❯ Question and answer
n8n vs Make vs Zapier: which should I use to automate my business?
Zapier is the easiest and connects the most apps; it suits short flows your own team builds. Make gives more visual control for a lower price. n8n is the most flexible, can run on your own server and handles long, AI-heavy flows best. Notkode has shipped client projects on all three, and uses n8n for most.
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What are the numbers, with sources?
- Zapier advertises 9,000+ apps; its free plan includes 100 tasks per month and Professional costs US$19.99 per month billed yearly, with 750 tasks. (Source: Zapier pricing)
- Make advertises 3,000+ integration apps. (Source: Make integrations)
- Make’s free plan gives up to 1,000 credits per month and 2 active scenarios; the Core plan costs US$9 per month for 10,000 credits. (Source: Make pricing)
- n8n lists 2,329 integrations. (Source: n8n integrations)
- The n8n Community edition is free and self-hosted, under the Sustainable Use License, which allows internal business use; the cloud Starter plan costs €20 per month billed annually, with 2,500 executions. (Source: n8n Community edition)
What is the difference between n8n, Make and Zapier?
| Zapier | Make | n8n | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apps connected | 9,000+ | 3,000+ | 2,329 |
| Free tier | 100 tasks/month | 1,000 credits/month | Community, on your server |
| Entry paid plan | US$19.99/month (yearly) | US$9/month | €20/month (yearly) |
| Best for | Short flows built by the team | Visual flows with more logic | Long flows with AI and code |
When should I pick Zapier?
When the flow is short, the app you use is uncommon and your own team will maintain it without a developer. The downside is per-task pricing, which climbs fast with volume.
When should I pick Make?
When the flow has branches, filters and loops and you want to see it all as a diagram. The cost per operation is usually lower than Zapier’s for the same volume.
When should I pick n8n?
When the flow is long, involves AI agents, needs code in the middle, or the data must stay on your own server. Because the Community edition runs on your infrastructure, cost does not grow per execution.
Common mistakes
- Choosing by app count without checking that the action you need exists in that connector.
- Building a flow that will run thousands of times a month on a free tier and finding out the cost later.
- Self-hosting n8n with nobody to update, monitor and back it up.
- Scattering flows across all three tools without documentation, so nobody knows where anything runs.
What has Notkode shipped on each tool?
Notkode has shipped client projects using n8n (Autoagentes, Solojet, Loss Prevention, Blindy), Make (Azure Investimentos) and Zapier (Agência Cotton). For Loss Prevention, in 2024, n8n moved leads from the website form into Airtable, which works as the CRM. The flow picks the tool, not the other way around.
Frequently asked questions
Is n8n free?
The Community edition is free and runs on your own server, for internal business use. You pay for hosting. On n8n’s cloud, Starter costs €20 per month billed annually.
Which one is easiest for non-developers?
Zapier. Make comes next. n8n benefits most from having someone technical around.
Which one works best with AI agents?
n8n, because it handles long flows, code in the middle and runs on your own server. Make and Zapier can call AI models too, with less control over each step.
Can I switch tools later?
Yes, but every flow has to be rebuilt. That is why it pays to document flows from the start.
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