n8n vs Zapier vs Make: Automation Platform Deep Comparison

n8n, Zapier, and Make dominate the no‑code automation landscape, yet they diverge sharply on pricing models, integration breadth, and technical control. Zapier counts tasks per step within a workflow; Make charges operations on a credit‑based system; n8n counts one execution per entire workflow run, regardless of the number of steps. At 500,000 monthly automations, n8n self‑hosted can cost under $10/month versus roughly $1,000+/month on Zapier [1] [2]. This reference guide benchmarks all three platforms across pricing, integrations, code extensibility, AI capabilities, and self‑hosting to help you pick the right tool for your team’s technical maturity and budget.

How do n8n, Zapier, and Make differ in pricing models for high‑volume workflows?

Zapier charges per task—every action step inside a workflow counts as one task, so a 5‑step Zap running 50,000 times consumes 250,000 tasks. n8n charges per execution—the entire workflow run counts once regardless of step count. Make uses operations—each action, filter, or router split consumes one op from your credit pool. [1] [2]

The practical impact is dramatic: a 5‑step workflow running 50,000 times/month costs roughly $400–600 on Zapier Team but only about $65 on n8n Pro, creating a ~$535 monthly gap for a single workflow. Zapier’s Professional plan starts at $19.99/mo for 750 tasks; Team begins at $69/mo for 2,000 tasks. n8n Cloud Starter ($24/mo for 2,500 executions) resets on the 1st of each month. Make pricing is credit‑based, starting with a free plan of 1,000 ops/month; its Core plan begins at $9/mo for 10,000 ops and scales upward in tiers [3]. For a detailed breakdown of n8n plans, see n8n Community vs Cloud vs Enterprise plans.

How do integration counts compare across n8n, Zapier, and Make in 2026?

Zapier leads with the largest app ecosystem: 7,000–8,000+ integrations, covering virtually every major SaaS platform on the market. Make follows with 2,000–3,400+ apps, offering deeper support for complex business processes. n8n provides 400+ native nodes with HTTP Request and custom node capability for full REST/GraphQL access. [4] [5]

Integration depth varies significantly. Zapier’s catalogue prioritises breadth for simple connections; many integrations handle basic CRUD operations. Make’s integrations average richer module depth—the platform gauges depth from simple (2–3 modules) to deep (50+ modules), concentrated in CRM, finance, and enterprise apps. n8n’s 400+ native integrations are built for granularity, augmented by 1,000+ community‑contributed nodes and a universal HTTP node that reaches any REST or GraphQL API without changing the platform. For more on node capabilities, refer to the n8n nodes & techniques hub.

Which platforms let you write custom code, and how does n8n’s Code node compare?

n8n is the only platform among the three with a native Code node— supporting JavaScript (Node.js 18) and Python (Pyodide‑based). Zapier and Make do not provide built‑in code execution steps, relying instead on external integrations or third‑party tools for custom logic. This makes n8n uniquely suited for complex data transformations. [6]

n8n also offers a Code Tool sub‑node within the AI Agent framework, so LLMs can generate and execute code snippets that call external APIs or process data during an agent run. For self‑hosted users, external npm modules can be imported by setting the NODE_FUNCTION_ALLOW_EXTERNAL environment variable. Make provides an HTTP module for custom API calls and lets users embed scripts in its Data Store, but this is far shy of a native code execution step. For detailed Code node patterns, see n8n Code Node transformation examples.

How do AI agent capabilities compare between n8n, Zapier, and Make?

n8n offers a full AI Agent node with LangChain integration, supporting multi‑provider LLM access (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google Gemini, Ollama, and more), vector databases for RAG (Pinecone, Qdrant, Weaviate), and native two‑way MCP support—n8n both exposes workflows as MCP tools and consumes external MCP servers as agent tools. [7]

Zapier launched its AI Agents and Copilot in early 2026, enabling plain‑language workflow creation with autonomous multi‑step task execution. Its AI governance layer—AI Guardrails—can detect PII, block prompt injection, and screen for toxic or harmful language across enterprise workflows. Make introduced its AI Agents in October 2025 and rolled out the next generation in February 2026, adding reasoning transparency and native Scenario Builder integration. A March 2026 Stack AI analysis found Zapier’s AI capabilities still represent “basic capabilities based on triggers and actions” while purpose‑built AI platforms offer native agents with knowledge bases and document analysis. [8] For a complete n8n AI workflow walkthrough, refer to the n8n AI Agents & LLM Orchestration guide.

What are the differences in self‑hosting, open source, and data control between these platforms?

Only n8n supports self‑hosting. You can deploy n8n on your own infrastructure—a $5–7/month VPS, Docker‑managed server, or even on‑premises hardware—using the free Community Edition under the Sustainable Use License (SUL). This grants unlimited workflows, zero execution charges, and full data sovereignty. [9]

The SUL is “fair‑code”—not OSI‑approved open source—meaning the source code is always visible and self‑hosting is always permitted, but commercial redistribution or embedding the platform itself requires a paid license. Zapier and Make are cloud‑only SaaS products; you cannot host either on your own servers. For heavily regulated industries, n8n’s self‑hosted option is the only path to meet data‑residency requirements without a custom enterprise agreement. For a complete hardening guide once you’ve deployed, see the n8n Self‑Hosting Security guide.

What does total cost of ownership look like at scale for a mid‑sized team?

Total cost of ownership depends on execution volume, workflow complexity, and team technical expertise. For a team running 10 active workflows at 50,000 total executions/month, the numbers diverge sharply: n8n self‑hosted costs $5–24/month (server only); Zapier Team reaches $400–600/month; Make hovers around $150–250/month. [2] [1]

Decision rule: choose Zapier for non‑technical teams with simple, linear automations under 2,000 tasks/month. Choose Make for operations teams needing visual branching, routers, and parallel paths at moderate volume. Choose n8n when you need unlimited executions without per‑step billing, code‑level extensibility, or data residency control through self‑hosting. For detailed architectural guidance on scaling n8n in production, see the n8n Scaling: Concurrency & Queue Configuration.