If you're shopping for a business automation tool, you've probably landed on the same three names: Zapier, Make (formerly Integromat), and n8n. They all connect your apps and automate repetitive work. But once you get past the marketing pages, the differences are significant -- especially for your budget.
I've built automation workflows on all three platforms. I use n8n for every client project now. Here's why, and when you might want a different choice.
The Quick Comparison
| Feature | Zapier | Make | n8n |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Per task | Per operation | Free (self-hosted) |
| Cost at 10K tasks/mo | $69-$299/mo | $16-$59/mo | $5-20/mo (server only) |
| Cost at 100K tasks/mo | $599-$1,200/mo | $99-$299/mo | $5-20/mo (server only) |
| Custom code | Limited (Code by Zapier) | JavaScript modules | Full Python/JS + any npm package |
| Data stays on your server | No | No | Yes (self-hosted) |
| Ease of setup | Easiest | Moderate | Requires server setup |
| Available integrations | 7,000+ | 2,000+ | 400+ (but HTTP node covers anything) |
| Vendor lock-in | High | High | None -- you own the code |
Where Each Tool Wins
Zapier: Best for non-technical teams getting started
Zapier is the easiest to set up. If you need to connect two SaaS apps with a simple trigger-action pattern, Zapier gets you running in 10 minutes. The library of pre-built integrations is massive.
The problem starts when your automations scale. Zapier charges per "task" -- every action in your workflow counts. A 5-step workflow that runs 100 times a day burns through 500 tasks daily. That's 15,000 tasks a month, putting you in the $299-$599 tier. And that's for a single workflow.
Make: Best per-dollar value in SaaS automation
Make (formerly Integromat) gives you more operations per dollar than Zapier, and the visual workflow builder handles branching and loops better. It's a solid middle ground if you don't want to manage your own infrastructure.
The per-operation pricing is still a cost that grows with your usage. And like Zapier, your workflow data passes through their servers. For industries with compliance requirements (healthcare, finance, legal), that can be a deal-breaker.
n8n: Best for cost control, custom logic, and data privacy
n8n runs on your own server. You install it once, and every workflow runs with zero per-task fees. Whether your automation fires 10 times a day or 10,000 times, your cost stays the same -- just the server hosting fee (typically $5-20/month on AWS or DigitalOcean).
The trade-off is setup complexity. n8n requires a server, Docker, and basic devops knowledge to get running. That's exactly why most of my clients hire me to build it -- they get the cost savings and code ownership without needing to learn infrastructure.
The Hidden Cost Nobody Talks About
Here's what the comparison articles usually skip: what happens when you outgrow the tool?
With Zapier or Make, your workflows live on their platform. If you cancel, they stop running. If you want to switch tools, you're rebuilding from scratch. Every "Zap" or "Scenario" you've built is locked into their ecosystem.
With n8n, your workflows are JSON files on a server you control. You can back them up, version them in Git, migrate them to a new server, or hand them to another developer. If we stop working together, everything keeps running.
When to Pick Each Tool
You're a solo founder connecting 2-3 apps with simple rules
You need a Google Form submission to create a Trello card and send a Slack message. You run this maybe 20 times a day. The per-task cost is under $20/month.
You need branching logic and run 5,000+ operations per month
Your workflow has conditions: if the lead score is above 80, route to sales. Otherwise, add to nurture sequence. You need error handling and retries.
You process sensitive data or need custom code
You're in healthcare, finance, or legal. Your data can't leave your infrastructure. Or you need Python to call a proprietary API, process CSVs, or run ML models.
You want to stop paying per-task fees forever
Your automations run hundreds of times a day and the Zapier/Make bill keeps climbing. You want predictable costs.
What About the "Self-Hosted Is Hard" Argument?
Fair point. Setting up a Linux server, installing Docker, configuring SSL, and maintaining backups is not trivial. If you're a solo founder with no technical background, doing this yourself is a time sink.
That's the gap I fill. I set up the infrastructure, build the workflows, add monitoring and error handling, document everything, and hand it over. You get the cost savings and ownership without the devops learning curve.
After handoff, the system runs itself. If something breaks, you get a Slack alert. If you need changes, any developer who knows n8n (or even just the API docs) can modify the workflows.
The Bottom Line
- Zapier is best if you need dead-simple setup for low-volume automations and don't mind per-task pricing.
- Make is best if you want more operations per dollar than Zapier and don't need self-hosting.
- n8n is best if you want zero per-task fees, full code ownership, data privacy, and the ability to run custom code. The trade-off is you need someone to set it up.
For most small businesses running automations at any real scale, n8n pays for itself within the first month. The question is whether you want to set it up yourself or have someone do it for you.