n8n vs Make vs Zapier: Honest Comparison for 2026

What You'll Need

• n8n Cloud or self-hosted n8n
• Hetzner VPS or Contabo VPS for self-hosted deployments
• DigitalOcean as an alternative hosting option
• Namecheap if you need a domain for your instance
• A working knowledge of APIs and webhook concepts (but not required to start)

Table of Contents

1. The Big Picture: What Changed in 2026
2. n8n: The Open-Source Powerhouse
3. Make (Formerly Integromat): The Visual Builder
4. Zapier: The Legacy Leader
5. Head-to-Head Comparison Table
6. Cost Analysis: Where Your Money Actually Goes
7. Real-World Use Cases: Which Platform Wins
8. Getting Started with Your Choice

The Big Picture: What Changed in 2026

I've been building automation workflows since 2021, and I've watched the no-code automation space evolve dramatically. Three platforms have consistently dominated: n8n, Make, and Zapier. But 2026 is different. The landscape has shifted—not because these platforms launched flashy features, but because the cost of staying with legacy tools became unbearable.

In 2025, Zapier raised rates again. Make pushed more features behind premium tiers. Meanwhile, n8n doubled down on open-source contributions and made self-hosting more accessible than ever. This year, I'm seeing real migration patterns that I didn't expect.

Let me walk you through what each platform actually offers, and more importantly, who should use it.

n8n: The Open-Source Powerhouse

I'll be direct: n8n is my default recommendation for teams serious about automation at scale.

Here's why: n8n is built on open-source principles, which means you own your workflows. You're not renting access to a black box. Every integration, every node, every logic layer—you can inspect it, modify it, or self-host it on Hetzner or Contabo.

The Core Strengths:

n8n ships with 400+ integrations out of the box. That's more than Zapier in raw numbers. But quantity matters less than execution. The platform excels at:

• Conditional logic and branching – Unlike Zapier's linear flow, n8n lets you build parallel workflows, loops, and error handling without workarounds.
• Custom code execution – Every workflow can include JavaScript or Python snippets. You're not trapped by node limitations.
• Transparent pricing – n8n Cloud charges per workflow execution, not per "task" or "action." A 10-step workflow is one execution.
• Self-hosting freedom – Deploy on Hetzner VPS, Contabo, DigitalOcean, or anywhere Docker runs. No vendor lock-in.

Where n8n Stumbles:

The UI is dense. If you're building your first workflow, n8n's node-based interface is more intimidating than Make's visual builder. The learning curve exists, and it's real. The community is smaller than Zapier's, so finding solutions to niche problems takes longer.

Pricing in 2026:

• Free tier: 10 active workflows, 100 executions/month (personal projects only)
• n8n Cloud Pro: $20/month + $0.10 per 1,000 executions
• Self-hosted: Free open-source + server costs

If you're running 50,000 executions monthly, n8n Cloud costs ~$70/month. Zapier costs $900+ for the same volume.

Make: The Visual Builder

Make (formerly Integromat) occupies the sweet spot between simplicity and power.

I used Make for two years before switching to n8n for my own workflows. Make is easier. The interface is visual, intuitive, and less likely to intimidate non-technical users. If you need to hand off automation to a client or team member, Make's UI is more approachable.

The Core Strengths:

• Killer visual builder – Drag-and-drop with real-time previews. You see data flowing through your workflow instantly.
• Strong app selection – 1,500+ integrations, including niche tools. If you use Typeform + Slack + Airtable, Make has direct connectors.
• Instant API webhooks – Make generates webhook URLs automatically. No configuration pain.
• Quality documentation – Make's help center is comprehensive. Less Googling required.

Where Make Struggles:

Pricing is opaque. Make uses "operations" as a unit. One operation = one action. A workflow that sends 10 emails = 10 operations. But error handling, retries, and partial failures sometimes count differently. You can't predict your bill accurately until you run a workflow for weeks.

Complex conditional logic feels hacky. Need to branch based on multiple conditions? Make can do it, but you'll nest modules and lose readability fast.

