Make vs n8n

Side-by-side pricing, features and compliance for any tools in the directory.

Side-by-side comparison of Make, n8n: pricing, capabilities, integrations and compliance — from verified HokAI records.

Make

Make (part of Celonis)

Pick it if: Operations Manager optimizing multi-step business processes

Its edge: Advanced visual scenario builder with complex branching, conditional logic, and data manipulation that handles enterprise-grade workflows Zapier cannot match

The catch: Steeper learning curve and credit-based pricing model requiring careful monitoring; smaller integration ecosystem than Zapier (2,400 vs 5,000+ apps)

n8n

n8n GmbH

Pick it if: Platform/DevOps Engineers

Its edge: Execution-based billing model combined with code flexibility—allows building infinitely complex workflows at 40-90% lower cost than task-based competitors like Zapier/Make

The catch: Steep learning curve for non-technical users; requires API knowledge and DevOps skills for self-hosting; limited support on lower tiers relies on community forums

Pricing & access

Entry priceFree to startFree to start
Free tiertruetrue
Paid tiersFree — $0/mo; Pro — $9/mo; Business — $0/moCommunity Edition — $0/mo; Starter (Cloud) — $20/mo; Pro (Cloud) — $50/mo
Hidden costsOperations overage fees beyond plan limits can accumulate quickly on large-scale automations; Requires understanding of credit consumption model which varies by operation complexity; Legacy system integration may require custom webhooks or Self-hosting infrastructure costs ($5-40/month for basic VPS, scaling to hundreds for production); DevOps resource investment for maintenance, patching, scaling, and database management; Business plan execution fees can escalate quickly for
Budget fitmidmid

Verdict & fit

Killer featureAdvanced visual scenario builder with complex branching, conditional logic, and data manipulation that handles enterprise-grade workflows Zapier cannot matchExecution-based billing model combined with code flexibility—allows building infinitely complex workflows at 40-90% lower cost than task-based competitors like Zapier/Make
Primary weaknessSteeper learning curve and credit-based pricing model requiring careful monitoring; smaller integration ecosystem than Zapier (2,400 vs 5,000+ apps)Steep learning curve for non-technical users; requires API knowledge and DevOps skills for self-hosting; limited support on lower tiers relies on community forums
Best forOperations Manager optimizing multi-step business processes; Systems Administrator managing cross-app data flows; Integration Engineer building sophisticated automation architecturesPlatform/DevOps Engineers; IT Operations Directors; Solutions Architects
Worst forComplete beginner wanting instant results with no learning curve; Budget-constrained startup with very limited operation volume; Legacy enterprise heavily dependent on on-premise systemsNon-technical marketing teams; Business analysts without API knowledge; End users needing instant deployment
Minimum skill levelintermediateintermediate
Defensibility78
Target audienceOperations Manager, Business Analyst, Systems Administrator, Automation Engineer, Integration Developer, Product Manager, Startup FounderTechnical Founders & DevOps Engineers, IT Operations Teams (IT Ops, Sec Ops), Software Developers, Enterprise Architects, Data Engineers, Compliance Officers (regulated industries), Operations Managers, Systems Integrators

Capabilities

Key featuresVisual Scenario Builder; Advanced Data Handling; AI Agent IntegrationHybrid Visual + Code Builder; 500+ Pre-Built Integrations; AI-Native Architecture with MCP Support
CapabilitiesVision; Function callingVision; Function calling
StrengthsHandles multi-step, branching automations that trigger-only tools can't build, which is the main reason teams outgrow Zapier or IFTTT for Make; Visual scenario builder makes even intricate automations easier to understand, map, and troublesThe hybrid visual-plus-code approach means workflows are not capped by whatever the built-in nodes happen to support, a real advantage over strictly no-code tools.; Complete data control with self-hosting on your own infrastructure; the Com
Watch out forSteeper learning curve than simpler tools like Zapier, especially for complex scenarios and advanced features; Understanding and monitoring credit consumption can be complex and require careful cost management; Better suited for modern clouSteeper learning curve than pure no-code tools like Zapier: requires familiarity with APIs and basic programming concepts.; Self-hosting requires real DevOps expertise for server setup, maintenance, database administration, and scaling.; Li

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