n8n vs Zapier vs Make: which automation tool fits your business?
By the EvolynFlow Team · Published
n8n, Zapier and Make all connect your apps and run steps automatically. The real differences are how they charge, how many apps they connect to out of the box, where they run and how much control they give you.
This comparison uses each tool’s own pricing and integration pages, checked on 25 October 2026, and quotes no prices, since plans change often. Where we give an opinion, we say so.
Which is better: n8n, Zapier or Make?
None of them is better for everyone. In our view, Zapier is the easiest start for simple automations between popular apps, Make suits visual, multi-step scenarios, and n8n suits businesses with long or complex workflows, AI steps, or a need to host their own data.
The rest of this guide explains the differences behind that answer.
How do they compare at a glance?
The biggest differences are the billing unit and whether you can host the tool yourself. Here is how the three compare, from their own pages.
| Aspect | n8n | Zapier | Make |
|---|---|---|---|
| What you pay for | Workflow executions: one per full run of a workflow | Tasks: each successful action step | Credits: each module action, mostly one credit each |
| What is free of charge | The steps inside a run | Triggers, polling and built-in tools such as Filter, Formatter and Paths | Router and error handler modules |
| Apps listed | 2,000+ integrations | 9,000+ apps | 3,000+ native apps |
| Self-hosting | Yes, the Community Edition on your own server | No, cloud only | No, cloud only |
| Call any app with an API | Yes, HTTP Request node | Yes, webhooks and API requests | Yes, HTTP module |
Sources: n8n pricing, n8n integrations, Zapier pricing and Make pricing, checked 25 October 2026.
How do n8n, Zapier and Make charge?
n8n charges per workflow execution, Zapier per task and Make per credit. n8n says pricing is based on monthly workflow executions “regardless of complexity”; Zapier says each successful step in a Zap uses tasks; and Make says every time a module performs an action, it uses credits.
The difference shows up as workflows get longer. Take one workflow with a trigger and five action steps that runs 1,000 times a month:
- n8n: about 1,000 executions, one per run, however many steps there are.
- Zapier: about 5,000 tasks, one for each of the five action steps in each run; the trigger is free.
- Make: about 6,000 credits, since most module actions, including the trigger reading new data, use one credit.
Those numbers only show how each one counts; what they cost depends on the plan. The longer your workflows, the more n8n’s per-run counting works in your favour. For short automations with one or two steps, the gap is small.
Which one connects to the most apps?
Zapier lists the most ready-made connections, at more than 9,000 apps, against more than 3,000 for Make and more than 2,000 for n8n. All three can also reach any app with an API through a web request, so the count matters most when you want a ready-made connection and no technical help.
Before choosing, list the five apps your business could not run without and check each tool supports them properly, including the actions you need, not just a logo on a page.
Where does your data run?
Zapier and Make run only as cloud services. n8n can run on n8n’s cloud or on your own server, which keeps customer data on infrastructure you control.
Self-hosting is useful when you handle sensitive customer records, want data kept in a particular country, or run a very high number of workflow runs. It also means someone has to keep the server updated, secure and backed up.
Which is easiest to use?
In our view, Zapier is the easiest to learn, Make is the most visual, and n8n is the most flexible. Zapier’s step-by-step builder suits straight-line automations. Make’s canvas shows branches and loops clearly. n8n takes longer to learn for non-technical users, but it lets you add code, AI agents and complex logic without leaving the editor.
Which should your business choose?
Match the tool to the shape of your workflows, not to the longest feature list:
- Choose Zapier if you need a simple automation between popular apps quickly, your workflows have few steps, and you want the widest app list.
- Choose Make if you like building visually, need branching and many steps, and are happy to pay per module action.
- Choose n8n if your workflows are long or complex, you want AI steps, code or self-hosting, or you want costs that do not rise with every extra step.
Our business automation service builds on n8n and covers the setup, hosting and upkeep. New to n8n? Start with our guide to what n8n is and the first workflows to automate.
Frequently asked questions
Is n8n cheaper than Zapier?
It often is for long workflows, because n8n counts one execution per workflow run while Zapier counts a task for each successful action step. For short, simple automations the difference is smaller, so compare using your own workflows.
Can n8n replace Zapier?
For most business workflows, yes: n8n lists more than 2,000 integrations and can call any app with an API. Check that the apps you rely on have a ready-made n8n node, or an API it can reach, before you move.
Is Make the same as Integromat?
Yes. Make is the new name for Integromat, which rebranded as Make in 2022.
Which tool is best for AI agents?
All three now offer AI steps. n8n suits building your own AI agents, because it has dedicated AI agent nodes, lets you add code and can run on your own server.
Can I move my automations from Zapier or Make to n8n?
Yes, but there is no official one-click import, so each automation is rebuilt in n8n. It is a good moment to tidy up: merge duplicate automations and drop the ones nobody uses.
Not sure which tool fits your workflows?
Tell us what you want to automate and which apps you use. We will tell you which tool fits, and build it for you if you want.
A person from our team usually replies within 30 minutes.