We've built production automation systems on all three platforms. Not demos — real systems handling thousands of executions daily for paying clients across FinTech, SaaS, and e-commerce. This comparison is based on that experience, not spec sheets.

The short answer: n8n wins on cost and flexibility, Zapier wins on simplicity, Make wins on visual complexity. But the right choice depends entirely on your use case, team, and growth trajectory.

Our verdict upfront

For most growing businesses that need custom, scalable automation: n8n self-hosted. For non-technical teams that need something running in an afternoon: Zapier. For complex multi-branch visual workflows without code: Make.com.

Quick comparison at a glance

Factor n8n Zapier Make.com
Pricing model Free self-hosted / ~$24/mo cloud Best From $20/mo — scales steeply From $9/mo — ops-based
Technical skill needed Medium — some JSON/code helps Low — anyone can use it Best Low-Medium
Self-hostable Yes — full control Best No No
AI / LLM nodes Native LangChain, OpenAI, agents Best Limited, via Zapier AI HTTP modules only
Custom code Full JS/Python nodes Best Code step (JS only) Limited
Native integrations 400+ 6,000+ Best 1,500+
Execution limits Unlimited self-hosted Best Task-based — gets expensive fast Ops-based

What the full article covers

  • Real cost comparison at 10k, 100k, and 1M executions/month
  • When Zapier's 6,000 integrations actually matter (and when they don't)
  • Self-hosting n8n on Docker in 15 minutes — why it changes the economics entirely
  • Make.com's scenario builder vs n8n's canvas — which is actually faster to build in
  • Error handling and reliability comparison across all three
  • Which platform our clients are migrating away from and why
📊
Full comparison coming soon
The detailed breakdown with real cost numbers, migration stories, and our platform recommendation framework is being written now. Subscribe to get it first.