Make's visual canvas is genuinely beautiful and handles iteration better than Zapier. n8n covers the same workflow shapes plus self-hosting and inline code. The choice usually comes down to whether you need code flexibility and data residency control, or whether you prefer Make's polished UX.
Open-source workflow automation with 400+ nodes, self-hostable for free, unlimited executions on your own server. Pair with pre-built templates from n8n Template Store for instant time-to-value.
Pricing: n8n: free self-hosted, n8n Cloud from €20/mo. n8n Template Store templates: one-time $7–$29 each, bundle covers full catalog.
Visual automation canvas with iterators, aggregators, and a polished UI. Per-operation pricing, EU-hosted, sits between Zapier (simpler) and n8n (deeper).
Pricing: Free tier (1,000 ops/mo), Core $10.59/mo (10,000 ops), Pro $18.82/mo, Teams from $34.12/mo.
| Feature | n8n | Make |
|---|---|---|
| Self-hostable n8n self-host runs on a $5–$10/mo VPS with unlimited executions. | Yes | No |
| Pricing model | Free self-hosted; one-time template purchase | Per-operation subscription ($10.59–$34.12+/mo) |
| Integration count | 400+ native nodes + HTTP Request for any REST API | 1,800+ pre-built app modules |
| Branching (if / switch / multi-path) | Yes | Router (multi-path) |
| Loops & iteration over arrays | Yes | Iterator + Aggregator modules |
| Inline code (JavaScript / Python) | JavaScript or Python in every Code node | Functions module (limited expressions, no full code) |
| Sub-workflows / reusable components | Yes | No |
| Error handling & retry policies | Per-node retries + dedicated error triggers | Error handler routes per module |
| Data residency | Your server (self-hosted) or EU (n8n Cloud) | EU (Integromat heritage), Make-hosted |
| Learning curve | Moderate | Moderate |
| Ready-made workflow templates | Yes — n8n Template Store catalog, one-time purchase | Vendor template gallery (varies in depth) |
Make charges per operation; a complex scenario can burn through 10,000 ops in a single day. Self-hosted n8n runs unlimited executions on your own server with zero per-op meter.
Make's Functions module covers expressions but not arbitrary code. Need to call a private API, hash a value, or normalise messy JSON? n8n's Code node runs JavaScript or Python; Make pushes you to external Webhooks.
Self-hosted n8n means workflow data, credentials, and execution logs never leave your server. Make is EU-hosted regardless of where your customers live — that matters for some compliance regimes.
Make's template gallery is free but locks you into their per-operation meter. n8n Template Store templates are one-time purchases; you own the workflow JSON.
Make wins on first-time UX. The canvas is more polished than n8n's, the iterator/aggregator pattern is easier to learn than n8n's loop primitives, and the free tier is more generous (1,000 ops/mo vs n8n Cloud's lower tier). For non-technical users who don't need code, Make is the smoother on-ramp.
You want the prettiest visual canvas, you don't need inline code, and your operation count stays comfortably inside the Core plan ($10.59/mo).
You need data residency control, inline JavaScript or Python, sub-workflows, or you want to escape the per-operation meter as your volume grows.
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Want the full catalog? Browse every n8n Template Store template.