n8n vs Make (2026) Compared
The choice between owning your automation infrastructure and renting it. Both can do the job, but the trade-offs matter.
The key difference between n8n and Make: n8n wins for technical teams who want self-hosting, unlimited executions, and full data control. Make wins for non-technical users who want visual workflow building without managing infrastructure.
The Short Version
n8n wins for technical teams who want self-hosting, unlimited executions, and full data control. Make wins for non-technical users who want visual workflow building without managing infrastructure.
In our dataset of 23,338+ job postings, n8n appears in 6 postings while Make appears in 4. n8n has 50% higher adoption in hiring data.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | n8n | Make |
|---|---|---|
| Self-Hosted Option | Yes (free) | No |
| Cloud Starting Price | $20/mo | $9/mo |
| Executions Included | Unlimited (self-host) | 10,000/mo (Core) |
| Open Source | Fair-code license | Proprietary |
| Visual Builder | Node-based | Scenario-based |
| Code Nodes | JavaScript/Python | JavaScript only |
| Native Integrations | 400+ | 1,500+ |
| Learning Curve | Steeper | Gentler |
| Best For | Technical teams | No-code users |
Deep Dive: n8n
What They're Selling
n8n is open-source workflow automation that you can self-host for free. Own your automation infrastructure, run unlimited workflows, and never pay per execution.
What It Actually Costs
Self-hosted n8n is free. You pay in server costs ($5-50/month on VPS) and maintenance time. Cloud n8n starts at $20/month for 2,500 executions.
What Users Say
Technical users love the flexibility and cost savings of self-hosting. Non-technical users find the learning curve steep compared to Make or Zapier.
Pros
- Free self-hosting option
- Unlimited executions
- Full data control
- JavaScript and Python code nodes
Cons
- Requires technical knowledge
- Fewer pre-built integrations
- Self-hosting needs maintenance
- Steeper learning curve
Deep Dive: Make
What They're Selling
Make (formerly Integromat) is visual automation for everyone. The scenario builder is intuitive, and 1,500+ integrations mean you can connect almost anything.
What It Actually Costs
Make Core starts at $9/month for 10,000 operations. Pro at $16/month is where most teams land. Per-operation pricing adds up at volume.
What Users Say
Users praise the intuitive visual builder and extensive integrations. Common complaints focus on per-operation pricing at scale and occasional complexity.
Pros
- Intuitive visual builder
- 1,500+ integrations
- No infrastructure to manage
- Good documentation
Cons
- Per-operation pricing adds up
- No self-hosting option
- Can get expensive at scale
- Vendor lock-in
Which Should You Pick?
The Honest Take
n8n vs Make is about who's managing it. Technical teams with DevOps capacity should consider n8n's self-hosted option; the cost savings at scale are real. Everyone else should use Make. Per-operation pricing hurts at volume, but time savings from not managing infrastructure often outweigh cost.
Questions to Ask Before Buying
- Do you have DevOps capacity to manage self-hosted infrastructure?
- How many workflow operations do you run per month?
- Does data need to stay on-premise for compliance?
- How technical is the team building automations?
Frequently Asked Questions
Is n8n really free?
Self-hosted n8n is free under fair-code license. n8n Cloud is paid, starting at $20/month.
Which has better support?
Make has traditional support tiers. n8n self-hosted relies on community.
Can Make self-host?
No. Make is cloud-only.