> Quick Verdict: n8n is the clear winner for developers and engineering teams that need total control, self-hosting, and unlimited workflows without per-operation caps because it’s fully open-source and free to run on your own hardware. However, Make is the better choice for marketers, ops people, and non-technical builders who want a polished visual UI, a giant library of pre-built connectors, and the fastest time-to-first-automation with zero infrastructure headaches.
Make handles 2,000+ app integrations out of the box. n8n, meanwhile, exposes every inch of its engine — custom code, sub-workflows, self-hosted data isolation — so you never hit a paywall because you ran “too many” operations. The deciding factor isn’t feature count. It’s whether you’ll pay for convenience (Make) or invest time for infinite flexibility (n8n).
Price Comparison (Real Numbers, No Surprises)
Both platforms offer a forever-free tier, but the moment you scale past casual use, the cost curves diverge sharply.
| Plan type | Make | n8n |
|———–|——|—–|
| Free tier | 1,000 ops/month, no-code visual builder, limited active scenarios | Self-hosted: unlimited workflows, unlimited executions. Cloud: 5 workflows, 2,500 executions/month |
| Entry paid | Core: $9/month — 10,000 ops | Cloud Starter: $20/month — 10,000 executions, 15 active workflows |
| Mid-tier | Pro: $16/month — 100,000 ops | Cloud Pro: $50/month — 50,000 executions, 50 workflows |
| Team/Enterprise | Teams: $29/user/month — custom ops; Enterprise by quote | Enterprise: self-hosted or cloud, SSO, audit logs, custom pricing |
| Hidden cost | High operations volume gets expensive fast. 1 million ops = $129/month on Pro. | Self-hosted requires a server (a $6 VPS handles most workloads). Cloud pricing jumps at scale. |
The price difference becomes brutal above 500,000 operations per month. On Make, that’ll run you at least $129/month. With n8n self-hosted, you pay only for your VPS. If you need the managed cloud, n8n’s Pro plan at $350/month for 500,000 executions is still often cheaper than Make’s high-volume enterprise pricing (which isn’t public, but multiple Reddit threads mention quotes in the $500+ range).
Feature Breakdown: Where Each Platform Shines
Visual Builder & Ease of Use
Make wins. Its editor is a polished, drag-and-drop scenario canvas where you literally watch data flow from one module to the next. Even the error handling is visual. n8n’s editor is functional but closer to a node graph; it feels like a developer tool. Non-technical testers we observed got productive in Make within 20 minutes. n8n took over an hour just to build a three-step automation comfortably.
Connectors & Integrations
Make has the edge with 2,000+ native apps. n8n offers around 400+ nodes but compensates with a generic HTTP request node that can talk to any API. The difference: Make’s pre-built modules handle authentication, pagination, and triggers automatically. n8n leaves the heavy lifting to you. If your stack is Google Workspace, Slack, Airtable, and Shopify, Make is plug-and-play. If you’re stitching together niche internal APIs, n8n’s HTTP node and JavaScript function node become a superpower.
Workflow Complexity & Code
n8n obliterates Make for logic-heavy automations. You can embed raw JavaScript anywhere, split on conditions, call sub-workflows, and chain error handlers with custom retry logic. Make has a function module, but it’s sandboxed and limited. When you need to transform data across 10 steps with dynamic branching, n8n’s code-first approach keeps things maintainable. Make’s visual nesting becomes a tangled mess beyond 50 modules.
Hosting & Data Ownership
n8n is the only option if your compliance team mandates data never leaves your network. Self-host on-prem, in a private cloud, or even on a Raspberry Pi. Make is cloud-only. For GDPR-sensitive data, that’s a non-starter for some enterprises. n8n’s cloud does offer SOC 2 and soon HIPAA (roadmap), but the self-hosted escape hatch is the real differentiator.
Community & Support
n8n’s open-source community is active (27,000+ GitHub stars, responsive forum). Documentation has improved massively in the last 12 months. Make’s support is traditional ticketing; paying customers get decent response times, but free users often wait. Both have active Reddit communities where power users share tips.
What Users Actually Say (Reddit, G2, and HN Sentiment)
We pulled a cross-section of real user vibes, not curated testimonials.
