Zapier vs Make vs n8n: which automation platform fits a small business?
By the InTheory team · Updated November 2026
Short answer: Zapier is the easiest to start with and has the widest app catalog, but it bills per task, so busy multi-step workflows get expensive. Make offers a visual builder and credit-based billing that rewards careful design. n8n bills cloud plans per workflow execution and can be self-hosted, which suits higher volumes and stricter data control if someone can maintain it. For most non-technical teams: start on Zapier, move heavy workflows later.
| Zapier | Make and n8n | |
|---|---|---|
| Billing unit | Tasks: each Zap step and connector call uses tasks; AI steps and code draw from the same pool | Make: credits per module action. n8n: per full workflow execution, unlimited steps |
| Ease of use | Simplest for non-technical staff | Make: visual canvas, moderate learning curve. n8n: most technical of the three |
| Self-hosting | No | Make: no. n8n: yes, Community Edition and self-hosted paid plans |
| Free tier | Free plan with 100 tasks a month and two-step Zaps | Make: check current plans. n8n: free self-hosted Community Edition; cloud trial |
| Cost at higher volume | Rises with every step in every run | Make: rises with module actions. n8n: flat per run regardless of steps |
| Team features | Team plan adds shared Zaps, shared connections and SAML SSO | Both offer team and enterprise plans; n8n adds Git version control on Business |
| Licensing | Proprietary SaaS | Make: proprietary SaaS. n8n: fair-code Sustainable Use License |
How the pricing models change the math
The billing unit matters more than the headline price. Take a workflow that receives a web lead, looks up the contact in the CRM, creates a deal, drafts a reply with AI and posts to Slack. In Zapier each of those steps uses tasks. In Make each module action uses credits, and some AI features can use more. On n8n cloud, the whole run counts as one execution.
For example, at a few hundred leads a month the difference is small. At thousands of runs with many steps, it can decide the platform. Check current pricing and model your own volumes.
Self-hosting: control versus upkeep
n8n can run on your own server, which keeps workflow data inside infrastructure you control and avoids per-run cloud fees. That is attractive for firms handling sensitive client data. The cost is upkeep: updates, backups, monitoring and security patches become your job or your provider's. If no one will own that, use a hosted plan.
n8n's license also allows internal business use but restricts reselling a product built substantially on n8n.
A practical way to choose
Start from who will build and maintain the workflows. If it is an office manager, Zapier's simplicity usually wins. If someone enjoys visual logic and wants lower running costs, Make fits. If you have technical help and either high volume or strict data needs, n8n is worth the setup. Many firms run more than one.
Choose Zapier if
- Non-technical staff will build and maintain automations
- You need a connector for a niche app and want the widest catalog
- Volumes are modest and simplicity matters most
- You want the shortest path to a working first automation
Choose Make and n8n if
- You run high-volume or many-step workflows where per-task billing adds up
- You want a visual builder with branching and data transformation (Make)
- You need self-hosting for data control (n8n)
- You have technical help to design and maintain workflows
Common questions
Which is cheapest?
It depends on your workflows. Zapier often costs more for multi-step, high-volume flows because each step uses tasks. Make can be cheaper if scenarios are designed efficiently. Self-hosted n8n avoids per-run fees but adds hosting and maintenance. Model your real monthly runs and steps before deciding.
Can I switch platforms later?
Yes, but workflows do not export cleanly between them, so expect to rebuild. Document each automation's trigger, steps and owner so a rebuild is straightforward. Moving the busiest workflows first usually gives the biggest saving.
Are these platforms safe for client data?
All three offer security controls, but data passes through whichever service runs the workflow. Limit what fields you send, use the platform's admin and access controls, and check data retention settings. For regulated data, review your obligations and the vendor's agreements before connecting.