Choosing an automation platform is one of the highest-leverage decisions you’ll make for your business. The wrong choice costs you hundreds per month and locks you into limitations. We’ve built production workflows on all three — here’s how they actually compare.
Pricing Comparison
This is where the difference is most dramatic. Zapier’s Starter plan runs $29.99/month for 750 tasks. Make (formerly Integromat) starts at $10.59/month for 10,000 operations. n8n cloud starts at $24/month with generous execution limits — and the self-hosted version is completely free.
For a business running 10+ workflows with 5,000+ monthly executions, the annual cost difference can exceed $2,000.
Ease of Use
Zapier wins on simplicity. If you need a two-step automation (trigger → action), Zapier gets it done in under 5 minutes. Make offers a visual canvas that’s more flexible but has a steeper learning curve. n8n sits in the middle — the visual editor is intuitive, but the real power shows when you add code nodes and complex branching.
Power and Flexibility
n8n is the clear winner here. You can write custom JavaScript or Python in any node, build complex error handling, use sub-workflows, and self-host for complete data control. Make offers good flexibility with its modular design. Zapier’s linear flow becomes limiting once your automations get complex.
Integrations
Zapier leads with 6,000+ integrations. Make has 1,500+. n8n has 400+ native integrations plus the ability to connect to any API via HTTP Request nodes — which in practice means unlimited integrations if you’re willing to configure them.
Our Recommendation
For solo operators and small businesses that need production-grade automation without enterprise pricing, n8n delivers the best value. You get the flexibility of a developer tool with the visual interface of a no-code platform. Start with n8n cloud at $24/month, and move to self-hosted when you need more control.
For teams that want zero setup and don’t mind paying premium for simplicity, Zapier remains a solid choice. Make is the budget option that still packs serious capability.