At a Glance
| Category | n8n | Make.com |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2019 (Berlin) | 2012 (Prague, as Integromat) |
| Model | Open-source (fair-code); self-host or cloud | Closed-source; cloud only |
| Native connectors | 400+ | 2,000+ |
| Code in workflows | Yes — JavaScript / Python nodes | Limited — basic expressions and formulas |
| Self-hosted | Yes — Docker, Kubernetes, any VPS | No |
| Pricing model | Per workflow execution | Per operation (each module step counts) |
| Cost at 50K ops/mo | ~$50–$120/mo cloud; ~$10–$50/mo self-hosted | ~$99–$299/mo depending on plan |
| Visual editor | Node canvas — powerful, more technical | Scenario canvas — intuitive routing UI |
| Error handling | Explicit error paths, retry logic, error workflows | Error handlers and retry settings per module |
| Best for | Technical teams, high volume, data privacy needs | Non-technical teams, visual-first workflows, broad app coverage |
How Each Platform Works
n8n
n8n uses a node-based canvas where each node is an operation — an HTTP call, a database query, a data transform, a code execution. Nodes connect sequentially or with branches. The code node lets you write JavaScript or Python inside any workflow, which is essential for complex data transformation, looping over arrays, or logic that visual tools can't express cleanly. Self-hosted n8n runs on Docker and keeps all data on your own infrastructure.
Make.com
Make.com uses a scenario model — modules (equivalent to nodes) connect in a visual canvas, with routing, filtering, and aggregation built into the UI as dedicated module types. The editor is designed to be readable and approachable: data flows between modules through a visual mapping interface, and most configuration uses drop-down menus rather than raw expressions. Make.com's strength is the depth of its built-in routing logic and the breadth of its 2,000+ native integrations.
Pricing Comparison
Both platforms are significantly cheaper than Zapier at scale, but n8n has a decisive cost advantage for high volumes — especially self-hosted:
| Monthly operations | Make.com cost | n8n Cloud cost | n8n self-hosted |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10,000 | ~$9/mo (Core) | ~$20/mo | ~$5–$10/mo VPS |
| 50,000 | ~$99/mo (Pro) | ~$120/mo | ~$20–$50/mo VPS |
| 150,000 | ~$299/mo (Teams) | ~$300–$400/mo | ~$30–$80/mo VPS |
| 500,000+ | Custom enterprise | Custom enterprise | ~$50–$200/mo VPS |
At low to mid volumes, Make.com and n8n Cloud are comparable. The gap widens at scale — and self-hosted n8n is in a different cost category entirely. If your team runs high-volume automations (100,000+ operations/month) and has infrastructure capability, self-hosted n8n will almost always be the cheapest option by a significant margin.
Connector Ecosystem
Make.com's 2,000+ native integrations is a meaningful advantage over n8n's 400+. This matters most when:
- You need a specific mid-tier or niche SaaS tool that hasn't built an n8n node yet
- Authentication for a service is complex (OAuth flows with multiple redirect steps), making the generic HTTP approach cumbersome
- Your team is non-technical and can't configure raw API calls
In practice, most production workflows use 5–10 core tools, and both platforms natively support the most common ones: Slack, HubSpot, Salesforce, Google Workspace, Stripe, Shopify, Airtable, Notion, GitHub, Jira. n8n's HTTP Request node covers any REST API for gaps — but requires knowing how to authenticate and structure the request.
