Make vs n8n: Which workflow automation tool is right for you? (2026)

Last updated: 2026

Make

Visual automation platform with 1,800+ app integrations and AI-powered workflows

Try Make Free →

Free plan available

n8n

Open-source workflow automation you can self-host - with native AI agent support

Try n8n Free →

Free plan available

Side-by-Side Comparison

	Make	n8nWinner
Rating
Starting Price	Free	Free (self-hosted)
Free Plan	✅	✅
Category	ai-automation	ai-automation
Top Features	✓ Visual scenario builder with branching logic ✓ 1,800+ app integrations (Google, Slack, Notion, CRMs, databases) ✓ Native AI module: call OpenAI, Claude, Gemini as workflow steps ✓ Scheduled and webhook-based triggers	✓ Visual workflow builder with 400+ nodes ✓ Native AI Agent nodes - autonomous task execution ✓ Supports OpenAI, Claude, Gemini, Mistral as LLM backends ✓ Self-hostable - full control, zero ongoing cost
Try it	Try Free → →	Try Free → →

Our Verdict

🏆 Winner: n8n

n8n wins if you are technical and want to self-host - you get unlimited workflows and executions for free, plus AI Agent nodes that can reason autonomously rather than following fixed steps. Make wins if you want a hosted solution with maximum app coverage (1,800+ integrations vs n8n's 400+) and a more polished UI that non-technical teammates can use. For solo builders and developers, n8n's self-hosted option is the best value in automation. For small teams who need wide integrations and don't want to manage infrastructure, Make's Core plan at $9/month is hard to beat.

Make Pros & Cons

👍 Pros

✓Much more powerful than Zapier for complex logic
✓1,800+ integrations covers virtually every tool
✓Free tier is genuinely functional
✓AI steps are first-class modules in any workflow
✓Much cheaper than Zapier for equivalent power

👎 Cons

✗Steeper learning curve than simpler tools
✗Operation-based pricing can get expensive at scale
✗No self-hosted option
✗Visual canvas can get cluttered with complex scenarios

n8n Pros & Cons

👍 Pros

✓Self-hosted option is completely free with no usage limits
✓AI Agent nodes are genuinely autonomous - not just fixed step sequences
✓Code nodes let you handle any logic that lacks a dedicated integration
✓Strong and growing community
✓Open source - no vendor lock-in

👎 Cons

✗Self-hosting requires technical setup (Docker/VPS)
✗Cloud pricing is higher than Make for equivalent executions
✗Smaller integration library than Make (400 vs 1,800)
✗UI is less polished than Make or Zapier

Try Make

Try Make Free →

Try n8n

Try n8n Free →

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