Automation comparison

Make.com vs n8n

Pricing, pros, cons, and ideal use cases — side by side.

Make.com logo
Make.comFreemium

Visual automation platform that connects thousands of apps with no-code workflows.

Visit Make.com
n8n logo
n8nFreemium

Open-source workflow automation tool with a visual builder — self-host or use their cloud.

Visit n8n

At a glance

Make.comn8n
PricingFreemiumFree plan available. Paid plans from $9/month based on operations.FreemiumFree to self-host. Cloud Starter from $20/month. Cloud Pro from $50/month.
CategoryAutomationAutomation
Ideal for
Any SMBAgenciesRecruitersEcommerce
Tech-savvy SMBsAgenciesSaaSAny business wanting data control

Pros & cons

Make.com

Pros
  • Visual drag-and-drop builder
  • More powerful than Zapier
  • Generous free tier
  • Handles complex logic
Cons
  • Steeper learning curve than Zapier
  • Debugging can be complex

n8n

Pros
  • Open source and self-hostable
  • No per-execution pricing
  • Custom code nodes
  • Active community and integrations
Cons
  • Self-hosting requires technical knowledge
  • Smaller integration library than Zapier
  • UI less polished than commercial alternatives

Which should you choose?

Make.com is built around any smb; n8n leans more toward tech-savvy smbs. Shortlist the one whose strengths line up with your biggest constraint.

See all Make.com alternatives →See all n8n alternatives →Browse all Automation tools →