
- SSO, Git version control and longer log retention need Business or Enterprise
- Self-hosting requires managing servers, updates and backups
Not ideal for: Non-technical users who want a guided, low-effort setup for common app connections will get started faster with Zapier.
Integrations
Make
n8n
FAQ
What is the main difference between Make and n8n?
Make is built for visual, multi-branch automations across thousands of SaaS apps at a moderate cost; n8n is built for technical teams wanting self-hostable automation and AI agents billed per workflow run. Key differences: n8n offers self-hosting.
Is Make or n8n cheaper?
Make starts from $9/mo and n8n starts from €20/mo (as of September 2026). Always confirm current pricing on each vendor's site.
Do Make and n8n have free plans?
Both Make and n8n offer a free plan, so you can try each before paying.
Which is easier to use, Make or n8n?
Make is generally quicker to learn (Make: medium, n8n: high learning curve).
What are good alternatives to Make and n8n?
Other automation tools worth comparing include Gumloop, Lindy and Relevance AI.
