Zapier vs Make vs n8n cost calculator
A task, a credit and an execution are not the same thing. Describe one workflow once; the calculator converts it into each vendor's billing unit and leaves unsupported volume unpriced instead of inventing an overage.
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Executions × billable steps × overhead
For Zapier and Make, billable usage grows with successful action/module runs. For n8n Cloud, one workflow run is normally one execution. Retries, iterators and branching can increase either number, so keep a headroom assumption.
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| Option | Converted billable volume | Lowest tier covered by stored limits | Monthly | Yearly | Action |
|---|
Prices are monthly equivalents from annual-billing list prices where the tool data says so. Taxes, add-ons, premium apps, AI-variable credits and vendor-specific overages are excluded. “Check vendor” means our stored published tiers do not cover the workload.
How the same workflow becomes three different bills
| Platform | Billing model used here | Example: 1,000 runs × 5 steps + 10% | What can change it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zapier | successful billable action tasks | 5,500 tasks | filters, paths, premium apps and what counts as a task |
| Make | billable module-run credits | 5,500 credits | iterators, retries and variable-credit AI modules |
| n8n Cloud | full workflow executions | 1,100 executions | retries, sub-workflows and execution mode |
| n8n self-host | your infrastructure + operations | same executions; no Cloud execution fee | VPS, database, backups, monitoring and staff time |
Decision guide
Choose Zapier when app coverage is the constraint
It is usually the easiest path for a non-technical team and uncommon integrations. The trade-off is task growth in multi-step workflows. Above stored tiers, this calculator refuses to guess.
See Zapier alternatives →Choose Make for visual, multi-step scenarios
Make is the only directly monetized automation route currently active on StackPick. That never changes the calculation: the model uses billing units and published capacity, not commission.
Find the right Make plan →Choose n8n when execution pricing or self-hosting matters
n8n Cloud can be economical for long workflows because nodes do not become individual tasks. Self-hosting is not free after infrastructure and maintenance are valued.
Compare n8n vs Make →Hidden costs this model keeps visible
- Retries and branching: a failed step may be rerun; iterators can multiply module activity.
- Human operations: self-hosting moves patching, backups, uptime and incident response to your team.
- Feature-gated plans: the cheapest capacity tier may not include SSO, advanced logs, custom variables or governance.
- Vendor volume above stored tiers: the correct result is “check vendor,” not a linear price projection.
- Migration cost: rebuilding, testing and dual-running workflows can outweigh a small monthly saving.
Pricing evidence used
| Tool | Billing description | Verified | Source |
|---|
StackPick stores only the tiers visible in the dataset and links back to each vendor source. See the complete pricing index and methodology.
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The embed keeps attribution and uses the same verified dataset. Scenario links preserve inputs, so a client or teammate can review the same workload.
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We email only when a stored public price changes. Your current workload and lowest modeled option are saved with the alert.
Saved. We will email only for verified changes.Could not save. Try again.FAQ
Why not compare 10,000 Zapier tasks with 10,000 n8n executions?
Because they describe different workloads. A five-action workflow run may consume roughly five Zapier tasks or Make credits, but normally one n8n execution. Normalize the workflow first.
Is n8n self-host really free?
The Community software can remove the Cloud execution fee, but infrastructure and labor remain. Enter both above; use zero labor only if that time truly has no opportunity cost.
Does this calculator include AI modules?
Only through the overhead input. Some AI features can consume variable credits or external model fees, so a universal price would be misleading.
Why does a result say “check vendor”?
The requested usage exceeds the largest tier stored from the vendor's published page. StackPick deliberately does not turn a missing price into a linear estimate.