Make vs n8n
Make and n8n sit in the same category and share 2 tasks. The verdict below is calculated for each role from the tasks, the role fit and the price.
Short answer
Make wins for 6 of 17 roles in our data. Make starts at $9/mo; n8n publishes no fixed price.
Verdict by role
| Role | Better choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Accountant | Make | covers 2 of this role's tasks against 1; built for this role |
| Lawyer | Make | covers 1 of this role's tasks against 0 |
| Finance manager | Either one | even on tasks, n8n is cheaper to start |
| Manager | Either one | even on tasks, n8n is cheaper to start |
| Marketer | n8n | works for free |
| Sales manager | n8n | works for free |
| Data analyst | Either one | even on tasks, n8n is cheaper to start |
| Teacher | Either one | even on tasks, n8n is cheaper to start |
| Executive assistant | Either one | even on tasks, n8n is cheaper to start |
| Logistics manager | Make | higher total score on tasks and fit |
| Procurement manager | Make | covers 2 of this role's tasks against 1 |
| Secretary | Either one | even on tasks, n8n is cheaper to start |
| Tax consultant | Make | covers 2 of this role's tasks against 1; built for this role |
| Auditor | Make | covers 2 of this role's tasks against 1; built for this role |
| Economist | Either one | even on tasks, n8n is cheaper to start |
| Project manager | Either one | even on tasks, n8n is cheaper to start |
| Social media manager | Either one | even on tasks, n8n is cheaper to start |
Side by side
| Make | n8n | |
|---|---|---|
| Vendor | Celonis (Make) | n8n GmbH |
| Category | Automation and business apps | Automation and business apps |
| Free plan | Yes: 1,000 operations a month, two active scenarios, checks every 15 minutes | Yes: The self-hosted Community edition with unlimited executions, without shared credentials or team roles |
| Cheapest paid plan | Core, $9/mo | price on request |
| Top plan | Teams, $29/mo | price on request |
| Tasks covered | 3 | 3 |
Make: Visual automation scenarios with branching and AI steps, cheaper than Zapier on complex chains.
n8n: Automation with AI agents that you can host on your own server with no per-operation fees.
Tasks both handle
Only Make covers
Only n8n covers
Pitfalls to watch at work
Make
- Every module in a loop is a separate operation: a 200-row scenario with four modules uses 800 operations in one run
- Data passes through Make's servers and stays in the execution log: turn off content storage for scenarios with personal data
- Model API keys in connections are visible to everyone on the team with admin rights: restrict roles
n8n
- A self-hosted server without updates and backups stops every automation at once: assign someone responsible for maintenance
- Agent nodes with access to email or the CRM act without confirmation: add a human approval step before sending or changing records
- Keep API keys and passwords in the built-in credentials store, out of node fields that show up in workflow exports
FAQ
Is Make or n8n better for work?
In our data Make is the better choice for 6 of 17 roles. The table above shows the reason for each role.
Which is cheaper, Make or n8n?
Make starts at $9/mo; n8n publishes no fixed price.
Do Make and n8n have free plans?
Make: Yes. 1,000 operations a month, two active scenarios, checks every 15 minutes. n8n: Yes. The self-hosted Community edition with unlimited executions, without shared credentials or team roles.
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Alternatives to Make · Alternatives to n8n · Make pricing · n8n pricing
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