n8n
One execution per run regardless of step count, plus native LLM and agent nodes — complex workflows cost a fraction of their task-based price elsewhere.
Try n8nZapier
Gentlest setup and the largest app catalog (thousands of integrations) — a working automation in minutes without reading API docs.
Try ZapierMake.com
Core at $9/month (annual) with 10,000 credits is the cheapest paid capacity of the three, with a real free tier.
Try Make.comn8n
The free Community Edition runs on your own infrastructure with unlimited executions — neither Zapier nor Make offers self-hosting at all.
Try n8nZapier
If an obscure SaaS has any automation integration, it is on Zapier first; n8n and Make fall back to generic HTTP work.
Try Zapiern8n
Self-hosted Community Edition is unlimited and free; Make's 1,000 credits beat Zapier's 100 tasks among hosted free tiers.
Try n8nExplore Each Tool
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n8n vs Make vs Zapier: Quick Verdict
Pick by workflow complexity and technical comfort: n8n for complex or AI-driven workflows (and self-hosting), Make for cheap straightforward automations, Zapier for the fastest setup and widest app coverage.
| Scenario | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| AI-agent / multi-step workflows | n8n | Per-execution billing + native LLM nodes |
| Nontechnical founders | Zapier | Easiest setup, biggest catalog |
| Budget, simple automations | Make | $9/mo for 10,000 credits |
| Data control / self-hosting | n8n | Free unlimited Community Edition |
| Niche app coverage | Zapier | Thousands of integrations |
| Best free tier | n8n | Unlimited self-hosted; Make best hosted free |
All pricing verified against the three vendors' pricing pages on August 18, 2026. Research-based comparison — our hands-on protocol (building the identical workflow on all three, measuring build time, failures, and cost) is pending and will be added here when run.
Pricing: Three Different Meters
The platforms don't just charge different amounts — they count different things:
| n8n | Make.com | Zapier | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billing unit | Execution (whole workflow run) | Credit (each module run) | Task (each action step) |
| Free tier | Community Edition: unlimited, self-hosted | 1,000 credits/mo hosted | 100 tasks/mo, 2-step Zaps |
| Entry paid | Starter €20/mo annual, 2,500 executions | Core $9/mo annual, 10,000 credits | Pro from $19.99/mo annual, 750 tasks |
| Mid tier | Pro €50/mo, 10,000 executions | Pro $16/mo, priority execution | Pro 2,000 tasks $49/mo annual |
| Team tier | Business €667/mo (self-hosted features) | Teams $29/mo | Team from $69/mo annual |
| Currency | EUR | USD | USD |
Worked example — a 15-step AI workflow running 50 times per day (~1,500 runs/month):
- n8n: 1,500 executions → fits Starter at €20/month.
- Make: ~22,500 credits → needs a higher-volume Core tier.
- Zapier: 22,500 tasks → well past the $129/month 10,000-task Pro tier.
Reverse the example for a 2-step automation running 500 times a month and the ranking flips: Make's $9 plan is the cheapest, Zapier's free tier might even cover it, and n8n's advantage disappears. Step count is the deciding variable.
Capability Comparison
| Factor | n8n | Make.com | Zapier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ease of setup | Moderate-hard | Moderate | Easiest |
| Technical skill needed | Expressions, JSON helpful | Visual, some functions | Minimal |
| Self-hosting | Yes (free) | No | No |
| AI/LLM support | Native nodes, agents, memory | OpenAI/Claude modules | AI by Zapier, Copilot |
| Branching & loops | Full | Full (visual canvas) | Limited (paths) |
| Debugging | Node-level inspection | Visual execution log | Task history |
| Human-in-the-loop | Built-in wait/approval nodes | Possible via flow design | Limited |
| App catalog | Hundreds + HTTP node | 3,000+ apps | Largest (thousands) |
| Concurrency (entry cloud) | 5 | Plan-dependent | Managed |
Who Should Pick What
Pick n8n if you're technical, your workflows involve AI models, branching, retries, or approval steps — or if data must stay on your infrastructure. Start free self-hosted, or cloud Starter at €20/month. Details: n8n review · n8n pricing.
Pick Make if your automations are conventional (sync, notify, create records) and you want the lowest bill: $9/month buys 10,000 credits, and the visual canvas handles moderate complexity well. Details: Make review · Make pricing.
Pick Zapier if you're nontechnical, value your time over the subscription cost, or depend on niche apps. The two-way breakdown with Make is here: Zapier vs Make.
Running two is legitimate: plenty of teams keep Zapier for simple glue and n8n for the heavy AI workflows — the combined bill is often lower than forcing everything through one platform's pricing model.
The Bottom Line
The automation market has sorted itself: Zapier sells convenience, Make sells capacity, n8n sells power and control. Price per unit only matters after you know which unit your workflows consume — count the steps in your three most important automations and the winner usually announces itself.
Related: Best AI automation tools · Automate your marketing with AI
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between n8n, Make.com, Zapier?
n8n vs Make vs Zapier 2026: n8n bills per execution (€20/mo, free self-hosted), Make per credit ($9/mo), Zapier per task ($19.99/mo). Complete verified comparison for AI workflows, solopreneurs, and teams.
Best for AI-agent and multi-step workflows — which should you choose?
n8n. One execution per run regardless of step count, plus native LLM and agent nodes — complex workflows cost a fraction of their task-based price elsewhere.
Best for nontechnical founders — which should you choose?
Zapier. Gentlest setup and the largest app catalog (thousands of integrations) — a working automation in minutes without reading API docs.
Best budget pick for simple automations — which should you choose?
Make.com. Core at $9/month (annual) with 10,000 credits is the cheapest paid capacity of the three, with a real free tier.
Best for data control & self-hosting — which should you choose?
n8n. The free Community Edition runs on your own infrastructure with unlimited executions — neither Zapier nor Make offers self-hosting at all.
Best for niche app coverage — which should you choose?
Zapier. If an obscure SaaS has any automation integration, it is on Zapier first; n8n and Make fall back to generic HTTP work.
Best free tier — which should you choose?
n8n. Self-hosted Community Edition is unlimited and free; Make's 1,000 credits beat Zapier's 100 tasks among hosted free tiers.
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