n8n vs Make 2026: Workflow Automation Compared

TL;DR

n8n is the open-source, self-hostable workflow automation tool — unlimited workflows and executions when you host it yourself, with a JavaScript code node for when drag-and-drop isn't enough. Make (formerly Integromat) is the cloud-native visual automation platform with the most intuitive scenario builder in the space and 1,000+ app integrations. For teams that want zero licensing cost and code flexibility, n8n self-hosted wins. For teams that want fast setup, visual clarity, and a generous cloud free tier, Make wins. Most startups should start with Make; engineering teams building internal automations should default to n8n.

Key Takeaways

• n8n self-hosted is free — unlimited executions, unlimited workflows, no per-user fees
• n8n Cloud starts at $20/month for 2,500 executions; Make's Core plan is $9/month for 10,000 operations
• Make has 1,000+ integrations vs n8n's 500+ nodes — relevant if you need niche SaaS connectors
• n8n's code node lets you run custom JavaScript/Python mid-workflow — Make has no native equivalent
• Make's visual router is more intuitive for non-developers; n8n's canvas requires more learning
• n8n 1.0 (2023) introduced projects, environments, and role-based access — closed the enterprise gap significantly

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Pricing Breakdown

n8n (2026)

Plan	Price	Executions/Month	Active Workflows	Key Features
Self-Hosted (Community)	Free	Unlimited	Unlimited	All nodes, code node
Starter (Cloud)	$20/month	2,500	5 active	Cloud hosting, basic support
Pro (Cloud)	$50/month	10,000	Unlimited	Debug, version history
Enterprise	Custom	Unlimited	Unlimited	SSO, audit logs, SLA

The self-hosted model is n8n's biggest advantage over any cloud-only competitor. A team running n8n on a $10/month VPS gets unlimited executions permanently. The only real costs are infrastructure and setup time.

n8n Cloud's execution model counts each node run as one execution — a 5-node workflow triggered 100 times uses 500 executions. This can add up faster than Make's operation counting, so cloud users should plan accordingly.

Make (formerly Integromat) (2026)

Plan	Price/Month	Operations	Scenarios	Data Transfer
Free	$0	1,000	2 active	100 MB
Core	$9	10,000	Unlimited	1 GB
Pro	$16	10,000	Unlimited	10 GB
Teams	$29	10,000	Unlimited	10 GB + 3 users
Enterprise	Custom	Custom	Unlimited	Unlimited

Make's "operation" is each module run in a scenario. A 5-module scenario running 200 times uses 1,000 operations — same math, slightly different terminology than n8n. Make's Core plan at $9/month is among the best-value paid automation tiers available.

Make's free tier is also genuinely useful: 1,000 operations/month with 2 active scenarios covers light automation use cases. No credit card required.

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Integration Ecosystem

Category	n8n	Make
Total Integrations	500+ nodes	1,000+ apps
Custom HTTP Request	✅	✅
Webhook Support	✅	✅
Database Nodes	✅ (Postgres, MySQL, MongoDB)	✅ (limited)
Code Execution	✅ JavaScript + Python	❌
AI/LLM Nodes	✅ (OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini)	✅ (OpenAI, Anthropic)
Community Templates	✅ (800+)	✅ (1,000+)

Make's raw integration count (1,000+) exceeds n8n's (500+), but n8n's HTTP Request node lets you call any REST API without a dedicated integration. In practice, the gap matters only if you rely on niche SaaS apps with specific OAuth or webhook formats that n8n hasn't built a custom node for.

n8n's advantage is depth: its database nodes support parameterized queries, transactions, and connection pooling. Make's database support is more limited and positioned as a simple read/write connector.

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Workflow Builder Experience

n8n Canvas

n8n uses a node-based canvas similar to tools like Node-RED or Retool Workflows. Each node performs a discrete action (HTTP request, transform data, send email), and you connect them with arrows. The canvas supports parallel branches, merge nodes, and error-handling paths.

Learning curve: Steeper. Non-developers often find the JSON data inspection between nodes unfamiliar. But once you understand the data structure model, complex workflows are easy to build and maintain.

Strengths:

• Code node enables full JavaScript or Python in-workflow
• Debug view shows exact input/output at every node
• Version history with rollback on Pro+
• Sub-workflows let you modularize and reuse logic

Make Scenario Builder

Make's scenario builder is widely regarded as the most visual and intuitive in the automation space. Modules connect left-to-right in a linear flow, and the router module branches into parallel paths. The interface explains data mappings visually as you build.

