n8n vs Make vs Zapier in 2026: Workflow Automation Platforms Compared
TL;DR by persona: Developers → n8n (self-host, Code nodes). Non-technical teams → Make.com (visual, affordable, AI). Maximum app coverage → Zapier (6,000+ apps, easiest). Startups watching cost → Make or self-hosted n8n. Enterprise → Zapier or Make with support contracts.
All three are visual, node-based automation platforms. They differ sharply on pricing, self-hosting, code support, and target user. This guide helps you choose and migrate.
Start with Make.com for no-code automation → | Apify for web data →
TL;DR Verdict by Persona
| Persona | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Developer (wants full control, self-host) | n8n | Code node, sub-workflows, Docker, no per-op billing at scale |
| Non-technical user (marketing, ops) | Make.com | Polished visual builder, AI Agents, 3000+ apps, lower cost than Zapier |
| Startup (need automation, tight budget) | Make or n8n | Make Core ~$10.59/mo; n8n self-hosted = VPS only |
| Enterprise (need support, compliance) | Zapier or Make | Enterprise plans, SLAs, data residency options |
| Need maximum app coverage | Zapier | 6,000+ integrations, most niche SaaS tools |
n8n Overview
n8n is open-source (fair-code) and designed for developers. It runs self-hosted (Docker, npm, Kubernetes) or on n8n Cloud.
Strengths:
- Self-hosting — Full control, no per-operation billing
- Code node — JavaScript/Python inside workflows
- Sub-workflows — Reusable logic, call workflows from workflows
- Async webhooks — No 30-second timeout; ideal for Apify and long-running jobs
Limits:
- Steeper learning curve for non-devs
- Fewer native integrations than Make/Zapier (400+ vs 3000+/6000+)
- Self-hosting = you manage uptime, backups, security
See n8n advanced workflows for Code nodes, sub-workflows, and Apify integration.
Make (formerly Integromat) Overview
Make.com is a cloud-only visual automation platform. Scenarios are built from modules connected on a canvas.
Strengths:
- Visual builder — Intuitive for non-developers
- 3,000+ apps — Broad integration coverage
- Affordable — Core ~$10.59/mo, 10K operations
- AI builder — AI Agents, MCP server, OpenAI/Claude modules
Limits:
- No self-hosting
- Limited code (functions, JSON config)
- Operations can add up (each action = 1 op)
See Make.com review 2026 and Make + Apify web scraping.
Zapier Overview
Zapier has the largest app library and the simplest UX. Zaps are linear: trigger → one or more actions.
Strengths:
- 6,000+ apps — Best coverage for niche tools
- Easiest to use — Fastest time to first automation
- Enterprise — Mature support, compliance, audit logs
Limits:
- Most expensive at scale (task-based pricing)
- 30-second timeout on many triggers — problematic for long Apify runs
- Linear model — harder for complex branching
Feature Comparison Table
| Feature | n8n | Make.com | Zapier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Executions (cloud) or free (self-hosted) | Operations/month | Tasks/month |
| Free tier | Self-hosted free; cloud trial | 1,000 ops/mo | 100 tasks/mo |
| Paid starting | ~$24/mo (2,500 exec) | ~$10.59/mo (10K ops) | ~$19.99/mo (750 tasks) |
| Apps/integrations | 400+ native | 3,000+ | 6,000+ |
| AI features | AI Agent, LangChain, Code node | AI Agents, MCP, OpenAI/Claude | Zapier AI, ChatGPT |
| Self-hosting | Yes (Docker, npm) | No | No |
| Code support | Full JS/Python in Code node | Limited (functions) | Code by Zapier (limited) |
| Visual editor | Node-based canvas | Node-based canvas | Linear Zap builder |
| Best for | Developers, self-host, custom logic | Non-devs, affordable, AI | Max integrations, enterprise |
Pricing Comparison
| Platform | Free | Entry Paid | Mid Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| n8n | Self-hosted free | Cloud ~$24 (2.5K exec) | ~$60 (10K exec) |
| Make.com | 1K ops | ~$10.59 (10K ops) | ~$18.82 (10K + priority) |
| Zapier | 100 tasks | ~$19.99 (750 tasks) | ~$49 (2K tasks) |
Check official pricing — rates change.
n8n self-hosted: cost = VPS only (~$15–25/mo). No per-operation or per-task billing. Make charges per operation; Zapier per task. At high volume, self-hosted n8n is cheapest.
When to Choose n8n
Choose n8n when:
- You're a developer — Code node, sub-workflows, JSON control
- You need self-hosting — Compliance, data residency, or cost at scale
- You use Apify or long-running jobs — Async webhooks avoid timeouts
- You want zero recurring platform cost — Self-host on a VPS
When to Choose Make
Choose Make.com when:
- Your team is non-technical — Visual builder, no servers
- You need 3,000+ integrations — Pre-built modules for most SaaS
- You want AI workflows — AI Agents, MCP, visual AI builder
- Budget matters — Lower cost than Zapier for similar use
When to Choose Zapier
Choose Zapier when:
- You need maximum app coverage — 6,000+ integrations
- Your team is least technical — Easiest to learn
- Enterprise support required — SLAs, compliance, dedicated support
- Workflows are simple — Linear trigger → actions
Real-World Use Cases
Competitor monitoring: Make.com + Apify or n8n + Apify. Schedule daily crawls, send results to Sheets or Slack. n8n's async webhooks handle long crawls; Make's visual builder suits non-devs.
Lead enrichment: Scrape Google Maps or LinkedIn (via permitted sources), enrich in Make or n8n, route to CRM. All three platforms support this; Zapier has the most CRM integrations, Make is cheaper, n8n offers the most flexibility for custom parsing.
AI content pipelines: Scrape with Apify → LLM summarization → publish to CMS. Use the LangChain Apify content pipeline for a Python-based approach, or orchestrate in n8n/Make with AI modules. n8n's Code node lets you call any LLM API; Make's AI Agents are no-code.
Can You Migrate?
Zapier → Make: Possible but manual. Export Zap configs (where supported), rebuild in Make. No direct import. Operations model differs — audit your task usage first.
Make → n8n: Manual. Rebuild scenarios in n8n. Use HTTP Request nodes for APIs n8n doesn't have natively.
n8n ↔ Make: Manual. Both use visual canvas; logic translates but modules differ.
See Make.com vs Zapier 2026 for a detailed comparison.
Internal Links Summary
- n8n advanced workflows — Code nodes, sub-workflows, AI Agent, Apify
- Make.com review 2026 — Make.com deep dive
- Make.com Apify web scraping — Build scraping pipelines with Make + Apify
If you're a developer, try n8n self-hosted with a Code node. If you're non-technical, start with Make.com. Pair either with Apify for web data.
Self-hosted n8n is free for personal and internal use (fair-code license). Commercial use may require an Enterprise license. n8n Cloud is paid.
Zapier holds connections open synchronously. Long-running tasks (e.g. Apify crawls) exceed that. n8n and Make use async webhooks for Apify.
Make is generally cheaper. Make charges per operation; Zapier per task. At similar usage, Make Core (~$10.59) often undercuts Zapier Starter (~$19.99).
Yes. n8n: HTTP Request or @apify/n8n-nodes-apify. Make: Apify module. Zapier: Apify Zap. n8n best for long-running jobs (webhooks).
Manual rebuild. Export Zap configs if possible. Recreate in Make. Note: Make uses operations; Zapier uses tasks—usage patterns differ.