Make vs n8n
Make vs n8n: which automates more? Compare workflow capabilities, integrations and pricing in 2026. Make is best for complex automations, app integrations.
Make Best for: Complex automations, app integrations | n8n Best for: AI workflow automation, self-hosted, node editor, human-in-the-loop | |
| Overview | Make is a visual, no-code automation platform for building workflows across 3,000+ apps. In its current 2026 form it runs on credit-based billing (operations were renamed to credits on Aug 27, 2025) and ships Make AI Agents, a native feature for building autonomous AI agents inside scenarios. | n8n is a fair-code workflow automation platform for connecting apps, APIs and AI agents. The current stable release is the 2.x series (n8n@2.29.8, July 2026), which centers on a rebuilt AI Agent node and a new spatial Canvas editor. |
| Pricing | Freemium | Freemium |
| Users | Free / from $9/mo | Free / from $20/mo |
| Advantages | โ
Visual drag-and-drop builder makes complex multi-step automations approachable without code โ
Very broad connectivity: 3,000+ app integrations plus 350+ AI-specific apps โ
Native Make AI Agents let you build autonomous agents inside scenarios, with a shared library โ
Bring-your-own-key support for OpenAI, Anthropic and Gemini on paid plans โ
Genuinely low entry cost: Core is $9/mo annual with unlimited scenarios | โ
Free self-hosted Community Edition with unlimited executions and all 500+ integrations โ
Rebuilt AI Agent node supports Claude, GPT-4o, Gemini, Mistral and Groq with four memory options โ
New spatial Canvas UI and per-node retry with exponential backoff make complex flows manageable โ
You can self-host for full data control or use managed cloud with bundled AI credits โ
Visual editor plus optional code (JavaScript/Python) fits both non-coders and developers |
| Disadvantages | โCredit-based billing makes AI- and code-heavy scenarios harder to predict, since some steps cost more than one credit โFree plan is limited to 2 active scenarios and a 15-minute minimum interval โMonthly billing costs roughly 15-20% more than the advertised annual prices โComplex scenarios with routers, iterators and error handlers get hard to maintain โHeavy usage often requires buying additional credit packs on top of the base plan | โFair-code under the Sustainable Use License, not true OSI open source, so resale is restricted โCloud pricing jumps steeply from Pro (EUR 60) to Business (EUR 800) โSelf-hosting shifts maintenance, updates and scaling onto you โAI credits on cloud plans are capped and can run out on heavy agent workloads โSteeper learning curve than pure no-code tools once workflows get complex |
| Rating | โฆ | โฆ |
| Website | make.com | n8n.io |
Verdict: Which Should You Choose?
Choose Make ifโฆ
- โ You want the most visual, beginner-friendly automation platform with a drag-and-drop interface
- โ You need 1,500+ pre-built app connectors without writing code
- โ You're a marketer or operations person building automations without developer help
- โ You want reliable cloud hosting with built-in error handling and monitoring
Choose n8n ifโฆ
- โ You want full control โ n8n is open-source and can be self-hosted for free
- โ You're a developer comfortable with JavaScript who wants to write custom node logic
- โ You need to keep data on your own infrastructure for privacy or compliance reasons
- โ You're building complex AI workflows with LLM nodes and vector databases