⚙️ Automation Comparison
Make vs n8n
A detailed comparison to help you choose the right tool for your needs.
Last updated: 2026-02-05
Make
Free tier, paid from $9/mo
Strengths
- + More complex workflows possible
- + Visual builder is intuitive
- + Better pricing than Zapier
Weaknesses
- − Steeper learning curve
- − Owned by Celonis now
n8n
Self-host free, cloud from $20/mo
Strengths
- + Self-hostable
- + More powerful than Zapier/Make
- + 70k+ GitHub stars
Weaknesses
- − Steeper learning curve
- − Self-hosting needs technical skill
The verdict
Which one is right for you?
In depth
About each tool
Make
Visual automation that's more powerful than Zapier
Make (formerly Integromat) is automation for people who outgrow Zapier. The visual workflow builder lets you do branching, loops, error handling — stuff that’s painful elsewhere. Founded in Czechia by Ondřej Gazda, bootstrapped to 250k+ customers before being acquired by Celonis for $100M+.
n8n
Open source workflow automation
n8n is automation for people who want control. Founded by Jan Oberhauser in 2019, it’s “fair-code” — source is open, you can self-host free, but can’t commercialize it. 70k GitHub stars. Quadrupled revenue in 8 months after pivoting to AI automation. Europe’s 25th fastest-growing startup in 2024.
Stay ahead of the curve
Get weekly picks of the best tools for solo founders, plus tips on building with AI.
Join solo founders getting weekly tool recommendations. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Keep exploring
Related comparisons
Still deciding?
Explore more Automation tools
Browse the full category or discover tools across all categories.