n8n vs Make: Which Workflow Automation Tool is Right for You?
A detailed comparison to help you choose the right automation platform for your business needs
Workflow automation is critical for modern businesses looking to save time, reduce human error, and streamline operations. Two powerful tools in this space are n8n and Make (formerly Integromat). Both enable you to automate repetitive tasks across apps and systems — but they take very different approaches under the hood.
In this guide, we compare n8n vs Make across key areas like pricing, features, integrations, self-hosting, and extensibility. Whether you're a startup founder, engineer, or operations manager, this post will help you make the right choice for your use case.
Table of Contents
At a Glance
| Feature | n8n | Make (Integromat) |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting | Open-source & Self-hosted | Cloud-based SaaS |
| Pricing | Free (self-hosted) + cloud plans | Paid tiers with free tier |
| Custom Code | Native JS code node | Limited code execution |
| Extensibility | High (build your own nodes/workflows) | Limited to provided modules |
| UI Complexity | Developer-friendly | Visual, beginner-friendly |
| Data Handling | JSON-first, programmable | Visual mapping, less programmable |
| Integrations | 400+ built-in + custom | 1,200+ built-in |
| Security | Full control if self-hosted | SaaS-level controls |
| Community | Open-source dev community | Large user base, commercial support |
Philosophy & Use Case Differences
n8n is designed for developers and tech-savvy users who want full control over their data and logic. It's open-source, self-hostable, and supports advanced branching, loops, custom JS, and API logic.
Make, on the other hand, is a no-code/low-code platform targeting operations teams, marketers, and business users who prefer drag-and-drop interfaces. It excels at visually building workflows quickly without needing programming knowledge.
Choose n8n if you want:
- Data sovereignty and full control (self-hosted)
- Complex automations with custom logic
- Full transparency and no vendor lock-in
Choose Make if you want:
- A fast, visual tool to automate across many SaaS tools
- Extensive ready-made integrations
- A polished UI with less setup or maintenance
Pricing & Scaling Costs
n8n
- Free to self-host
- Cloud plan starts at ~$20/month
- Unlimited workflows when self-hosted
- Paid plan includes logging, metrics, multi-user
Make
- Free plan: 1,000 operations/month
- Paid plans start at $9/month (10,000 operations)
- Enterprise pricing scales with usage
- Can get expensive with large volumes
Scaling Considerations
n8n Scaling
- Self-hosted: Only pay for server costs (~$5-10/month)
- Can handle high volumes with minimal cost increase
- Cloud option counts one workflow execution regardless of complexity
Make Scaling
- Each module execution counts as an operation
- Complex scenarios can use 5-25 operations per run
- Costs increase significantly with volume and complexity
Verdict: If you're technical and cost-sensitive, n8n gives more value long-term, especially when self-hosted. Make is great for smaller-scale or non-technical users with predictable usage.
AI Agents & Automation
One of the most significant recent developments in n8n is its robust support for AI agents. n8n has built-in functionality that allows you to connect AI models like GPT-4 to various tools that you can customize or create.
When your AI model receives a request or data, instead of just responding, it can choose to use a tool to fulfill the request. This essentially makes the AI a "decision maker" in your business processes.
Make has some AI capabilities, but n8n's AI-native approach with agent flows gives it a significant edge for businesses looking to implement advanced AI automation. This feature is one of the key reasons for n8n's rapid growth in recent months.
Features Comparison
| Feature | n8n | Make |
|---|---|---|
| Built-in Nodes | 400+ | 1,200+ |
| Custom Code | Native JS function node | Basic scripting |
| Webhook Support | Yes | Yes |
| Conditional Logic | Full IF/ELSE branches | Supported, more visual |
| Loops | Yes | Yes (but complex ones harder) |
| Error Handling | Fine-grained | Visual fallback paths |
| Scheduling | Built-in | Built-in |
| Version Control | Git-friendly (if self-hosted) | GUI only |
| Data Structures | JSON-first, programmable | GUI-based mapping |
| Reusability | Sub-workflows & modules | Reusable scenarios |
Security and Deployment
n8n
- Run in your own data center or cloud (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP)
- Integrate with your existing secrets management
- Full control over access, data retention, audit
Make
- SaaS only; hosted on their infrastructure
- GDPR-compliant; security handled for you
- Easier but less customizable
Verdict: For regulated industries, internal tools, or strict security policies, n8n is the clear winner.
Integrations
Make has the edge in quantity — 1,200+ prebuilt app integrations. It's designed to work out of the box with most common tools like Airtable, Shopify, Salesforce, Google Suite, and more.
n8n, while having fewer native nodes, allows you to easily connect to any REST API. Developers can also build custom integrations using the SDK or just the HTTP node.
Verdict: Make wins for ready-made integrations. n8n wins for custom APIs and long-term extensibility.
User Experience Differences
| Feature | Winner | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Module Availability | Make | Make offers 1,200+ ready-made modules vs n8n's 400+ |
| JSON & Code Integration | n8n | n8n's native JavaScript support and JSON handling is more developer-friendly |
| Flow Control | n8n | Better branching, error handling, and conditional logic |
| Testing & Debugging | n8n | More robust testing tools and debugging capabilities |
| Authentication | Make | Simpler authorization process with more native connections |
| Webhooks | Make | Better webhook handling and email hook functionality |
| AI Features | n8n | Advanced AI agent capabilities and integration |
| Collaboration | n8n | Better sharing and team collaboration features |
Developer Experience
n8n
- Designed for developers and power users
- Built-in function nodes let you write JavaScript inline
- Ideal for ETL, API workflows, internal tooling
Make
- Great for beginners or non-coders
- Drag-and-drop interface with tooltips
- Some logic can be limiting for advanced use
Community & Ecosystem
n8n
- Open-source with strong developer community
- GitHub contributions, community nodes
- Actively maintained with transparent roadmap
Make
- Large SaaS user base, commercial support
- Active Facebook and community forums
- Proprietary ecosystem, limited extensibility
Final Verdict: n8n vs Make
| Situation | Best Tool |
|---|---|
| You want full control, privacy, and developer flexibility | ✅ n8n |
| You need quick integration across common SaaS apps | ✅ Make |
| You plan to scale without SaaS costs | ✅ n8n (self-hosted) |
| You want a polished, non-technical experience | ✅ Make |
Conclusion
Both n8n and Make are excellent tools — but they serve different users and different stages of your automation journey.
For beginners: Make offers a lower barrier to entry with its polished UI, extensive pre-built integrations, and visual workflow builder. It's ideal if you're just starting with automation and want to see results quickly without a steep learning curve.
For advanced users: n8n shines when you need deeper customization, data sovereignty, or are building complex systems that require advanced error handling and conditional logic. Its open-source nature and self-hosting capabilities make it particularly attractive for developers and organizations with technical resources.
Many teams follow a natural progression: starting with Make for its simplicity, then transitioning to n8n as their automation needs grow more complex and operational costs become a concern at scale.
If you're also considering Zapier as an automation option, check out our detailed comparison of n8n vs Zapier to see how these popular platforms stack up against each other.
Pro Tip: Many teams start with Make, but switch to n8n as their needs grow or costs increase
Need help choosing the right automation platform?
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