Automation & Coding comparison

n8n vs Make

An independent, side-by-side look at two leading automation & coding tools: scores, pricing, strengths, and who each one fits. Updated June 2026.

n8n

★★★★★4.7

Source-available workflow automation you can self-host

Make

★★★★★4.5

Build powerful visual workflows without code

The verdict

n8n scores higher, but fit decides it.

n8n leads on our score (4.7/5 vs 4.5/5), yet n8n and Make are built for different priorities. n8n is strongest for technical teams that want zapier-style automation they fully control; Make for operations teams building sophisticated no-code workflows. The table and picks below show exactly where each pulls ahead.

Side by side

n8n vs Make at a glance.

	n8n	Make
MR AI Score	4.7 / 5	4.5 / 5
Pricing model	Freemium	Freemium
Entry paid plan	Starter (cloud), €20/mo	Core, $9/mo
Best for	Technical teams that want Zapier-style automation they fully control	Operations teams building sophisticated no-code workflows
Standout strength	Self-hostable, so data stays on your infrastructure	Powerful visual builder
Main trade-off	Steeper learning curve than no-code rivals	Learning curve for complex scenarios

Choose n8n if…

n8n is what you reach for when the automation matters enough to own. The visual editor is familiar, but the two decisions that set it apart are structural: you can self-host the whole engine so credentials and customer data never leave your infrastructure, and cloud pricing counts workflow executions rather than individual steps, so a twenty-node workflow costs the same as a two-node one. That pricing model alone tends to undercut per-task competitors badly at volume. The cost is ownership: self-hosting means you handle upgrades, backups and uptime yourself.

Self-hostable, so data stays on your infrastructure
Priced per execution, not per task, so volume stays cheap
Native AI agent and LLM nodes

Read the n8n review ↗

Choose Make if…

Make is the pick when simple trigger-action recipes are not enough: a powerful visual canvas for sophisticated, branching workflows. That power comes with a real learning curve.

Powerful visual builder
Broad integration library
Flexible data handling

Read the Make review ↗

FAQ

n8n vs Make: common questions.

Is n8n better than Make?+

In our reviews n8n scores 4.7/5 and Make scores 4.5/5, but the better tool depends on your needs: n8n suits technical teams that want zapier-style automation they fully control, while Make suits operations teams building sophisticated no-code workflows.

n8n vs Make: which is more affordable?+

n8n uses a freemium model and Make a freemium model. Both offer paid plans, so compare the entry tiers above for your usage. Always confirm current pricing on each vendor's site.

Should I choose n8n or Make?+

Choose n8n if technical teams that want zapier-style automation they fully control is your priority and self-hostable, so data stays on your infrastructure matters most. Choose Make if you are operations teams building sophisticated no-code workflows and you value powerful visual builder.

Still deciding?

Compare more automation & coding tools.

See the full ranking ↗