n8n vs. Make vs. Zapier: Which Automation Tool Is Right for You?
Detailed comparison of top automation tools: Features, pricing, learning curve, and use cases. With clear recommendations for each user type.
Jonas Höttler
n8n vs. Make vs. Zapier: Which Automation Tool Is Right for You?
All three tools promise to automate your workflows. But they differ fundamentally - in price, complexity, and capabilities. Here's the honest comparison.
Table of Contents
- Quick Overview
- Price Comparison (The Real Costs)
- Features in Detail
- Learning Curve & Usability
- When to Use Which Tool?
- Conclusion
Quick Overview
| Criterion | Zapier | Make | n8n |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Cloud | Cloud | Self-hosted / Cloud |
| Entry | Very easy | Medium | Harder |
| Flexibility | Limited | High | Very high |
| Price (Starter) | €24/mo | €9/mo | €0 (self-hosted) |
| Integrations | 7,000+ | 1,800+ | 400+ (extendable) |
| For Whom | Beginners | Power users | Developers |
Price Comparison (The Real Costs)
Zapier Pricing
| Plan | Price/Month | Tasks | Zaps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | €0 | 100 | 5 |
| Starter | €24 | 750 | 20 |
| Professional | €61 | 2,000 | Unlimited |
| Team | €103 | 2,000 | Unlimited |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom | Unlimited |
What is a "Task"? Every action in a workflow. A 5-step Zap consumes 5 tasks per run.
Example: 100 leads/day × 5 steps = 500 tasks/day = 15,000/month → You need at least Professional (€61)
Make Pricing
| Plan | Price/Month | Operations | Scenarios |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | €0 | 1,000 | 2 |
| Core | €9 | 10,000 | Unlimited |
| Pro | €16 | 10,000 | Unlimited |
| Teams | €29 | 10,000 | Unlimited |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom | Unlimited |
What is an "Operation"? Similar to tasks - each node consumes one operation.
Example: 100 leads/day × 5 nodes = 500 ops/day = 15,000/month → You need ~2x Core (€18) or additional operations
n8n Pricing
| Option | Price/Month | Executions | Workflows |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self-hosted | €0 | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Cloud Starter | €24 | 2,500 | 5 active |
| Cloud Pro | €60 | 10,000 | 15 active |
| Cloud Enterprise | Custom | Custom | Unlimited |
Self-hosted Costs:
- Server: €5-€20/month (Hetzner, DigitalOcean)
- Setup time: 2-4 hours (one-time)
- Maintenance: 1h/month
Cost Comparison at 15,000 Executions/Month
| Tool | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
| Zapier | €61-€103 |
| Make | €18-€29 |
| n8n Self-hosted | €10-€20 (server) |
| n8n Cloud | €60 |
Price Winner: n8n (self-hosted), then Make
Features in Detail
Integrations / Apps
| Tool | Native Apps | API Support | Webhooks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zapier | 7,000+ | Webhook | Yes |
| Make | 1,800+ | HTTP/API | Yes |
| n8n | 400+ | HTTP/API | Yes |
Important: More apps ≠ better. All three can call any API.
Workflow Logic
| Feature | Zapier | Make | n8n |
|---|---|---|---|
| If/Then | ✅ (Paths) | ✅ (Router) | ✅ (IF) |
| Loops | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Error Handling | ⚠️ Basic | ✅ | ✅ |
| Sub-Workflows | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Custom Code | ⚠️ Limited | ✅ JavaScript | ✅ JavaScript/Python |
| Parallel Execution | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
Data Processing
| Feature | Zapier | Make | n8n |
|---|---|---|---|
| Array Processing | ⚠️ Basic | ✅ | ✅ |
| JSON Manipulation | ⚠️ Basic | ✅ | ✅ |
| Aggregation | ⚠️ Basic | ✅ | ✅ |
| Data Transformation | ⚠️ Basic | ✅ | ✅ |
Enterprise Features
| Feature | Zapier | Make | n8n |
|---|---|---|---|
| SSO | Enterprise | Teams | Self-hosted/Enterprise |
| Audit Logs | Enterprise | Enterprise | ✅ (self-hosted) |
| On-Premise | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| GDPR | ⚠️ US servers | ⚠️ US/EU | ✅ (self-hosted) |
| Git Version Control | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
Learning Curve & Usability
Zapier: Easiest
Time to first workflow: 15 minutes
Strengths:
- Intuitive user interface
- Step-by-step wizard
- Large app library
- Many templates
Weaknesses:
- Limited logic (no loops)
- Expensive when scaling
- Little control
Ideal for: Non-tech users, simple automations
Make: The Golden Middle
Time to first workflow: 30-60 minutes
Strengths:
- Visual workflow builder
- Complex logic possible
- Good price-performance ratio
- Good documentation
Weaknesses:
- Steeper learning curve than Zapier
- UI can feel cluttered
- Limited code options
Ideal for: Marketing, operations, power users
n8n: Most Powerful
Time to first workflow: 1-2 hours
Strengths:
- Maximum flexibility
- Custom code (JS/Python)
- Self-hosted possible (GDPR!)
- Git integration
- Community nodes
Weaknesses:
- Technical know-how needed
- Fewer native integrations
- Self-hosted setup required
Ideal for: Developers, tech teams, GDPR-critical applications
When to Use Which Tool?
Choose Zapier if:
- ✅ You have no technical know-how
- ✅ You only need simple workflows (A → B → C)
- ✅ You want to start quickly
- ✅ Budget isn't a major concern
- ✅ You need the app library
Typical Zapier Users: Marketing managers, solopreneurs, early-stage startups
Choose Make if:
- ✅ You need more complex workflows
- ✅ You need loops and branching
- ✅ You're price-conscious
- ✅ You want to work visually
- ✅ You're not a developer but tech-savvy
Typical Make Users: Operations teams, agencies, e-commerce
Choose n8n if:
- ✅ You're a developer or have one
- ✅ GDPR/data privacy is critical
- ✅ You want maximum control
- ✅ You're cost-conscious (self-hosted)
- ✅ You need custom code
- ✅ You want Git version control
Typical n8n Users: Tech startups, agencies with dev teams, enterprise
Conclusion
| User Type | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Beginner without tech knowledge | Zapier |
| Power user / Marketing | Make |
| Developer / Tech team | n8n |
| Budget-conscious | n8n (self-hosted) or Make |
| GDPR-critical | n8n (self-hosted) |
| Enterprise | n8n or Zapier Enterprise |
The Honest Take
- Zapier: Simple, but expensive and limited
- Make: Best balance of price and features
- n8n: Most powerful, but more technical
Start with Make if you're unsure. Switch to n8n when you hit limits.
Next Steps
Want to build automation in your company?
At Balane Tech, we implement automations with n8n and Make - from simple workflows to complex integrations. Free consultation
