Zapier, Make and n8n all do the same basic job: when something happens in one app, do something in another. The differences show up once your automations get longer, run more often, or start handling things that matter.
Zapier
Zapier is the easiest place to start. It connects to a huge number of apps and a simple automation takes minutes to set up.
- Good for: short, simple automations and teams with no technical help.
- Watch out for: pricing based on tasks. Every step that runs counts, so costs climb quickly as volume grows.
Make
Make (formerly Integromat) uses a visual canvas where you can see the whole flow, including branches and loops.
- Good for: more complex logic while staying visual and approachable.
- Watch out for: pricing based on operations, which also grows with volume and complexity.
n8n
n8n is also visual, but it can be self-hosted on your own server under a fair-code licence, and it lets you drop into code when you need to.
- Good for: high volume, complex workflows, AI steps, and businesses that want to own their automation and data.
- Watch out for: self-hosting means someone has to set up and look after the server, backups and updates.
How to choose
- A few simple automations and no technical help: start with Zapier.
- Complex flows and a visual tool you can manage yourself: Make.
- High volume, AI agents in the loop, or wanting to own everything: n8n.
Whichever you pick, the tool matters less than how the automation is built. Retries, error alerts and protection against duplicate records are what separate an automation you can trust from one that quietly fails.
Questions people ask
Is n8n free?
n8n can be self-hosted for free under its fair-code licence, so you pay only for the server. n8n also sells a hosted cloud plan if you would rather not run it yourself.
Is Zapier easier than n8n?
For simple two-step automations, yes. Zapier is the quickest to start with. For longer workflows with branching, error handling and high volume, n8n gives more control.
Where does Make fit?
Make sits between the two: visual and approachable like Zapier, with more complex logic, and priced on the number of operations each run uses.
Can I move from Zapier to n8n later?
Yes. Workflows have to be rebuilt rather than imported, but the logic carries over, and moving is common once task-based pricing starts to bite.
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