Self-hosting isn't available. You're locked into Make's cloud infrastructure.

Pricing in 2026:

• Free tier: 1,000 operations/month (no task limit, just operations)
• Standard: $9.99/month (10,000 operations)
• Pro: $18.99/month (unlimited operations)
• Enterprise: Custom pricing

Real-world cost: A workflow running 50,000 operations monthly lands you in the Pro tier at ~$19/month. Sounds cheap until you add team members, dedicated support, or need advanced error handling features (which sometimes cost extra).

Zapier: The Legacy Leader

Zapier is the most mature platform. It's been around the longest, has the biggest user base, and remains the default choice for many SMBs.

I'm not dismissing it. Zapier works. It's reliable, well-documented, and has an enormous ecosystem of certified integrations.

The Core Strengths:

• Ecosystem depth – 7,000+ app integrations. If the app exists, Zapier probably integrates with it.
• Simplicity – One of the easiest platforms to learn. Workflows are linear and predictable.
• Support quality – Zapier's support team is responsive. Enterprise customers get dedicated account managers.
• Reliability – Zapier has been running production automation for over a decade. It works.

Where Zapier Struggles:

Pricing has become prohibitive. Zapier charges per "task," and their definition of a task is generous. Send one email? That's one task. Create a record in Airtable? Another task. A 10-step workflow = 10 tasks minimum.

Advanced logic requires workarounds. Zapier doesn't support loops natively. Need to process 1,000 records? You'll trigger multiple Zaps or use their "looping" workaround, which adds complexity and cost.

No self-hosting. No open-source option. You're committed to Zapier's pricing forever.

Pricing in 2026:

• Free tier: 100 tasks/month (basic)
• Starter: $29.99/month (750 tasks)
• Professional: $74.99/month (2,000 tasks)
• Team: $199/month (2,000 tasks per user)
• Enterprise: Custom pricing

Real-world cost: Running 50,000 tasks monthly? You're in the Enterprise tier at minimum $500+/month. Most SMBs never reach that volume, but power users find Zapier's economics painful.

Head-to-Head Comparison Table

Cost Analysis: Where Your Money Actually Goes

I ran the numbers for a real scenario: automating lead capture from a form, enriching data, and creating CRM records.

Scenario: 10,000 leads/month

n8n Cloud:

• 10,000 executions = $2 (at $0.10 per 1,000 after free tier)
• Monthly cost: $22 (with Pro plan)

Make:

• 10,000 operations (form trigger + HTTP request + CRM create = 3 ops per lead)
• 30,000 operations = $19.99/month (Pro tier)
• Monthly cost: $19.99

Zapier:

• 10,000 leads = 10,000 tasks minimum (trigger = 1 task, actions = additional tasks)
• Actual estimate: 20,000 tasks = $74.99/month (Professional) or $199/month (Team)
• Monthly cost: $74.99–$199

Winner for cost: n8n, but Make is competitive for lighter workflows.

Now imagine 100,000 leads/month:

n8n Cloud: $32/month
Make: $299/month (need Enterprise)
Zapier: $500+/month (Enterprise)

At scale, n8n becomes a no-brainer.

Real-World Use Cases: Which Platform Wins

Use Case 1: Solopreneur Building Lead Generation Automation

Best choice: Make or n8n Cloud

A solo founder needs something fast. Make wins here because the UI is frictionless. You'll ship faster with Make than n8n. Cost difference? Negligible at low volumes. If you're sending 500 leads/month through an automation, both platforms cost under $25/month.

Use Case 2: Agency Running Client Workflows

Best choice: n8n (self-hosted)

Agencies need flexibility and client isolation. Self-host n8n on Hetzner or Contabo. Each client gets their own workflow, potentially their own instance. Pricing is predictable. Cost per client stays low even with hundreds of workflows running.

This is where the self-hosted n8n vs n8n Cloud decision becomes critical. For agencies, self-hosted wins.

Originally published on Automation Insider.