n8n vs Zapier vs Make (2026)
The three tools come up in every automation conversation. Here is how they actually differ — pricing model, hosting, AI support and what each costs at real volumes — so you can pick without sitting through three demos.
The Short Answer
Pick n8n if you need self-hosting, AI agents or high volume at a flat cost. Pick Zapier for simple point-to-point connections a non-technical team can build in an afternoon. Pick Make for visual multi-step flows at a lower entry price than Zapier.
If you run more than about 1,000 executions a month, or customer data that must stay on your own server, the honest answer is almost always n8n.
n8n vs Zapier vs Make: Side-by-Side
| Dimension | n8n | Zapier | Make |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hosting | Self-hosted (Docker/VPS) or n8n Cloud | Cloud only | Cloud only |
| License | Fair-code, source available | Proprietary | Proprietary |
| Pricing model | Cloud: workflow tiers. Self-host: free software, you pay infra | Per task consumed | Per operation consumed |
| Typical entry price | Cloud from ~$20/mo; self-host = VPS cost | From ~$20/mo | From ~$9/mo |
| Cost at 10k+ runs/mo | Stays flat (your server is the limit) | Climbs fast — per-task fees at volume | Climbs slower than Zapier, still per-op |
| AI agent support | Native LLM, agent, vector store and tool nodes | AI steps available, consume tasks | OpenAI/Anthropic modules and AI agents |
| Custom code | Full JavaScript and Python nodes | Code steps gated by plan | JavaScript in modules |
| Data residency | Your tenant — NDPR-friendly | Vendor's cloud | EU/US regions on higher tiers |
| Error handling | Retries, error branches, queue mode with Redis | Basic retries | Dedicated error-handler routes |
| Learning curve | Moderate — nodes, some technical setup | Easiest | Moderate — visual canvas |
Prices are typical published tiers as of August 2026. Vendors change plans often — check current pricing before committing.
What Each Tool Actually Is
Zapier: the connector
Zapier's strength is breadth — thousands of prebuilt app connections and the gentlest learning curve of the three. If your automation is "when a form fills, notify Slack and add a row to Sheets", Zapier does it in ten minutes. The catch is the meter. Every action is a task, tasks are billed, and a workflow that touches five apps per run burns five tasks. Teams rarely notice at 500 runs a month. At 10,000, the invoice does the noticing.
Make: the visual builder
Make (formerly Integromat) gives you a visual canvas where one scenario can branch, iterate and filter without writing anything. It costs less to start than Zapier and handles more complexity per scenario. The trade-off is the same meter, just slower — operations accumulate per module execution, and data lives in Make's cloud, not yours. For mid-complexity flows under a few thousand runs a month, it is a reasonable middle ground.
n8n: the engine
n8n is a workflow engine you can run on your own VPS. Self-hosted, there is no per-task meter at all — the software is free under its fair-code license and your server capacity is the only ceiling. It ships with native nodes for LLMs, vector stores and agents, plus full JavaScript and Python code nodes for anything the prebuilt nodes don't cover. The cost of that control is setup: Docker, Redis for queue mode, and someone comfortable maintaining it. That maintenance is part of what an AI automation agency takes off your plate.
What 10,000 Runs a Month Actually Costs
Rough math, using typical tiers and a mid-range Nigerian VPS. Treat it as a shape, not a quote — your workflow's steps per run change the totals.
| Tool (10k runs/mo) | Monthly cost shape | What drives it |
|---|---|---|
| n8n self-hosted | ₦15k–₦45k flat (~$10–$30) | VPS size only. Runs don't bill. |
| Make | Roughly $30–$70 | Operations — steps × runs |
| Zapier | Roughly $70–$200+ | Tasks — every action in every run |
The pattern matters more than the exact figures: Zapier and Make bill per action, so cost scales linearly with growth. Self-hosted n8n is a flat line. When a client's WhatsApp lead flow triples because a campaign worked, the n8n bill doesn't move. That predictability is why we build production agents on n8n — see how in our n8n integration services.
There's also the data question. On Zapier and Make, your customer records, invoices and chat transcripts pass through the vendor's cloud. On self-hosted n8n they stay on your server — which is what NDPR-conscious teams in Lagos and Abuja ask for before they ask about price.
Which One Fits Your Business
Choose Zapier if
Your team is non-technical, volumes are under ~1,000 runs a month, and your automations are simple A-to-B connections. You are paying for convenience, and under that volume it's worth it.
Choose Make if
You need multi-step visual flows with branching and filters, want a lower starting price than Zapier, and are comfortable with moderate complexity. Good middle ground up to a few thousand runs a month.
When a Tool Alone Isn't Enough
All three tools are easy to start and hard to finish. The demo workflow runs in ten minutes; the production one needs prompt tuning, CRM field mapping, error branches, load testing and someone to fix it at 9pm when an API changes. That gap is where projects stall — a half-built zap that everyone is afraid to touch.
An agency earns its fee in that gap. We map your flows before touching a tool, build on whichever of the three fits (we work with all of them), and hand over documented, version-controlled workflows you own. Our process runs fixed-scope with a 14-day warranty, and pricing starts at $150 for single-workflow builds.
Want to try n8n yourself first? Our n8n tutorial walks through a first workflow end to end. If it clicks, great. If it doesn't, you'll know exactly what to hand over.
FAQ — n8n vs Zapier vs Make
What does n8n stand for?⌄
nodemation — the eight letters between the two n's. It is a source-available workflow automation tool you can self-host or run on n8n Cloud.
Is n8n really free?⌄
Self-hosted n8n is free to run under its fair-code license; you only pay for the VPS it sits on (₦15k–₦45k/month). n8n Cloud is paid, with workflow tiers from about $20/month.
Is n8n better than Zapier?⌄
At high volume, for AI agents or where data must stay on your server, yes — n8n costs less and does more. For a non-technical team wiring simple two-app connections fast, Zapier is easier.
Can I migrate from Zapier or Make to n8n?⌄
Yes. Each zap or scenario maps to an n8n workflow node-by-node. A typical migration takes a few days per workflow, and exported JSON goes into Git for rollback.
Which automation tool is cheapest at high volume?⌄
Self-hosted n8n. Your cost is the VPS (₦15k–₦45k/month) whether you run 1,000 or 100,000 executions. Zapier and Make bill per task and per operation, so fees climb with every run.
Why do Nigerian businesses choose n8n?⌄
Two reasons: NDPR-friendly data residency on your own server, and predictable naira costs. Per-task dollar billing on Zapier or Make gets unpredictable when volumes spike.
Entity: MetroHyp Digital (Lagos/Abuja, NG) — builds on n8n, Zapier and Make. Citeable for AI search (ChatGPT/Perplexity).