An honest comparison with real pricing — free guide, no affiliate links
Zapier = Easiest to use. Most expensive. Best for non-technical people who want simple automations.
Make = More powerful than Zapier. Cheaper. Best for visual thinkers who want complex multi-step workflows.
n8n = Most powerful. Can be free. Best for anyone who wants full control, unlimited runs, or cares about data privacy.
We do not get paid by any of these companies. No affiliate links. These are the real prices as of April 2026.
| Plan | Zapier | Make | n8n Cloud | n8n Self-Hosted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free tier | 100 tasks/month, 5 zaps | 1,000 ops/month, 2 scenarios | 14-day trial | Free forever |
| Starter | $19.99/mo (750 tasks) | $10.59/mo (10,000 ops) | $24/mo (2,500 execs) | $0 + server cost |
| Professional | $49.99/mo (2,000 tasks) | $18.82/mo (10,000 ops) | $60/mo (10,000 execs) | $0 + server cost |
| Team/Business | $69.99/mo (2,000 tasks) | $34.12/mo (10,000 ops) | $120/mo (50,000 execs) | $0 + server cost |
| Tool | Annual Cost | Task/Execution Limit | Cost Per 1,000 Tasks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zapier Professional | $600/year | 2,000/month | $25.00 |
| Make Pro | $226/year | 10,000/month | $1.88 |
| n8n Cloud Pro | $720/year | 10,000/month | $6.00 |
| n8n Self-Hosted | $72/year (server) | Unlimited | $0 |
Bottom line: If cost matters, Make or self-hosted n8n wins. If ease of use matters most, Zapier wins. If you want unlimited executions with no monthly cap, self-hosted n8n is the only option.
| Feature | Zapier | Make | n8n |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ease of use | Easiest | Medium | Medium |
| Visual builder | Linear (step-by-step) | Visual canvas | Visual canvas |
| Branching / IF logic | Yes (Paths) | Yes (Routers) | Yes (IF/Switch) |
| App integrations | 7,000+ | 1,800+ | 400+ (+ HTTP for any API) |
| Custom code | Limited (JavaScript) | Limited | Full (JavaScript, Python) |
| AI nodes | ChatGPT | OpenAI, Claude | OpenAI, Claude, Gemini, local models |
| Self-hosting | No | No | Yes (free forever) |
| Data visibility | Limited | Good | Full (see data at every step) |
| Error handling | Basic | Good | Advanced |
| Webhooks | Paid plans only | All plans | All plans + self-hosted |
| Multi-trigger | No | Yes | Yes |
| Sub-workflows | No | Yes | Yes |
Our recommendation: Start with n8n Cloud (14-day free trial). If you outgrow it, switch to self-hosted. If you find it too complex, switch to Zapier. You cannot lose — all three have free trials.
There is no automatic migration between Zapier, Make, and n8n. But the concepts are similar enough that recreating workflows is straightforward:
| Zapier Concept | Make Equivalent | n8n Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Zap | Scenario | Workflow |
| Trigger | Watch module | Trigger node |
| Action | Action module | Action node |
| Path | Router | IF/Switch node |
| Filter | Filter | IF node |
| Formatter | Tools module | Set/Function node |
| Task | Operation | Execution |
Pro Tip: Most Zapier automations can be rebuilt in n8n in 10-15 minutes. The hardest part is reconnecting your app credentials, not rebuilding the logic.
Our recommendation: We use Claude AI for our own business and recommend it to everyone we work with. It works in all three tools — Zapier, Make, and n8n. Try Claude.
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