n8n vs Make

When choosing a workflow automation platform, the core decision often boils down to control and customization versus visual simplicity and managed services. This comparison focuses on n8n and Make, two platforms offering distinct approaches to automating tasks and orchestrating AI workflows. n8n stands out for its self-hosting capabilities and open architecture, catering to technical teams that demand full ownership and deep customization. Make, conversely, provides a highly visual, drag-and-drop canvas ideal for operations teams who prioritize ease of use and scenario-based logic without the burden of infrastructure management.

Zapier is out of scope here. For marketplace breadth, use Zapier vs Make or n8n vs Zapier. If self-host is already ruled out and the other option is the open builder, use Activepieces vs Make.

Quick comparison

n8n: For self-host control and deep customization

n8n is the default choice for technical teams that require robust ownership over their automation and agentic workflows. Its open-source nature and self-hosting options provide unparalleled control over data residency, security, and operational costs, especially at high volumes. This makes n8n particularly attractive for organizations with specific compliance requirements or those looking to optimize expenses by managing their infrastructure.

The platform offers AI-focused nodes and advanced branching logic, enabling engineers to build complex, custom AI flows that integrate deeply with internal systems. n8n provides extensive integration options, including a wide array of built-in nodes, a vibrant community contributing custom nodes, and the ability to create entirely new integrations to internal or niche APIs. Crucially, n8n offers a dedicated “Code” node for JavaScript and Python, allowing developers to embed complex logic directly into workflows, making it highly extensible.

For users outgrowing the free self-hosted option, n8n Cloud offers paid plans that provide managed services without the operational burden of self-hosting. n8n Cloud plans checked 19 October 2026. Cloud Starter is €20/month billed annually, Pro is €50/month billed annually, and Business is €667/month billed annually. Business is for companies with fewer than 100 employees and adds SSO and LDAP, multiple environments, version control using Git, and queue mode. Enterprise is custom. n8n pricing. While a free trial is available for n8n Cloud, sustained high usage will necessitate an upgrade to a paid plan, with overage charges potentially applying if not upgraded in time.

When to choose n8n:

• Your team has the technical expertise and resources to manage self-hosted infrastructure.
• You require strict control over data and execution environments due to regulatory or security mandates.
• You anticipate high volumes of automation where self-hosting offers significant cost advantages.
• You need to build highly customized integrations or extend platform functionality with custom code.

When NOT to choose n8n:

• Your team lacks dedicated personnel for workflow operations, upgrades, secrets management, and failure debugging.
• You prioritize out-of-the-box simplicity and a fully managed service over deep technical control.

Make: For visual scenario orchestration and ease of use

Make is the preferred platform when operations teams need a highly intuitive visual canvas to design and maintain complex automation scenarios. Its drag-and-drop interface and scenario-based branching capabilities make it accessible to users without extensive programming knowledge, allowing them to build sophisticated workflows quickly. Make’s emphasis on visual orchestration simplifies the management of interconnected tasks, making it easier for non-developers to understand, modify, and troubleshoot automation processes.

Make provides a good balance of power and usability, supporting a wide range of integrations with over 3000+ apps available through its native connectors [make.com/en/pricing]. While Make excels in visual configuration, its direct support for custom code within workflows is more limited compared to n8n, typically relying on its extensive module library and HTTP requests for custom interactions.

Make offers a free tier that includes 1,000 credits per month and up to 2 active scenarios, which is useful for testing and basic automation. Paid plans are Core, Pro, Teams, and Enterprise.

Make prices checked 18 October 2026. On make.com/en/pricing, in USD at 10,000 credits a month, Core is $12/month billed annually ($16 billed monthly), Pro is $21/month billed annually ($28 billed monthly), and Teams is $38/month billed annually ($51 billed monthly). Most actions consume 1 credit. Free includes 1,000 credits a month. The page says: “Under 20 employees? Check if you qualify for our Start-up Plan and get 50% off Business.” The Make button is only the visual, managed path, for teams that will not self-host. The n8n button stays on n8n.io and does not start n8n Cloud.

Make AI Provider tokens, checked 19 October 2026. As of 25 August 2026, Make calculates credits for its built-in AI Provider’s Small, Medium, and Large models with separate input and output rates, instead of one combined token total. Small and Medium are 18,080 input tokens or 2,260 output tokens per credit (previously 5,000 and 3,500 total tokens per credit). Large is 3,616 input tokens or 452 output tokens per credit (previously 1,500 total tokens per credit). Make’s help article says input tokens are significantly cheaper and output tokens are moderately more expensive, and that this change does not affect apps where you use your own API key. Updated Make’s AI Provider token pricing model.

Existing Pipedream Workflows users planning a migration should read Pipedream vs Make. New workflow estates should not start there. An AI-agent canvas is Gumloop vs Make. Leaving Zapier on cost is Zapier alternatives. Microsoft 365 is Make vs Power Automate.

When to choose Make:

• Your operations teams need a visual, low-code platform for building and managing workflows.
• Ease of use, quick deployment of scenarios, and clear visual logic are top priorities.
• You prefer a managed cloud service and do not want to own workflow infrastructure.
• You need strong scenario-based branching and orchestration capabilities without deep technical customization.

When NOT to choose Make:

• You have hard requirements for self-hosting or strict data residency within a specific country.
• Your primary need is for open-source flexibility and the ability to run automation entirely within your own infrastructure.
• You require extreme cost optimization at very high volumes that might be better served by self-hosting.

Scaling and Migration Considerations

When outgrowing the free tiers, both platforms offer clear upgrade paths to paid plans. For n8n, self-hosted users will primarily face infrastructure cost scaling, while n8n Cloud users will transition to tiered subscriptions. Make’s free tier provides a good starting point, with paid plans scaling based on operations and active scenarios.

Migrating workflows between n8n and Make is generally a manual process. While the core logic of triggers, HTTP calls, and filters often maps conceptually, there are no direct migration tools for automated conversion between the two platforms. Users typically need to rebuild workflows on the target platform, scenario by scenario. This process is often described as “not too hard” once the underlying logic is understood, but it does require careful re-creation and testing [community.n8n.io, reddit.com/r/n8n].

Conclusion

The choice between n8n and Make hinges on your team’s technical capabilities, need for control, and operational preferences. Pick n8n for technical teams that need self-host control, open architecture, deep custom code support, and the ability to manage high-volume, cost-sensitive runs. Opt for Make when operations teams require a visual, easy-to-use platform for scenario-based automation with extensive native integrations and a clear upgrade path from a generous free tier.

For more automation comparisons, see the full automation shortlist.