n8n vs Make: Which Is Better in 2026?
Affiliate disclosure: links to both tools are affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no cost to you. Our comparison is based on editorial research.
n8n and Make are both visual automation platforms, but n8n adds something Make can't: you can self-host it for free and drop into code when you need to. Make is cloud-only and no-code, with a polished visual builder and a credit-based model.
| n8n | Make | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 4.6/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Price from | Free self-hosted · Cloud from €20/mo (annual) | Free · Core $9/mo (annual) |
| Free plan | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free trial | ✓ | ✓ |
| Pricing model | Execution-based subscription: one execution = one full workflow run with unlimited steps. Cloud tiers are billed in EUR (annual billing ~17% cheaper); the self-hosted Community Edition is free under a fair-code license. | Freemium subscription with usage-based credits (credits replaced operations on Aug 27, 2025); annual billing saves 15% or more |
| Best for | Technical teams automating complex multi-step processes without per-task fees | Solo operators and SMBs automating high-volume, multi-step workflows on a budget |
| Standout | Automation | Automation |
| Platforms | Web (n8n Cloud); self-hosted via Docker/npm (Linux, Windows, macOS) | Web (cloud SaaS); no self-hosted option |
Fair-code workflow automation with a visual editor, code-level control, and native AI agents
WHY PICK IT- Execution-based pricing: unlimited steps per run, so complex workflows cost far less than Zapier's per-task or Make's per-operation billing
- Free self-hosted Community Edition with an almost complete feature set and no execution limits
- Native LangChain-based AI agent nodes with multi-agent and RAG support, usable with cloud or local models
Visual no-code automation platform connecting 3,000+ apps, from free to $9/mo
WHY PICK IT- Exceptional value: 10,000 credits for $9/mo vs Zapier's 750 tasks at $19.99/mo — far more volume per dollar
- Visual drag-and-drop canvas with routers, iterators, aggregators, and per-module error handling
- Make AI Agents (beta) and Make Grid included on all paid plans, with support for your own LLM API key
The verdict
Choose n8n if you want to self-host for data control or cost, or you need code nodes and AI-agent workflows with real developer flexibility.
Choose Make if you'd rather not manage infrastructure and prefer a polished, fully-hosted no-code builder.
Bottom line: Developers and data-control-minded teams pick n8n; no-code teams who want zero ops pick Make.