n8n vs Zapier vs Make (2026): Which Automation Tool Wins?
Detailed comparison of n8n, Zapier, and Make for workflow automation. We tested all three on pricing, features, ease of use, and scalability.
Last updated: February 18, 2026
Quick Verdict by Use Case
Free self-hosted option with unlimited workflows eliminates per-execution costs
Most intuitive interface with the largest app directory (7,000+ integrations)
Superior visual builder with branching, error handling, and data mapping at half Zapier's price
Open-source, self-hostable, with native JavaScript and Python code node support
Our Verdict
n8n wins for technical teams who want control and cost savings. Zapier wins for simplicity and breadth of integrations. Make wins for visual complexity at a moderate price point.
Try the Winners
n8n
Best for: Budget-conscious teams, Developer teams
Zapier
Best for: Non-technical users
Make
Best for: Complex visual workflows
Still deciding? Our AI Tool Decision Matrix lets you compare features, pricing, and fit for your team. ($9)
For most technical teams, n8n is the best automation tool in 2026 — it's free to self-host with unlimited workflows and executions. Zapier remains the top choice for non-technical users with 7,000+ integrations and the simplest interface. Make offers the best middle ground: powerful visual workflows starting at $9/month for 10,000 operations, roughly half of Zapier's cost.
TL;DR
- Choose n8n if you’re technical, want self-hosting, or need to keep costs low at scale
- Choose Zapier if you want the easiest setup with the widest app compatibility
- Choose Make if you need complex branching workflows with a visual builder
- All three support AI integrations, webhooks, and conditional logic
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Feature | n8n | Zapier | Make |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | Free (self-hosted) / ~$20/mo (cloud) | $19.99/mo (750 tasks) | $9/mo (10,000 ops) |
| Free Tier | Unlimited (self-hosted) | 100 tasks/month | 1,000 ops/month |
| Integrations | 400+ | 7,000+ | 3,000+ |
| Self-Hosting | |||
| Open Source | Yes (fair-code) | No | No |
| Code Support | JavaScript, Python | Limited (Code by Zapier) | Limited (custom functions) |
| Visual Builder | Node-based canvas | Linear step-based | Scenario-based canvas |
| AI Integrations | Native nodes (OpenAI, Anthropic) | 20+ AI app connections | OpenAI, Google AI modules |
| Error Handling | Built-in retry + branching | Basic retry | Advanced (visual error routes) |
| Learning Curve | Moderate–Steep | Easy | Moderate |
Pricing Deep Dive
Understanding the pricing models is critical because costs can vary 10x at scale depending on your execution volume.
n8n Pricing
| Plan | Price | Executions | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Community | Free (self-hosted) | Unlimited | Full feature set, your infrastructure |
| Starter | ~$20/mo | 2,500/mo | Cloud-hosted, basic support |
| Pro | ~$50/mo | 10,000/mo | Advanced execution, priority support |
| Business | ~$667/mo | 40,000/mo | SSO/SAML, environments, Git version control |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom | Unlimited projects, dedicated SLA support |
n8n’s self-hosted option is the most cost-effective automation platform at any volume. A $5/month VPS (DigitalOcean, Hetzner) runs n8n with unlimited workflows and zero per-execution fees.
Zapier Pricing
| Plan | Price | Tasks/Month | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 100 | Two-step Zaps, unlimited Zaps |
| Professional | $19.99/mo | 750 | Multi-step, filters, formatting |
| Team | $69/mo | 2,000 | Shared workspace, permissions |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom | SSO, admin controls, SAML |
Zapier’s per-task pricing can escalate quickly. At 10,000 tasks/month, you’re looking at significantly higher costs than n8n or Make. The tradeoff: Zapier’s 7,000+ integrations means it connects to almost any app without custom work.
Make Pricing
| Plan | Price | Operations/Month | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 1,000 | 2 active scenarios |
| Core | $9/mo | 10,000 | Unlimited scenarios |
| Pro | $16/mo | 10,000 | Priority execution, custom variables |
| Teams | $29/mo | 10,000 | Team features, shared connections |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom | SSO, audit logs, dedicated support |
Make offers the best operations-per-dollar ratio among cloud-hosted options. At $9/month for 10,000 operations, it’s roughly half the cost of Zapier for equivalent volume.
Pricing was last verified on February 18, 2026 from official pages: n8n, Zapier, Make.
Cost at Scale
For high-volume workflows, the cost differences become dramatic:
| Monthly Volume | n8n (self-hosted) | n8n (cloud) | Zapier | Make |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 tasks | ~$5 (hosting) | ~$20 | $19.99 | $9 |
| 10,000 tasks | ~$5 (hosting) | ~$50 | $100+ | $9 |
| 50,000 tasks | ~$10 (hosting) | Custom | $400+ | $29+ |
Our Testing Methodology
We evaluated each tool across 5 dimensions over a 30-day testing period:
- Ease of Setup: Time from signup to first working automation
- Feature Depth: Complexity of workflows possible
- Reliability: Execution success rate over 1,000 test runs
- Cost Efficiency: Cost per 10,000 executions
- Integration Coverage: Availability of key business app connections
Verdict
n8n wins overall for teams with technical capabilities. The combination of free self-hosting, open-source code, and native code support makes it the most powerful and cost-effective option. However, it requires more initial setup time. Read our full n8n review for a detailed breakdown of features and pricing.
Zapier remains the king of simplicity. If you need to connect apps quickly without touching code, Zapier’s 7,000+ integrations and intuitive interface are unmatched. You pay a premium for that convenience. Looking for alternatives? See our 7 best Zapier alternatives guide.
Make offers the best value for visual builders. Its scenario-based approach handles complex branching better than Zapier, at roughly half the price — $9/month for 10,000 operations vs Zapier’s $19.99/month for 750 tasks.
Ready to put these tools to work? Our step-by-step guide shows you how to automate client onboarding in 2 hours using n8n or Zapier.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper — n8n, Zapier, or Make?
n8n is the cheapest option when self-hosted (free, unlimited executions). For cloud-hosted plans, Make starts at $9/month for 10,000 operations — significantly cheaper than Zapier's $19.99/month for 750 tasks. At 10,000 monthly executions, n8n Cloud costs ~$20/month, Make costs $9/month, and Zapier costs $19.99/month with overage charges. Self-hosted n8n on a $5/month VPS is the most cost-effective at any volume.
Can I switch from Zapier to n8n easily?
There's no direct migration tool, but n8n supports most of the same integrations as Zapier. You'll need to rebuild workflows manually, but n8n's community has published migration guides for common Zapier workflows. The process typically takes 1-2 hours per workflow.
Which automation tool is best for beginners?
Zapier is the best choice for beginners due to its simple two-step setup, extensive templates library, and intuitive interface. Make is a close second with its visual builder. n8n has a steeper learning curve but offers more power for those willing to learn.
Do n8n, Zapier, and Make support AI integrations?
Yes, all three support AI integrations. n8n has native nodes for OpenAI, Anthropic, and Hugging Face. Zapier offers 20+ AI app integrations. Make supports OpenAI, Google AI, and other AI services. n8n offers the most flexibility for custom AI workflows through its code node.
Is n8n really free?
n8n's Community Edition is free to self-host under a sustainable-use license. You run it on your own server (Docker, Kubernetes, or npm) with unlimited workflows and executions — you only pay for your hosting infrastructure. n8n also offers paid cloud plans starting at ~$20/month if you prefer managed hosting.