Make vs n8n (2026)
A side-by-side comparison of Make and n8n on pricing, features, and fit, so you can decide which is right for you.
Quick answer
Make and n8n are both strong choices, but they fit different needs. Choose Make if you mainly need automating lead capture from web forms into a crm and triggering follow-up emails — its edge is highly flexible visual builder supports complex logic that simpler tools cannot handle. Choose n8n if you need automating lead enrichment and crm data syncing for sales teams — its edge is fully open-source and self-hostable, making it cost-effective and privacy-friendly for teams with technical resources. Make starts at $9/month (Core plan) for 10,000 operations; n8n starts at $20/month for cloud starter plan.
Features compared
- Visual drag-and-drop scenario builder for creating multi-step workflows
- Connects to 1,500+ apps and services via pre-built integrations and APIs
- Advanced data mapping, filtering, and conditional routing logic
- Real-time execution logs and error handling for reliable automation
- Visual drag-and-drop workflow builder with support for branching, loops, and error handling
- Native AI and LLM integrations including OpenAI, LangChain, and vector databases for AI-agent workflows
- Self-hostable open-source platform giving teams full data ownership and privacy control
- 500+ pre-built integrations with apps like Slack, Google Sheets, GitHub, HubSpot, and more
Pros & cons
- Highly flexible visual builder supports complex logic that simpler tools cannot handle
- Much more affordable than competitors like Zapier for the same number of operations
- Large library of integrations and active community with pre-built scenario templates
- Steeper learning curve compared to simpler automation tools like Zapier for beginners
- Free plan's 1,000 operations/month can be quickly exhausted by active workflows
- Fully open-source and self-hostable, making it cost-effective and privacy-friendly for teams with technical resources
- Exceptional flexibility with support for custom code (JavaScript/Python) alongside visual no-code building
- Strong and growing ecosystem of AI-native nodes for building LLM agents and intelligent workflows
- Steeper learning curve compared to simpler tools like Zapier, especially for non-technical users setting up complex workflows
- Self-hosting requires DevOps knowledge for maintenance, scaling, and keeping the instance secure and up to date
The verdict
Choose Make if
you mainly need to automating lead capture from web forms into a crm and triggering follow-up emails. Its edge: highly flexible visual builder supports complex logic that simpler tools cannot handle.
Choose n8n if
you mainly need to automating lead enrichment and crm data syncing for sales teams. Its edge: fully open-source and self-hostable, making it cost-effective and privacy-friendly for teams with technical resources.
Frequently asked questions
Is Make better than n8n?
Neither is universally better. Make is stronger for automating lead capture from web forms into a crm and triggering follow-up emails, with an edge in highly flexible visual builder supports complex logic that simpler tools cannot handle. n8n is stronger for automating lead enrichment and crm data syncing for sales teams, with an edge in fully open-source and self-hostable, making it cost-effective and privacy-friendly for teams with technical resources. Pick based on your main task.
Which is cheaper, Make or n8n?
Make starts at $9/month (Core plan) for 10,000 operations and n8n starts at $20/month for cloud starter plan. Free tier: Make — Free plan includes 1,000 operations/month and unlimited scenarios; n8n — Self-hosted community edition is free forever with no node limits.
What is Make best for?
Make is best for automating lead capture from web forms into a crm and triggering follow-up emails, syncing e-commerce orders from shopify to inventory management and accounting tools, building multi-channel marketing workflows that post content across social media platforms simultaneously.
What is n8n best for?
n8n is best for automating lead enrichment and crm data syncing for sales teams, building ai-powered chatbots and customer support pipelines using llm integrations, orchestrating multi-step data pipelines between internal tools and external apis.
Do Make and n8n have free plans?
Make: Free plan includes 1,000 operations/month and unlimited scenarios. n8n: Self-hosted community edition is free forever with no node limits. Check each tool's pricing page for current limits, as plans change.