n8n vs Make: An Honest Comparison (2025)

Choose n8n if: You want to self-host for free, you're comfortable with basic server setup, you need code-level control, or you plan to run high-volume automations where per-execution pricing adds up.

Choose Make if: You want a polished cloud-based experience without server management, you need 1,000+ app integrations, or you prefer a more refined visual interface.

Both tools support complex, multi-step workflows with conditional logic. Both have free tiers. The biggest practical differences are cost at scale (n8n self-hosted wins) and interface polish (Make wins).

This is where n8n has its biggest advantage.

n8n pricing:

• Self-hosted: Free forever (no limits on workflows or executions)
• Cloud Starter: $20/month (2,500 executions/month)
• Cloud Pro: $50/month (10,000 executions/month)

Make pricing:

• Free: 1,000 operations/month, 2 active scenarios
• Core: $9/month — 10,000 operations/month
• Pro: $16/month — 10,000 operations + more features
• Teams: $29/month

Note: In Make, each action within a workflow counts as an operation. A 5-step workflow running 200 times uses 1,000 operations. This can add up.

For small businesses with low-volume automations: Make's $9/month Core plan offers excellent value. For high-volume use cases or technical users willing to self-host: n8n is dramatically cheaper at scale.

Make supports 1,000+ native app integrations, including virtually all mainstream business tools: Google Workspace, Slack, Notion, HubSpot, Shopify, Stripe, Airtable, and hundreds more.

n8n has 500+ native integrations. For most business use cases, this covers everything you need. However, if you use niche tools — a specific industry CRM, an uncommon payment processor, regional apps — you're more likely to find it on Make.

Both tools support HTTP/API nodes that let you connect to any app with a REST API, so in practice the integration gap is smaller than the raw numbers suggest. But if you need a pre-built, click-to-configure integration, Make wins.

Winner: Make, for integration breadth. n8n is close enough for most use cases.

Both n8n and Make use a visual canvas where you connect modules with lines or arrows. The conceptual model is similar: trigger → actions. Both support conditional logic, looping, error handling, and multiple execution paths.

Make's interface is more polished. The visual design is cleaner, the documentation is more organized, and the UI feels more production-ready. For users who aren't technical, Make's experience is noticeably smoother.

n8n's interface has improved significantly in recent versions but still feels more developer-oriented. The node editor is detailed and exposes more technical options. For non-technical users, this can feel overwhelming at first.

The code nodes in n8n are a unique advantage for technical users. Being able to write JavaScript or Python directly within a workflow — without leaving the platform — gives you capabilities that neither Make nor Zapier can match.

Winner: Make for non-technical users. n8n for developers and power users.

n8n's self-hosted option is genuinely excellent and is the reason many businesses choose it over Make.

With Docker, you can deploy n8n on a VPS in under 15 minutes. A $6/month Hetzner server or $5/month DigitalOcean droplet handles most small business automation workloads. This means:

• No monthly subscription
• No per-execution pricing
• Your data stays on your server
• Unlimited active workflows
• Complete control over upgrades

For businesses running many automations or automations with high execution volumes (daily reports, frequent triggers, large data sets), self-hosting can save $50-500+/month compared to cloud platforms.

Make does not offer a self-hosted option.

Winner: n8n, by a wide margin. If self-hosting matters to you, n8n is the obvious choice.

Here's the straightforward decision guide:

Choose Make if:

• You want a managed cloud service without server management
• Your integration needs include Make's broader 1,000+ app library
• You prefer a more polished interface
• Your workflow volume is moderate and $9-16/month fits your budget
• You're not technical and want the best non-technical user experience

Choose n8n if:

• You want to self-host and reduce or eliminate monthly costs
• You're technical and want code-level control
• You plan to run high-volume automations where per-execution costs add up
• You care about data privacy and want your data on your own server
• You want to customize n8n's source code for your specific needs

The bottom line: Make is the easier choice. n8n is the more powerful and economical choice for those who can handle a bit more complexity.