How the platforms differ
| Zapier | Make | n8n | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Non-technical teams, quick wins, mainstream apps | Visual building of more complex workflows, cost-conscious volume | Technical teams, custom logic, AI-heavy workflows, data control |
| Learning curve | Lowest | Moderate | Highest (especially self-hosted) |
| App library | Largest | Large | Smaller, but any API can be connected |
| Complex logic | Possible, gets expensive and fiddly | Strong (routers, iterators, error handlers) | Strong, with code where needed |
| Hosting | Cloud only | Cloud only | Cloud or self-hosted |
| Cost at high volume | Usually highest | Usually lower | Lowest if self-hosted (but you run the server) |
We have deliberately left out prices because all three change their plans often; check current pricing before committing. The comparison is based on how the platforms are designed, which changes much more slowly.
How the scoring works
Each answer adds or removes points for each platform. For example, a non-technical team adds points to Zapier and removes them from n8n; “data must stay on our servers” strongly favours self-hosted n8n; very high volume favours Make and n8n. The reasons are listed with the result.
Choosing well
- Pick based on who will maintain the automations in a year, not who builds them this month.
- Start with your most valuable workflow and build it on a free or trial plan before committing.
- Mixing platforms is possible, but each one you add is another thing to monitor.
Our full comparison: Zapier vs Make vs n8n.