n8n vs Make vs Zapier: Which automation platform is right for your team?

Cost Comparison: Where the Differences Become Clear

Zapier's Professional plan costs $19.99 per month and allows 750 tasks per month. Each action in a workflow counts as one task, so a five-step automation uses five tasks.

Make's Core plan costs $10.59 per month and allows 10,000 operations per month. Here's the distinction: Make counts differently. Triggers, filters, and actions each count as operations. This means a Make operation doesn't directly equal a Zapier task. Depending on workflow complexity, Make's 10,000 operations cover roughly 2,000 to 4,000 equivalent Zapier tasks.

n8n's model differs fundamentally. One complete workflow execution, regardless of how many steps, counts as one execution. At scale, this advantage compounds. Their Business self-hosted tier (€667 monthly, roughly $730 USD) handles 40,000 executions monthly.

The inflection point emerges at 20,000 automations per month. Make's Core or Pro tier becomes cheaper than Zapier's Professional or Advanced plans. Above 40,000 runs, self-hosted n8n becomes the most cost-effective option even after factoring in basic server infrastructure.

Bottom line: Zapier works best for teams under 5,000 runs per month. Make wins at 5,000 to 30,000. Above 30,000, self-hosted n8n or n8n's Business tier costs less than either cloud option.

Feature Comparison: Architecture and Capabilities

n8n combines a visual node-based builder with custom code support. You can write JavaScript or Python in any node without rebuilding your workflow. This matters for complex data transformation, API orchestration, and AI workflows. n8n ships with native LangChain and OpenAI integrations, making it the strongest choice for AI-native automation. Its 204,000 GitHub stars and 1,500+ integrations signal active development and broad ecosystem support.

Make prioritizes visual workflow design without code. Its canvas displays routers, branches, loops, and data mapping as first-class objects, not workarounds. This visual approach simplifies complex branching compared to Zapier's linear step list. Make includes roughly 2,400 native modules. The trade-off: if you need custom code or complex data processing, Make requires HTTP modules and external services. Make runs cloud-only, so data residency control is not an option.

Zapier has the broadest app ecosystem—9,000+ integrations covering niche B2B tools and legacy systems that Make and n8n don't reach. Its interface is the simplest of the three, with the gentlest learning curve for non-technical users. Zapier recently added AI Copilot and AI Custom Actions. Like Make, Zapier operates cloud-only (US-based data centers).

Deployment options: n8n alone offers self-hosted and cloud variants. Self-hosted n8n runs on any infrastructure—Docker, Kubernetes, DigitalOcean, AWS—giving you full data control and no per-execution fees. Make and Zapier are SaaS-only.

Deployment Models and Data Residency

For teams subject to GDPR, data protection regulations, or vendor lock-in concerns, deployment options shape the decision.

Zapier runs on US-based data centers. This presents challenges for EU companies handling personal data subject to GDPR. Zapier doesn't offer self-hosting.

Make also operates cloud-only with unspecified data center locations. No self-hosting option.

n8n offers two paths:

• Cloud hosting on Frankfurt servers: EU data residency built-in, GDPR-friendly by default.
• Self-hosted: Deploy to any infrastructure you control—AWS, DigitalOcean, Hetzner, your own datacenter, or Kubernetes.

Self-hosting n8n means unlimited executions after you cover server infrastructure. A $30–$50 monthly server handles tens of thousands of automations without per-execution overages. Opsily removes the DevOps and uptime burden by managing your n8n instance as a fully hosted service, maintaining EU data residency and automated backups.

Teams requiring GDPR compliance, sensitive data handling, or long-term cost predictability gravitate toward self-hosted n8n. Teams with simpler workflows and no data residency concerns might prefer Zapier or Make for their managed service and hands-off operation.

When to Use Each Platform

Choose Zapier if:

• Your team is non-technical and learning curve matters most
• You need integrations with niche B2B tools—Zapier's 9,000+ app advantage is unique
• Your workflows are simple (linear trigger → 1–3 actions)
• You're under 5,000 automations per month
• You're US-based or data residency is not a compliance concern

Choose Make if:

• Your budget is tight and you're running 5,000 to 30,000 automations monthly
• You need visual branching logic, routers, or loops—Make handles these better than Zapier
• Your team has a mix of technical and non-technical members
• You want the best value for visual workflow design
• You're willing to accept cloud-only hosting

Choose n8n if:

• You're a developer-led team building complex AI or data orchestration
• You run 20,000+ automations monthly—self-hosting becomes cost-effective
• You need custom code, LangChain, or native LLM integrations
• GDPR or data residency is a hard requirement
• You want to avoid vendor lock-in
• You value open-source transparency—204,000 GitHub stars signal active development

Choose Opsily-hosted n8n if:

• You want all of n8n's advantages (self-hosting, AI-native, cost control, EU residency)
• But you lack the DevOps capacity to run and maintain your own servers
• You need 24/7 uptime, backups, and security managed for you
• You want predictable pricing without per-execution overages