Learning curve: Low. Non-technical teams can build multi-step automations within an hour. The mapping panel shows available fields from previous modules with autocomplete.

Strengths:

• Iterator and aggregator modules handle arrays/collections with no code
• Real-time scenario debugging with live data
• Error handlers attach directly to modules
• Scenario versioning on Pro+

When Each Builder Wins

Choose n8n if: you have developers who'll maintain workflows, need custom logic, or want full data control.

Choose Make if: your ops team or non-engineers are building automations without developer involvement.

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Self-Hosting Deep Dive

n8n's self-hosted option is a serious production-grade deployment. The official Docker image is maintained, there's a Helm chart for Kubernetes, and n8n publishes detailed upgrade guides with each release.

n8n Self-Hosting Requirements

• Node.js 18+ or Docker
• PostgreSQL recommended for production (SQLite for dev/test)
• Redis required for queue mode (high-volume workflows)
• ~512 MB RAM for basic workloads; 2GB+ for queue mode

A minimal production n8n stack using Docker Compose:

version: "3.8"
services:
  n8n:
    image: n8nio/n8n
    environment:
      - N8N_HOST=${SUBDOMAIN}.${DOMAIN_NAME}
      - N8N_PORT=5678
      - DB_TYPE=postgresdb
      - DB_POSTGRESDB_HOST=postgres
      - DB_POSTGRESDB_DATABASE=n8n
    ports:
      - "5678:5678"
    volumes:
      - n8n_data:/home/node/.n8n

Make has no self-hosted option — it's cloud-only. This is a hard blocker for teams with data residency requirements, compliance mandates (HIPAA, SOC2), or simply a preference for on-premises software.

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AI and LLM Integration

Both tools have added significant AI capabilities since ChatGPT's launch.

n8n AI Agent node (2024–2026):

• Native LangChain integration for building multi-step AI agents
• Supports OpenAI, Anthropic Claude, Google Gemini, Ollama (local models)
• Memory nodes for conversation history
• Tool use: let LLMs call other n8n nodes as tools

Make AI modules:

• OpenAI, Anthropic, Google AI integrations
• No native agent framework — AI modules are discrete steps in a linear flow
• Better for simple LLM-in-a-workflow use cases (e.g., "summarize this email")

If you're building AI agents or complex LLM pipelines within automation, n8n's LangChain integration is the stronger choice. For simpler "call GPT, return result" patterns, both work equally well.

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Team Collaboration and Governance

n8n

Since version 1.0, n8n Cloud supports:

• Projects — isolate workflows by team or environment
• Role-based access — viewer, editor, admin roles
• Environments — dev/staging/prod for the same workflow
• SSO (SAML/OIDC) on Enterprise

Self-hosted users get all features from the Enterprise tier for free — making it the clear winner for teams that need audit trails and role controls without paying per-seat fees.

Make

• Teams plan adds multi-user access (3 users at $29/month)
• Organization level management on Enterprise
• Scenario locking prevents simultaneous edits
• No concept of environments — teams manage dev/prod through separate scenarios

For large teams with complex governance needs, n8n's model (especially self-hosted) is more flexible. Make's multi-user support is functional but limited below Enterprise.

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When to Use Which

Choose n8n if:

• You want to self-host and eliminate licensing costs permanently
• Your team includes developers comfortable with JavaScript
• You're building AI agents or complex LLM pipelines
• You need database-level operations (parameterized queries, transactions)
• You have compliance/data residency requirements

Choose Make if:

• Your ops or marketing team is building automations without engineering support
• You need fast setup with no infrastructure management
• You require one of Make's 1,000+ niche app integrations
• You're replacing Zapier and want the most visual alternative
• Budget is <$20/month and you can stay within the free or Core tier

Use Both if:

Some teams run Make for business-team automations (marketing, sales, ops) and n8n self-hosted for developer/data workflows. This hybrid is surprisingly common in mid-size companies.

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Alternatives Worth Considering

If neither fits your needs, explore our Zapier alternatives roundup which covers Activepieces, Pabbly Connect, and Automatisch. For more complex internal tooling needs, check out our marketing automation tools comparison for platforms that combine automation with CRM and email.

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Methodology

Pricing verified against vendor websites in April 2026. Integration counts sourced from official documentation pages. Self-hosting requirements based on n8n's official deployment guides (v1.x).