If you are choosing between n8n and Make, this page gives you the short answer first, then the detail. Both connect your apps. Both run a job for you. Yet one is a builder you can host, and the other is a cloud canvas.
So here is the short answer first. Pick n8n if you want full control and can run a server. Pick Make if you want a visual canvas and nothing to host. If you do not want to build or fix flows at all, look past both.
The two tools also meter your work in different units. n8n counts executions. Make counts credits. A run with many steps can cost a little on one and a lot on the other.
Picture this. A flow runs well for months. Then one Tuesday a step breaks because an app changed behind the scenes. With either tool, the fix is yours. That upkeep is the cost most people forget to count.
Below, you will see the two tools head to head. You will see where each one wins, what each one costs, and the one problem both still leave you with. In a few minutes, you will know where to start.
n8n vs Make at a glance
n8n and Make are close in what they can do. Both are workflow builders with a large app list. Both run work for you without a person watching. But they are built for different people.
n8n leans technical. You can host it yourself, and you can write code inside a flow. Make leans friendly. It is a cloud canvas that is fast to learn. The better pick comes down to who will keep it running, and how much control you want.
| Feature | n8n | Make |
|---|---|---|
| How you run it | Self-host + cloud | Cloud only |
| Apps | 1,000+ | 3,000+ |
| License | Fair-code (Sustainable Use) | Proprietary |
| AI approach | An AI Agent node with MCP tools. You host the loop and maintain it. | An AI agent can build a flow from text. Ordinary steps cost one credit; AI steps cost more. |
| Learning curve | Steep — technical | Easy to moderate |
| Best for | Engineers who want to build and host their own flows | Teams that want a visual canvas and nothing to host |
One is built for control, one for reach
This section takes the two tools one at a time and shows where each one is strong. We start with n8n, then Make, so you can see what each is best at.
It matters because the tool with the most features is not always the tool for you. These short lists show which one fits how you actually work.
Where n8n wins
- You can host it on your own servers, so your data stays with you.
- 1,000+ nodes, plus code steps in JavaScript or Python.
- The most control over an AI agent loop of the two.
- Self-hosting is free. You pay with time, not fees.
- A deep node set and an active community.
Where Make wins
- A visual canvas that is easy to read at a glance.
- No server to run, patch, or back up.
- Faster to learn than n8n.
- More steps for each dollar on the lower plans.
- Routers and filters let one scenario branch many ways.
What can they cost you when the work runs a lot
Both tools start cheap, then climb as your work grows. The table below lists every plan stage and its price. Prices are per month, billed monthly; Make is about 15% cheaper if you pay for a whole year up front.
Watch the unit. n8n counts a whole run as one execution, no matter how many steps it has. Make counts a credit for most steps, so a scenario with more steps spends more. The same job can cost very different amounts on each.
Self-hosted n8n is free, but you pay with a server and your own time. Make only runs in the cloud, so there is no self-host path.
| Tool | Plan | Price (billed monthly) | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| n8n | Self-hosted | Free | You run the server; no execution cap |
| Starter | $24/mo | 2,500 executions a month | |
| Pro | $60/mo | 10,000 executions a month | |
| Pro (50K) | $145/mo | 50,000 executions a month | |
| Business | $960/mo | 40,000 executions a month, self-hosted | |
| Enterprise | Custom | Your volume and support, quoted | |
| Overcharge | $2 / 1K runs | Self-serve on Pro-2 monthly. Starter and Pro pause when you hit the cap. | |
| Make | Free | $0 | 1,000 credits a month, 2 active scenarios |
| Core | $10.59/mo | 10,000 credits a month, unlimited scenarios | |
| Pro | $18.82/mo | 10,000 credits a month, priority execution | |
| Teams | $34.12/mo | 10,000 credits a month, team roles | |
| Enterprise | Custom | Your volume, SSO, and support, quoted | |
| Overcharge | Credit bundles | Credits do not roll over. When they run out, scenarios pause until you top up in bundles of 1,000 or 10,000. |
So which one should you pick?
The pick usually comes down to three things: who keeps it running, how much control you want, and whether you mind a meter. Read the table below and find the line that sounds like you. Start with the first line that fits. For most people, that line is the right call. If two lines fit, pick the one that matters more in your week. Then read the last section. It shows the problem both tools leave you with, and what people use instead.
| Your situation | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You want to run it on your own servers | n8n | Self-host, and your data stays with you. |
| You want a canvas with nothing to host | Make | Cloud only, and faster to learn. |
| You can write code and want deep control | n8n | 1,000+ nodes and code inside a flow. |
| You are not technical | Make | The friendlier start of the two. |
| You want a free start | n8n | The self-hosted Community plan is free, with no cap. |
| You pay for runs, not steps | n8n | One run costs one execution, however many steps. |
| You want more steps for each dollar | Make | More steps per plan on the lower tiers. |
| You want an agent to run on its own | n8n | A built-in AI Agent node that you host. |
Here is the work n8n and Make both still leave to you
Here is the catch. n8n and Make both run your work only after you build it. You pick the start, add the steps, and test the flow. The tool runs the flow. You own the flow.
This is where the problem comes. Flows break. An app changes its login, or a step fails. Someone has to catch it and fix it. That someone is you. Add more flows and there is more to keep.
You also pay by use on both. n8n counts each run. Make counts each credit. So the busier your work gets, the more you pay. The bill climbs right when things are going well.
That is the problem Zaira comes in to fix. You name the result you want. Zaira works out the steps and runs them across your apps. No flow to build, watch, or fix. No server to maintain. And one flat price that does not move when the work gets busy.
That is why more teams now use Zaira to run all their workflows without paying extra while getting the work done fast. Click here to get instant access to Zaira today.
Frequently asked questions
Is n8n better than Make?
For technical teams, often yes. n8n self-hosts, ships 1,000+ nodes, and lets you write code inside a flow. Make is easier to learn and needs no server. The trade is upkeep: with n8n you patch, host, and scale the server.
Is n8n harder to learn than Make?
Yes. n8n expects you to think in nodes and, sometimes, in code. Make is a visual canvas built for people who want to drag blocks and click. If you are not technical, Make is the easier start.
Is n8n free?
Self-hosted n8n is free to run under its fair-code license. You still pay for the server and your time. The cloud plans start around €20 a month.
Is Make cheaper than n8n?
For light use, self-hosted n8n is cheaper because it costs nothing to run. For hosted use, Make starts near $9 a month on yearly billing and n8n cloud near €20. What you pay depends on your volume and your plan.
How does n8n bill, and how does Make bill?
n8n counts executions on the cloud, one per run. Make counts credits, one per most steps. So a job with many steps can cost more on Make than the run count on n8n suggests.
Can I move my Make scenarios into n8n?
Not by import. There is no full converter, so you rebuild each scenario as an n8n workflow. The logic carries over, but the exact nodes usually need small changes.
Does n8n have more apps than Make?
No. Make lists 3,000+ apps and n8n lists 1,000+ nodes. Make wins on raw count, though n8n's nodes go deeper on many tools.
Which is better for AI agents?
n8n gives you more control over the agent loop, but you build and host it. Make's AI steps are easier to start, but each step costs credits. Neither one runs an agent for you out of the box.
Do I still have to build flows with both?
Yes. n8n and Make are both builders. You choose the trigger and the steps. If you do not want to build at all, you need a different kind of tool.
Is there a tool that needs no building?
Yes. Zaira is an AI agent, not a builder. You name the outcome, and it works out the steps and runs them. It fits teams that want the work done, not a flow to keep.