Make vs n8n
Pick Make if you want a powerful visual automation builder without writing code or running servers; pick n8n if you are technical and want code nodes, self-hosting and AI agent building. Both have free options: Make's free plan includes 1,000 credits/mo, and n8n is free to self-host. Make is easier, n8n is more flexible.
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| Make | n8n | |
|---|---|---|
| Overlord Score | 9/10 | 8.8/10 |
| Best for | AI content and lead-gen workflows, Automation agencies | Technical teams and developers, Privacy-sensitive organizations that self-host |
| Starting price | $16/mo | €20/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing | Free (1,000 credits/mo); Core from about $9-12/mo for 10,000 credits. | Free self-hosted; Cloud Starter about €20/mo billed annually. |
| Hosting | Cloud only. | Self-host or cloud. |
| Code | No-code, with HTTP modules for any API. | Visual builder plus JavaScript and Python. |
| AI | AI modules priced by usage. | AI agents, RAG and MCP support. |
| Learning curve | Moderate; easier than n8n for non-developers. | Steeper; aimed at technical users. |
| Integrations | Thousands of app integrations. | Hundreds of integrations and thousands of templates. |
Make or n8n: which should you choose?
Choose Make if…
Choose Make if you want visual, no-code automations with lots of ready-made app connections and no servers to maintain.
Try Make →Choose n8n if…
Choose n8n if you want to self-host, drop into code, keep data in-house or build AI agents with fine control.
Try n8n →Make vs n8n pricing
Make
- Free Free
- Core $16/mo
- Pro $28/mo
- Teams $51/mo
- Enterprise Custom
Yes. Make's free plan includes 1,000 credits a month and 2 active scenarios with no time limit, but scheduled runs can be no more frequent than every 15 minutes.
Full Make pricing →n8n
- Community Edition Free
- Starter €20/mo
- Pro €50/mo
- Business €667/mo
- Enterprise Custom
Yes, if you self-host: the Community Edition is free to run on your own server. n8n's hosted cloud has no free plan, only a free trial with 1,000 executions and no credit card required.
Full n8n pricing →Strengths and weaknesses
Make
The best value automation platform for building AI-powered workflows. More powerful and cheaper than most rivals, once you climb the learning curve.
Strengths
- Excellent price-to-power ratio
- Visual builder makes complex logic readable
- Great for client automation work
Weaknesses
- Steeper learning curve than Zapier
- Operation-based pricing takes some planning
n8n
The automation tool for those who want the power without the per-task tax: self-host it free, drop into code when needed, and build real AI agents. Steeper to learn than Zapier.
Strengths
- Free to self-host
- Very flexible for developers
- Cheap at scale
Weaknesses
- Harder to learn than Zapier
- Cloud Business tier is expensive
- Sustainable Use license is not OSI open source
Questions the Humans Keep Asking
Is n8n better than Make?
For developers and self-hosters, often yes. For non-technical users who want a visual builder and many integrations, Make is usually easier.
Which is cheaper?
Self-hosted n8n is free apart from your server costs. On the cloud, Make's Core plan is cheaper to start than n8n's Starter plan.
Can Make be self-hosted?
No. Make is a cloud service; n8n is the option if you need to self-host.