n8n vs Make
n8n and Make are the two best Zapier alternatives, but they target different builders. n8n is open source, self-hostable, and friendly to engineers who want code nodes and AI agents. Make is closed-source SaaS with a more polished visual canvas and better mobile/error UX.
n8n wins for self-hosting, code customization, AI agents, and flat pricing. Make wins for cleaner visual UX, mobile/iOS support, and polished error handling.
The tools at a glance
n8n
by n8n GmbH
Open-source workflow automation with code nodes, AI agents, and flat-rate cloud pricing.
- Best for
- Engineers, AI agents, self-hosted automation, anyone wanting full code control.
- Standout
- Open source under fair-code, native AI Agent node, and JavaScript/Python Code nodes inside any workflow.
- Weakness
- UI is functional but less polished; mobile experience is weak compared to Make's iOS app.
- Pricing
- Free self-hosted; Cloud Starter $20/mo (2.5K executions); Pro $50/mo (10K); Enterprise custom
Make
by Make.com (Celonis)
Visual scenario builder with strong branching, iterators, and aggressively cheap operations pricing.
- Best for
- Visual builders, mobile-first ops teams, multi-step SaaS workflows.
- Standout
- The cleanest visual scenario canvas in the category, plus a real iOS app and mature error-handling tools.
- Weakness
- Closed source, no self-hosting, and AI/agent features are not as deep as n8n.
- Pricing
- Free 1K ops/mo; Core $9/mo (10K ops); Pro $16/mo (10K ops); Teams $29/mo (10K ops)
Key differences
Self-hosting
n8n is open source and ships a Docker image — run it anywhere, free. Make is SaaS only with no on-prem option. For regulated data, EU residency, or simply keeping costs at zero, n8n is the only option here.
Pricing model
n8n charges per execution (one workflow run = 1, regardless of nodes). Make charges per operation (per module run). At 10K simple workflow runs, n8n Pro is $50 and Make Core is $9 — Make is cheaper. But Make's per-op model gets expensive on large multi-step or iterating scenarios where n8n's flat per-run pricing wins.
Ease of use
Make has the cleaner, more polished visual canvas. n8n's editor is denser and feels more developer-y. For non-technical users who like clicking modules, Make is friendlier. For engineers, n8n's compactness is a feature.
AI features
n8n has a first-class AI Agent node, LangChain primitives, vector store integrations, and sub-workflows for tool-using agents. Make has AI modules and an AI assistant but treats AI as an integration, not a runtime primitive. For real agent workflows, n8n is well ahead.
Code customization
n8n has Code nodes (JavaScript and Python) that run arbitrary logic inline. Make has tools like the Tools module and JSON parser but doesn't expose general-purpose code execution at the same depth. For custom transforms, n8n is more flexible.
Mobile and error handling
Make has a real iOS app and more refined error-handling routes (error handlers per module). n8n's mobile experience is essentially the web UI on a phone, and error handling, while functional, is less polished.
Feature matrix
| Feature | n8n | Make |
|---|---|---|
| Open source / self-hostable | Yes (fair-code) | No (SaaS only) |
| Cheapest paid cloud tier | $20/mo (2.5K executions) | $9/mo (10K ops) |
| Free tier | Free self-hosted; limited cloud trial | 1000 ops/mo |
| Code nodes (JS/Python) | Yes (native) | Limited (Tools module) |
| AI Agent node | Yes (native, with memory + tools) | AI modules (basic) |
| Visual scenario canvas | Yes (graph editor) | Yes (polished canvas) |
| iOS / mobile app | No (web only) | Yes (iOS) |
| Integration count | ~1000+ | ~2000+ |
| Error-handling routes | Basic (error workflow) | Per-module error handlers |
Pick by use case
AI agent workflows (LLM + tools)
n8n's AI Agent node, vector store integrations, and Code nodes are purpose-built for tool-using agents. Make's AI features are integrations, not primitives.
Self-hosted internal automations (compliance/IP)
Make has no self-hosted option. n8n on your own infra is the only way to keep workflow data fully internal.
Cost-conscious indie/startup
Self-hosted on a $5 VPS is hard to beat. Make Core at $9/mo is also great value — both crush Zapier here, but n8n self-hosted is the cheapest floor.
Non-technical business user automation
Make's canvas is cleaner and more discoverable for non-engineers. n8n is doable but the editor leans engineer-friendly.
Data pipelines / ETL with custom logic
Code nodes (JS and Python) plus a graph editor make n8n the better fit for transforms that need real logic. Make is good but caps out faster.
High-volume operations (10K+ runs/mo)
Make Core at $9/mo for 10K ops is the cheapest cloud tier in the category. n8n self-hosted is free but you run the box; Make Cloud is cheaper than n8n Cloud at the same volume.
Marketing/SaaS automation across many apps
Make has roughly 2x the integration count of n8n and a visual editor that marketers find intuitive.