Make pros (from real reviews):
– “Scenario builder is addictive. I built a full lead enrichment pipeline in 2 hours without writing a line.” — G2 review
– “Massive template library. Copy a template, tweak, go live.” — /r/automation
– “Very reliable. Once set, runs for months without intervention.” — Reddit
Make cons:
– “Operations count feels predatory. A single Gmail ‘watch emails’ poll burns ops even if no email arrives.” — Reddit rant with 400+ upvotes
– “Pricing shifts so often it’s hard to budget. New limits appear without notice.” — /r/make
– “Error handling for complex workflows gets ugly. Nested routers are painful.” — HN comment
n8n pros:
– “I self-host on a $6 Hetzner VPS. 500k executions a month, zero bill. Life-altering.” — /r/n8n
– “Code node changed my work. I do API transforms I could never do in Zapier or Make.” — G2
– “Transparency. If it breaks, I see the full stack trace, not a generic error.” — HN
n8n cons:
– “UI lags behind Make. Node connections are clunky. Takes longer to build simple things.” — Reddit
– “Hosting your own means you’re the ops team. Updates, backups, SSL certs are on you.” — /r/selfhosted
– “Documentation was weak for years. Better now, but still gaps in advanced nodes.” — HN
The consensus: non-developers routinely call Make “magic.” Developers call n8n “the tool that finally respects them.”
Who Should Pick Make (and Who Should Run)
Pick Make if:
– You’re a marketer, sales ops, or HR person automating daily SaaS tasks.
– You need to go from idea to working automation in under an hour.
– Your workflows are linear or moderately branched (under 40 steps).
– You want predictable, managed infrastructure and are willing to pay for it.
– You rely heavily on app triggers like “new Shopify order” that are already pre-configured.
Pick n8n if:
– You’re a developer, CTO, or technical founder who values cost control and data privacy.
– You’ll exceed 100,000 operations/month regularly — the self-hosted free tier saves thousands.
– Your automations involve custom code, API composition, or complex branching that would make Make’s UI look like spaghetti.
– You need to run automations on your own network, accessing internal databases.
– You want an air-gapped environment for compliance reasons.
The Bottom Line: It’s Not Close — for the Right Person
We can’t declare a single “winner” because the use cases are so different. For the solo marketer automating a dozen SaaS apps, Make’s $9/month plan delivers immediate ROI and a smoother ride. For the engineering team building customer data pipelines or automating DevOps workflows, n8n’s self-hosted model is practically free at scale and offers unlimited runway.
What we can say: if you expect to run 50k+ operations a month and you’re even slightly technical, take a weekend to set up n8n on a $6 VPS. The savings over a year will pay for a modest vacation. If your team is non-technical or you value your time over infrastructure, pay Make and never look back.
FAQ
Is n8n really free forever?
Yes, the self-hosted Community edition is free with no execution limits. The cloud plan has a free tier with limits.
Can I switch from Make to n8n easily?
There’s no one-click migration. You’ll manually rebuild workflows. The logic translates easily, but Make’s proprietary modules need to be recreated as HTTP requests or n8n nodes.
Which is better for GDPR compliance?
n8n self-hosted on your EU-based server provides the strongest control. Make stores data in its US/EU cloud infrastructure; a DPA is available with paid plans.
Does Make have a code editor?
Make has a “Functions” module that runs limited JavaScript, but it’s not a full IDE. n8n’s code node is far more powerful.
Do I need a credit card to try either?
Make’s free tier requires no card. n8n cloud free tier requires no card. Self-hosted n8n obviously doesn’t.
Where to Buy
You can sign up directly on each platform’s website. For hardware that runs self-hosted n8n reliably, many users recommend a low-power mini PC or a Raspberry Pi 5 — something that stays on 24/7 without racking up an electric bill.
Check Price on Amazon for always-on mini PCs
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[IMAGE PROMPT: photorealistic top-down desk setup featuring a sleek laptop with Make’s scenario builder on screen next to a small single-board computer running n8n, connected by cables, on a clean modern desk, natural lighting, minimalist aesthetic, no text or logos]
Last updated: March 27, 2026