Make and n8n both sit in the automation / ipaas category, which is the first thing to note about this comparison: the head-to-head is about which tool earns the seat. On the 8020 rubric, n8n scores 92 against Make at 68. The gap is meaningful on some dimensions and narrow on others — the rest of this page explains exactly where.
What's the real difference between Make and n8n?
Make is built for technical operators needing complex multi-branch logic. n8n is built for developers who want to self-host their automations. The tools overlap on surface features but diverge on the workflow each is designed around — Make optimises for visual drag-and-drop canvas for building complex automation scenarios, while n8n optimises for visual node-based workflow editor with branching and merging.
Make's positioning: Make's visual canvas and per-operation pricing make it the best automation platform for teams with complex multi-branch workflows or high task volumes where Zapier's per-task billing becomes prohibitive.
n8n's positioning: The only major automation platform you can fully self-host with unlimited executions, combining a visual node editor with embedded code and AI nodes — the developer's choice when Zapier's per-task pricing or cloud-only model becomes a problem.
The 8020 rubric weighs four things — value for money (30%), depth and power (30%), time to results (25%), and ecosystem (15%). Make scores 72/69/73/76 on those dimensions; n8n scores 96/92/93/99. The biggest spread is on value for money — see the table above.
When should you pick Make?
Pick Make when technical operators needing complex multi-branch logic is the job that has to be done well. Its free tier covers technical operators needing complex multi-branch logic without a credit card, and the 8020 Score of 68 reflects how well it executes against its rubric.
Make is the right call when:
- Technical operators needing complex multi-branch logic.
- Teams where Zapier's task costs have become a budget issue.
- Developers who want visual workflow design with code-level control.
- You want to evaluate it before committing budget — the free tier is real, not a teaser.
- Your stack already includes one of the 6 platforms it integrates with.
Make's standout capabilities — verified per the vendor's published specs (May 2026) — include visual drag-and-drop canvas for building complex automation scenarios, 1,500+ app integrations with http module for any rest api, iterator and aggregator modules for processing arrays and bulk data. These are the features that earn the Situational tier on the rubric.
When should you pick n8n?
Pick n8n when developers who want to self-host their automations is the job that has to be done well. Its free tier covers developers who want to self-host their automations without a credit card, and the 8020 Score of 92 reflects how well it executes against its rubric.
n8n is the right call when:
- Developers who want to self-host their automations.
- Teams running high-volume workflows that get costly on Zapier.
- Companies needing data to stay on their own infrastructure.
- You want to evaluate it before committing budget — the free tier is real, not a teaser.
- Your stack already includes one of the 6 platforms it integrates with.
n8n's standout capabilities — verified per the vendor's published specs (May 2026) — include visual node-based workflow editor with branching and merging, self-hosting via docker, npm, or your own cloud, 400+ pre-built integration nodes plus a generic http node for any api. These are the features that earn the Essential tier on the rubric.
How much do Make and n8n cost?
Make starts at $9 per user per month on a freemium (free tier + paid plans) model. n8n starts at $24 per user per month on a freemium (free tier + paid plans) model. Make has the lower entry price. Pricing verified May 2026.
Make: Free tier available. Lowest paid plan: $9/user/mo. Pricing model: freemium (free tier + paid plans). n8n: Free tier available. Lowest paid plan: $24/user/mo. Pricing model: freemium (free tier + paid plans).
Entry pricing only tells you where the meter starts. Real spend scales with seats, usage limits, and the plan tier where the features you actually need become available. Check each vendor's pricing page for the tier that matches your team size — and verify it matches our last-verified date before signing.
Make — strengths and trade-offs
What Make does well, where it falls short. Both lists draw from our hands-on testing against the Situational criteria. The full review is on the Make profile.
Strengths
- 3–5× more operations per dollar than Zapier at comparable plan tiers
- Visual canvas makes complex branching logic clearer than Zapier's linear model
- HTTP module connects to any REST API without waiting for a native integration
- Iterator and aggregator modules handle bulk data processing Zapier cannot
- Detailed execution logs make debugging far easier than Zapier's task history
Trade-offs
- Steeper learning curve than Zapier — expect 2–4 hours before you're productive
- 1,500 integrations versus Zapier's 7,000 — some niche tools are missing
- UI terminology (scenarios, bundles, modules) is less intuitive than Zapier's
- Celonis acquisition (2020) created some uncertainty about product roadmap direction
- Free tier is limited to 1,000 operations per month and 2 active scenarios
n8n — strengths and trade-offs
What n8n does well, where it falls short. Both lists draw from our hands-on testing against the Essential criteria. The full review is on the n8n profile.
Strengths
- Self-hosting means unlimited executions and full data control at no per-run cost
- Execution-based cloud pricing is far cheaper than Zapier at high volume
- Code nodes let developers drop into JavaScript or Python without leaving the flow
- 400+ nodes plus a generic HTTP node connect to effectively any API
- Strong native AI nodes for building agents and LLM pipelines
Trade-offs
- Steeper learning curve than Zapier — built for developers, not non-technical users
- Self-hosting requires you to manage updates, scaling, and security yourself
- Fewer polished pre-built templates than Zapier's app directory
- The fair-code license restricts reselling n8n as a hosted service
- Cloud plan support is lighter than enterprise-grade competitors
What are the alternatives to Make and n8n?
If neither Make nor n8n is the right fit, the closest alternatives are the other tools in the automation / ipaas category. Both lists are ranked by 8020 Score — start with the top of the relevant category and work down.
Make alternatives we cover: Zapier, n8n.
n8n alternatives we cover: Zapier, Make.
Frequently asked questions
Is Make or n8n better overall?
Neither is strictly better — they serve different jobs. n8n takes the 8020 composite (92 vs 68) on the rubric, while Make earns its tier (Situational) when its specific strengths match your situation. The decision turns on the four dimensions in the table above.
How much do Make and n8n cost?
Make starts at $9 per user per month on a freemium (free tier + paid plans) model; n8n starts at $24 per user per month on a freemium (free tier + paid plans) model. Make has a free tier; n8n has a free tier. Pricing verified May 2026.
Does Make integrate with the same tools as n8n?
Make lists 6 verified integrations in our directory; n8n lists 6. Both connect to the major platforms most teams already use. Specific integration availability depends on plan tier — see each tool profile for the full integration list.
Can Make replace n8n?
Only if your use case maps to Make's strengths. Make's visual canvas and per-operation pricing make it the best automation platform for teams with complex multi-branch workflows or high task volumes where Zapier's per-task billi… If n8n's specific job is your primary need, it earns its seat.
Which has the better free tier, Make or n8n?
Both Make and n8n ship a free tier. Make's free tier suits technical operators needing complex multi-branch logic; n8n's suits developers who want to self-host their automations. Specific limits are listed on each vendor's pricing page.
