If you've looked into automating your business, you've encountered three names: Zapier, Make (formerly Integromat), and n8n. All three connect your apps and automate workflows. But they're fundamentally different tools built for different needs.
After building hundreds of automations across all three platforms, here's the honest breakdown.
Quick Overview
Zapier is the easiest to use. Point-and-click interface, 6,000+ app integrations, and you can build simple automations in minutes. It's the Toyota Camry of automation — reliable, accessible, gets the job done.
Make (formerly Integromat) is the visual thinker's choice. Drag-and-drop canvas with powerful data transformation capabilities. Better value than Zapier for high-volume workflows. It's the Honda Accord — similar reliability but more features per dollar.
n8n is the developer's dream. Self-hosted, open-source, with the ability to write custom code inside workflows. Unlimited executions at a flat cost. It's the Tesla — more complex to set up, but once running, it's in a different league.
Pricing: Where It Gets Interesting
Zapier
Starts at $19.99/month for 750 tasks. Sounds fine until you realize a single workflow that runs hourly uses 720 tasks/month. Complex businesses easily hit $100-400/month. Enterprise plans go much higher.
Make
Starts at $9/month for 10,000 operations. Dramatically better value than Zapier for volume. A workflow that costs $200/month on Zapier might cost $30 on Make.
n8n
Self-hosted: free forever (you pay for server hosting, ~$5-20/month). Cloud: starts at $20/month. The key difference — no per-execution pricing. Run a workflow 10 times or 10,000 times, same cost.
When to Use Each
Choose Zapier If:
- You're non-technical and want the simplest setup
- You need a specific app integration that only Zapier has
- Your automations are simple (5 steps or fewer)
- Low volume — under 1,000 tasks/month
Choose Make If:
- You need complex data transformations
- Visual workflow design matters to you
- Medium volume — 10,000-100,000 operations/month
- You want better value than Zapier without self-hosting
Choose n8n If:
- You (or your team) are comfortable with technical tools
- You need custom code inside workflows
- High volume — unlimited executions at flat cost
- Data privacy matters (self-hosted = your data stays on your servers)
- You're building complex, multi-step AI-powered workflows
What We Use (And Why)
We build on n8n for our clients' core automation systems. The reason is simple: when you're running 5 interconnected workflows handling lead capture, onboarding, content, follow-ups, and reporting — all making AI decisions — per-execution pricing would be astronomical.
With n8n, those 5 workflows run 24/7 at a flat cost. We can integrate Claude AI directly into workflows for intelligent decision-making. And because it's self-hosted, client data never leaves their infrastructure.
For simpler, standalone automations (like connecting a form to a spreadsheet), Zapier or Make are perfectly fine. Use the right tool for the job.
The Bottom Line
The "best" automation tool depends entirely on your technical comfort level, budget, and complexity needs. What matters more than the tool is having someone who knows how to design the system properly. A poorly designed automation on the best platform will underperform a well-designed automation on the simplest one.