At a glance
n8n, Zapier and Make are the three automation platforms most people choose between in 2026 to connect apps and run workflows without writing glue code for every integration. They solve the same problem in different ways: Zapier is the easiest, broadest and most managed; Make is the visual, operation-priced middle ground for branching logic; and n8n is the open-source, self-hostable, developer-leaning option that gets dramatically cheaper at high volume. The catch is that each prices usage differently (Zapier per task, Make per operation, n8n per workflow execution), which makes raw price tags misleading. This page compares them honestly on pricing model, self-hosting, ease of use and AI features so you can match the platform to your real workload. It pairs with our Course 4 lesson on choosing between n8n, Zapier and Trigger.dev.
The options
Side by side
| Dimension | n8n | Zapier | Make |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hosting | Self-hosted or managed cloud | Cloud-only (managed) | Cloud-only (managed) |
| License | Open-source (fair-code) | Closed-source | Closed-source |
| Pricing unit | Per workflow execution | Per task (action step) | Per operation (module call) |
| Cost at high volume | Lowest (especially self-hosted) | Highest | Lower than Zapier |
| App library | Large and code-friendly | Largest (thousands of apps) | Large |
| Ease of use | Most technical | Easiest | Visual, moderate |
| Best for | Developers, volume, data control | Non-technical users, breadth, speed | Visual complex logic at lower cost |
The verdict
Choose Zapier if you are non-technical or value the fastest setup and the widest app coverage, and your volume is modest enough that per-task pricing stays comfortable. Choose Make if you want a visual builder for complex, branching workflows at meaningfully lower cost than Zapier and are happy on a managed cloud. Choose n8n if you are technical, run high volume, or need self-hosting and data control: per-execution pricing and the self-host option make it by far the cheapest at scale, and its 2.0 AI and agent features suit agentic workflows. The honest rule of thumb: start on Zapier or Make to prove a workflow quickly, and move to self-hosted n8n once volume, cost or data-residency needs make per-task pricing hurt. Match the platform to your workload, not to a sticker price, because the three count usage in different units.