Make vs. n8n: Which Automation Tool Fits a Small Business?
Make counts most steps a workflow takes, while n8n counts each full run, and that one difference drives most of the cost.
Make and n8n both let you build automations and AI agents on a visual canvas, connecting apps without writing much code. If you are weighing Make vs n8n, the big difference is how usage is counted. Make spends a credit on most actions, while n8n counts one execution per full workflow run, no matter how many steps it has. n8n can also run on your own server.
A quick way to see the gap: a 10-step workflow that runs 1,000 times a month uses roughly 10,000 credits on Make, but 1,000 executions on n8n. Short, simple workflows narrow the gap; long ones widen it.
Prices below are from each company's pricing page on the date checked. n8n lists its cloud prices in euros, billed annually. Make's paid prices load in an interactive plan picker we could not read, so check the live page for current Core, Pro and Teams prices. New to automation? Start with our guide on how to automate email follow ups, and if you want a tool that reasons rather than follows fixed steps, see the best AI agent builders for small business. Already on Zapier? Read our Zapier vs. Make comparison.
| At a glance | Make | n8n |
|---|---|---|
| Free option | Free plan, 1,000 credits a month | Free self-hosted Community edition; cloud trial with 1,000 executions, no card |
| How usage is counted | Credits, most actions use 1 | Executions, one per full workflow run |
| Entry paid plan | Core, price shown in the plan picker | Starter, €20 a month billed annually, 2,500 executions |
| Next tier | Pro and Teams, prices shown in the plan picker | Pro, €50 a month billed annually, 10,000 executions |
| Integrations | 3,000+ apps | 500+ native, plus any API over HTTP |
| AI features | AI Agents, Maia and an MCP server | AI agents, human approvals, MCP and AI Assistant credits |
| Run it on your own server | Not listed on Make's pricing page | Yes, Community edition or Business plan |
| Best for | Non-technical teams with many apps | Technical teams with long workflows |
Make
Make is the friendlier pick if nobody on your team writes code. Its huge app library means most tools you use already have a ready-made connector, and its AI agents live in the same canvas as your scenarios.
- 3,000+ ready-made app integrations, by Make's count
- Make AI Agents plus Maia, which builds automations through conversation
- Free plan with 1,000 credits a month to test real workflows
- Start-up offer: 50% off the Business plan for organizations under 20 employees
- Most actions use a credit, so long workflows add up
- AI agents use credits based on tokens, which is harder to predict
- Scenarios stop when credits run out, and unused credits expire at the end of the term
n8n
n8n rewards teams that are comfortable with a bit of technical setup. Long, multi-step workflows cost far less per run, and the free self-hosted edition keeps your data on your own server.
- One execution per full workflow run, however many steps it has
- Self-hosted Community edition is free for internal business use
- Cloud plans list unlimited users and active workflows
- Human-in-the-loop approvals for AI agents
- 500+ native integrations, far fewer than Make, though any API can be reached over HTTP
- Self-hosting means you handle the server, and Zapier rates n8n as hard for non-technical users
- The free Community license does not let you host n8n as a service for clients
Pick Make if you are not technical, rely on many different apps and want ready-made connectors for nearly all of them. Its free plan is enough to build and test a real scenario. Pick n8n if you have someone comfortable with technical setup, run long multi-step workflows, or want to keep data on your own server, since one run counts once no matter how many steps it has. If cost is the deciding factor, count the steps in your busiest workflow and do the math both ways before you commit.
Prices and features checked October 29, 2026 from each company's own site. They change often, so confirm before you buy. We are not paid by either company.
- Make pricing (Make)
- Make: the visual AI automation platform (Make)
- Make credits (Make)
- n8n pricing (n8n)
- n8n: AI workflow automation platform (n8n)
- n8n community license FAQ (n8n)
- The best AI agent builder software in 2026 (Zapier)
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