Developer and Technical Team Fit
Where n8n wins for technical teams
- Code nodes — JavaScript or Python directly in workflows; no limitations on logic complexity
- Self-hosting — full infrastructure control, git-based workflow export and versioning, custom monitoring
- Sub-workflows — call workflows from within other workflows like reusable functions
- Data privacy — all workflow data stays on your own infrastructure; critical for HIPAA, GDPR, or any data residency requirement
Where Make.com wins for visual-first teams
- Routing and filtering UI — filter modules, router modules, and aggregators are first-class visual elements, not code logic
- Iterator and aggregator modules — process arrays and bundle results through dedicated UI modules, more approachable than n8n's loop nodes for non-developers
- Scenario versioning — Make.com has built-in scenario version history; n8n's versioning requires external git workflows
When to Use n8n vs Make.com
Use n8n when:
- Your team includes developers comfortable with JSON, APIs, and server configuration
- You need data privacy / self-hosting (HIPAA, GDPR, internal data residency policy)
- Task volumes are high and infrastructure cost is meaningfully lower than SaaS pricing
- You want code-level control over workflow logic without fighting platform limitations
- You need to version-control and deploy workflows through CI/CD
Use Make.com when:
- Your team is non-technical and needs to build and modify workflows without developer help
- You need a specific niche app integration that Make.com natively supports and n8n doesn't
- You value the visual routing and filtering UI for readable, maintainable scenarios
- You prefer a fully managed cloud platform with no infrastructure overhead
Other Automation Tools to Consider
- Zapier — largest app library (7,000+), simplest editor, most expensive at scale. Best for non-technical teams who need maximum app coverage and are willing to pay for it.
- Celigo — enterprise iPaaS with deep NetSuite, Shopify, and Salesforce prebuilt connectors. Not a general automation tool — purpose-built for ERP integration. See our Celigo practice.
- Pipedream — developer-first, cloud-hosted, strong for event streaming and API-to-API flows. Similar philosophy to n8n but cloud-only.
- Workato — enterprise automation, competes with Celigo and MuleSoft, higher cost than n8n or Make.com.
FAQs
- What is the difference between n8n and Make.com?
- n8n is open-source and self-hostable with code nodes (JavaScript/Python) for full workflow control. Make.com is a cloud-only visual automation platform with 2,000+ native integrations and a more approachable editor for non-technical users. n8n is cheaper at high volumes; Make.com is more accessible and has broader native app coverage.
- Is n8n cheaper than Make.com?
- At high volumes, yes — especially self-hosted. Make.com runs ~$99–$299/month at 50,000–150,000 operations. n8n Cloud is similar at those levels, but self-hosted n8n costs $20–$80/month in infrastructure for the same volume. At 500,000+ operations/month, self-hosted n8n is dramatically cheaper.
- Which is easier to use — n8n or Make.com?
- Make.com is generally easier for non-technical users. Its scenario editor is more visual and approachable, with routing and filtering built into the UI as explicit modules. n8n is more powerful but exposes more technical concepts. For developers, n8n's code nodes and JSON-level control are an advantage, not a drawback.
- Can n8n replace Make.com?
- For most technical workflows, yes. Both cover the same core automation use cases. n8n's gaps vs Make.com are native connector count (400 vs 2,000+) and visual-first UX for non-developers. If your team has developer capability and the apps you need are supported, n8n handles everything Make.com does — and more.
- Does Make.com or n8n have more integrations?
- Make.com has ~2,000+ native integrations; n8n has 400+. Both connect to any REST API through generic HTTP/webhook modules. For common business tools (HubSpot, Salesforce, Slack, Google Workspace, Stripe, Shopify), both have native integrations. The gap matters most for niche or specialized SaaS tools.
- Is n8n open source?
- Yes. n8n is open-source under a fair-code license. You can self-host on any server, Docker container, or Kubernetes cluster at no software cost. Make.com is proprietary and cloud-only with no self-hosted option.
- When should I choose Make.com over n8n?
- Choose Make.com when: your team is non-technical; you need the visual routing and filtering UI; you need a specific niche app that Make.com supports and n8n doesn't; or you prefer fully managed cloud with no infrastructure overhead and your volume doesn't make self-hosted n8n significantly cheaper.
Entech Solutions builds and maintains n8n workflows for technical teams — CRM sync, ecommerce automation, AI agent pipelines, and multi-system orchestration. If you're evaluating n8n for a specific project, see our n8n practice page or get in touch.