Make vs 
n8n (2026 Comparison)
Visual cloud automation vs. self-hostable and code-first.
Make and n8n both offer powerful, visual multi-step automation, but Make is a polished hosted SaaS while n8n is source-available and self-hostable with real code steps. Choose Make for a slick visual builder and broad app coverage without infrastructure; choose n8n to self-host, write JavaScript/Python, and control your data and AI workflows.
- Best pick
- It depends on your team
- Integration
- Webhook / API
- Setup
- Varies
Team Fit — who should build on what
Before pricing or features, get the fit right. Here's how Make and n8n map to real team profiles.
| Dimension | Make | n8n |
|---|---|---|
| Primary job | Visual cloud automation | Self-hostable, code-firstEven |
| Best team | Semi-technical ops | Developers & technical teamsEven |
| App coverage | 3,000+ appsEdge | 400+ integrations |
| Code & control | Limited | Full (JS/Python)Edge |
| Hosting | SaaS only | Self-host or cloudEdge |
| AI workflows | Native modules | Native LangChain nodesEven |
Who is Make best for?
Automation & iPaaS
Automation-heavy, moderately technical ops or marketing teams of 1–50 who want power and volume without engineering headcount.
- Teams that need complex, branching multi-step workflows
- Teams running high automation volume that want lower per-run cost than Zapier
- Teams that prefer a visual builder but want deep control (filters, iterators, error handling)
Who is n8n best for?
Automation & iPaaS
Technical and developer-led teams (startup to mid-market) that want to self-host and customize automations rather than rely on a closed, per-task SaaS.
- Teams that build custom automations and want code-level control (JavaScript/Python)
- Teams that need self-hosting for data sovereignty, compliance, or cost control
- Teams building AI agents and LLM-driven workflows
Pricing & Features — what you actually pay for
Side-by-side plans with the fine print most comparison pages skip, plus a filterable feature matrix.
Make
Design, build, and automate anything — visually.
Free
$0
- 1,000 credits/mo
- 3,000+ apps
- Routers & filters
Core
$12/mo
- Unlimited active scenarios
- 10,000 credits/mo
- Make API access
Pro
$21/mo
- Priority execution
- Custom variables
- Full-text log search
Hidden costs to watch
- Billing is per module step (credits, formerly 'operations') — complex scenarios burn credits fast and overages force an upgrade.
- The powerful visual builder has a steeper learning curve than Zapier for beginners.
- Advertised prices require annual billing; monthly costs ~15% more and higher credit tiers scale the price up steeply.
n8n
Source-available workflow automation for technical teams.
Community
$0
- Unlimited executions
- Run on your own infra
- Full core features
Starter
$24/mo
- 2,500 executions/mo
- Unlimited workflows & users
- ~2,300 AI credits
Pro
$60/mo
- 10,000 executions/mo
- Admin roles
- Execution search & debug
Hidden costs to watch
- Self-hosting is free software but you pay for servers, database, scaling, security, and DevOps time.
- Cloud plans meter by workflow executions — exceeding limits pauses workflows or forces a costly upgrade.
- Cloud pricing is set in EUR (USD shown is approximate); SSO and advanced security require Business/Enterprise.
Feature specs
4 of 8 features differ between these tools.
| Feature | Make | n8n |
|---|---|---|
| Visual workflow builder | NativeNative | NativeNative |
| Code steps (JS/Python) | Paid Add-onPaid Add-on | NativeNative |
| App integrations (breadth) | NativeNative | Paid Add-onPaid Add-on |
| Self-hosting | Not SupportedNot Supported | NativeNative |
| Native AI / agents | NativeNative | NativeNative |
| Error handling | NativeNative | NativeNative |
| Webhooks & API | NativeNative | NativeNative |
| Data control / sovereignty | Not SupportedNot Supported | NativeNative |
Automation Blueprints — make them work together
The real payoff is the stack. These are concrete Make ↔ n8n workflows worth building.
Hand off from Make to n8n
Scenario Complete
Needs custom code
Webhook Node
Combine Make's app coverage with n8n's custom code steps.
Hand off from n8n to Make
Workflow Complete
Needs a Make-only app
Custom Webhook
Hand off to Make when you need an app n8n doesn't natively support.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about choosing between and combining Make and n8n.