n8n vs Zapier vs Make: Which Automation Tool in 2026?

Why This Comparison Matters

Choosing the wrong automation tool can cost thousands in subscription fees or weeks of migration effort. This guide helps you decide based on your team's specific needs.

Head-to-Head Comparison

Criteria	n8n	Zapier	Make
Pricing (monthly)	Free self-host / $20+ cloud	$19.99+	$9+
Self-hosting	Yes (Docker, K8s)	No	No
Open-source	Yes (fair-code)	No	No
Integrations	400+	6,000+	1,500+
AI/LLM nodes	Native OpenAI, Anthropic	AI actions (beta)	OpenAI module
Code execution	JS & Python in-workflow	Limited	Limited
Learning curve	Medium	Low	Medium
Error handling	Advanced (retry, fallback)	Basic	Good

When to Choose n8n

• You want to self-host for data sovereignty or compliance
• Your team is technical and comfortable with JSON
• You need AI-native workflows with custom prompts
• Budget is tight — the self-hosted version is free forever

When to Choose Zapier

• Your team is non-technical (marketing, sales ops)
• You need access to 6,000+ integrations out of the box
• Simple, linear workflows (A → B → C) are sufficient
• You value ecosystem and templates over customisation

When to Choose Make

• You build complex branching workflows with many paths
• You appreciate a visual drag-and-drop builder
• Mid-range budget with predictable usage
• You need good data transformation tools built in

Cost Analysis: 10,000 Operations/Month

n8n (self-host):  $0   (just server cost ~$5-10/mo)
n8n (cloud):      $20/mo
Make:             $16/mo (10,000 ops plan)
Zapier:           $69/mo (750 tasks plan — you'll need more)

Our Recommendation

For startups and technical teams building AI-powered automation, n8n is the clear winner in 2026. See our n8n startup guide to get started.

For non-technical teams that need quick setup, Zapier remains the safest choice despite the higher price.