Head-to-head
n8n vs Make: Which Automation Platform Is Best in 2026?
The builder's workshop against the budget visual automator: control and self-hosting versus one of the cheapest credible ways to automate.
n8n and Make are the two workflow automation platforms that serious builders argue about. n8n is the fair-code, node-based platform aimed at people who want full control — custom logic, a huge integration library, AI agent nodes, and the option to self-host everything. Make (formerly Integromat) is the visual scenario builder with one of the most satisfying canvases in automation: drag modules, draw branching routes, and watch data flow — at an entry price that undercuts almost everyone. Both automate the same kinds of work; they disagree on who should be doing the automating.
This comparison is research-based — compiled from documentation, pricing pages and broad community consensus rather than hands-on lab benchmarks — and our independent testing program is still underway; test notes will be added as results come in. Read how we rank agents for the full process. For the wider field, see our best automation agents roundup.
The verdict
Choose n8n if you want control, custom logic, or self-hosting — it is the platform for technical and semi-technical builders who want their automations exactly their own, with a free self-hosted edition and cloud plans from around €20/month, billed annually (n8n.io/pricing, verified Oct 8, 2026). Choose Make if you want a polished visual builder at one of the lowest entry prices — Core at around $9/month for 10,000 credits is excellent value in automation, and its canvas is friendlier to non-technical teams. Builders pick n8n; budget-conscious teams pick Make.
Side-by-side comparison
| n8n | Make | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Technical builders who want full control, custom logic, and self-hosting | Teams and solo users who want powerful visual automation at the lowest price |
| Starting price* | Self-hosted free; cloud Starter ~€20/mo, billed annually (2,500 executions; n8n.io/pricing, verified Oct 8, 2026) | Core ~$9/mo, billed annually (10,000 credits); Pro ~$16/mo (make.com/pricing — pricing checked Oct 8, 2026; confirm on the official site) |
| Platforms | Web-based visual builder; self-host or use n8n cloud | Web-based visual scenario builder; cloud-only |
| Key strength | Self-hosting, deep integrations, and AI agent nodes for custom logic | Best-value entry pricing with a genuinely visual, branching canvas |
| Key limitation | Rewards technical comfort; cloud pricing climbs faster at volume | No self-hosting; credit model can surprise at scale |
| Free tier | Yes — self-hosted community edition is free and unlimited | Yes — free plan with 1,000 credits/month and 2 active scenarios |
*Prices as of October 2026. Prices change frequently — confirm on the official sites before buying.
n8n in brief
n8n is a fair-code workflow automation platform built around a visual, node-based builder with a large library of integrations. You wire together apps, APIs, and AI models into multi-step workflows — and its dedicated AI agent nodes let you build agentic logic with tools, memory, and model choice right inside the flow. Because it is self-hostable, technical teams keep their data and infrastructure under their own control, which is the decisive reason many choose it.
n8n cloud plans start around €20/month, billed annually, for 2,500 executions on the Starter tier (n8n.io/pricing, verified Oct 8, 2026), but the self-hosted community edition is the real story: free to license, with no execution limits beyond whatever your server costs. The trade-off for that freedom is ownership — you build, maintain, and troubleshoot the workflows yourself.
Make in brief
Make is the visual automation platform with arguably the best scenario canvas in the category: modules snap together into branching, looping flows where you can literally watch data move through the scenario. It connects to thousands of apps, supports complex routing and error handling, and bundles AI capabilities into its paid plans. For non-technical users, its guided, visual approach is easier to learn than n8n's node-based builder.
Make's pricing is its headline: Core is around $9/month (billed annually) for 10,000 credits, Pro around $16, and Teams around $29 — all with a free tier (1,000 credits/month) to start. It is cloud-only, so there is no self-hosted escape hatch, and the per-credit model means high-volume scenarios need watching. But for the price, few rivals in automation match this much visual power.
Choose n8n if…
- You want self-hosting for data control or cost-at-scale reasons
- You need deep custom logic, APIs, and AI agent nodes in your workflows
- You're comfortable building and maintaining visual workflows yourself
- You'd rather own the infrastructure than rent per-credit automation
Choose Make if…
- You want one of the cheapest polished entries — $9/month (billed annually) for 10,000 credits
- You prefer a visual, branching canvas that non-technical teammates can read
- You want AI features bundled in without building agent logic yourself
- You're fine with cloud-only and don't need self-hosting
Try them
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The bottom line
n8n is the builder's platform: self-host it, wire anything to anything, and build genuine AI agents inside your flows. Make is the value platform: one of the cheapest ways to get serious visual automation with a canvas anyone can understand. If you can self-host, n8n is nearly unbeatable on cost; if you can't, Make's $9/month (billed annually; make.com/pricing — pricing checked Oct 8, 2026; confirm on the official site) entry is the friendliest on-ramp. For more automation showdowns, see n8n vs Zapier Agents and n8n vs Lindy.
Frequently asked questions
Is n8n better than Make?
Neither is strictly better. n8n wins for self-hosting, data control, and custom logic; Make wins on entry price and visual scenario building for non-technical teams. The right pick depends on your technical comfort and scale.
Which is cheaper, n8n or Make?
Make is cheaper to start: Core is around $9 per month (billed annually) for 10,000 credits, while n8n's cloud Starter is around €20 per month, billed annually (n8n.io/pricing, verified Oct 8, 2026). But n8n's self-hosted community edition has no execution limits beyond your server cost, which can make it far cheaper at scale.
Can n8n be self-hosted?
Yes. n8n's fair-code model allows self-hosting, giving you control over your data and infrastructure. Make is cloud-only and cannot be self-hosted.
Do n8n and Make support AI agents?
Yes, both do. n8n has dedicated AI agent nodes that connect workflows to LLMs and tools, and Make ships AI capabilities bundled into its paid plans. n8n offers more flexibility for custom agent logic.