n8n vs Make — which automation platform costs less in 2026?
n8n vs Make pricing at 1k / 10k / 50k runs. Credits vs executions, self-host TCO and when Make still wins for short scenarios.
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Pricing verified 2026-07-01 · updated 2026-07-20→ Run the full cost calculator for your exact volume
Quick answer
At ~10,000 executions/credits/mo, Make costs about $9/mo vs $65/mo for n8n (entry verified tiers; see assumptions).
n8n Community self-host removes execution fees (you run Docker/VPS); Cloud numbers in the table are the apples-to-apples SaaS comparison.
Editor's pick
MMake — Visual automation canvas for complex workflows. Score 4.2/5, free plan available.
Cost at 1k / 10k / 50k
| Volume / mo | Nn8n | MMake |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 | $26/mo · Starter (Cloud) | $0/mo · Free |
| 10,000 | $65/mo · Pro (Cloud) | $9/mo · Core |
| 50,000 | $325/mo · Pro (Cloud) (scaled) Extrapolated from 10,000 executions @ $65/mo |
$45/mo · Core (scaled) Extrapolated from 10,000 credits @ $9/mo |
Volumes = tasks (Zapier) / credits (Make) / executions (n8n Cloud). Billing units differ — same numeric volume is not the same workload. n8n Community self-host is $0 for executions (VPS only); table shows Cloud. Prices verified from vendor pages in our pricing index.
3-year TCO (at 10,000/mo)
| Nn8n | MMake | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly (est.) | $65 | $9 |
| 3-year total | $2,340 | $324 |
Make saves about $2,016 over 3 years at this volume (list price only).
Volumes = tasks (Zapier) / credits (Make) / executions (n8n Cloud). Billing units differ — same numeric volume is not the same workload. n8n Community self-host is $0 for executions (VPS only); table shows Cloud.
At a glance
| Nn8n | MMake | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 4.33/5 | 4.22/5 |
| Starting price | $26/mo | $9/mo |
| Pricing basis | per month, 2,500 executions (Cloud Starter, billed annually) | per month, 10,000 credits, billed annually |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Trial | 14 days | 0 days |
| Integrations | 500+ | 3000+ |
| Best for | Technical teams that want unlimited workflow complexity, AI-native nodes and the option to self-host for free | Power users who want complex, branching automations at a fraction of Zapier's cost |
| n8n review → | Try Make → |
Winner by use case
- Tightest budget: Make — entry plan is $17/mo cheaper ($204/year at entry tier).
- Fastest to learn: n8n (3.8/5 ease of use).
- Most capability: n8n (4.7/5 feature depth).
- Best value overall: n8n (4.8/5 value score).
Feature matrix
| Nn8n | MMake | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | ✓ | ✓ |
| Trial days | 14 | 0 |
| AI features | 4 | 3 |
| Integrations | 500+ | 3000+ |
| Ease of use | 3.8/5 | 3.7/5 |
| Feature depth | 4.7/5 | 4.6/5 |
| Value for money | 4.8/5 | 4.8/5 |
| Support | 4.0/5 | 3.8/5 |
Pricing, side by side
Nn8n
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| Community (self-hosted) | Free / custom |
| Starter (Cloud) | $26/mo |
| Pro (Cloud) | $65/mo |
Verified 2026-07-01 · Pricing source
Strengths and weaknesses
Nn8n
- Far cheaper than Zapier/Make at high volume - executions not tasks
- AI agent workflows are first-class, not an add-on
- Self-hosted community edition is genuinely free
- Huge and fast-growing template ecosystem
- Steeper learning curve than Zapier
- Cloud plans cap active workflows on lower tiers
- Fewer polished native app integrations than Zapier's 8,000
- Self-hosting means you manage updates and uptime
MMake
- Lower entry price than many task-based competitors
- Visual canvas shows entire flow at a glance
- Real programming primitives (loops, arrays)
- Generous free plan for testing
- Steeper learning curve than Zapier
- Smaller app catalog than Zapier
- Credit counting takes getting used to; AI modules may consume variable credits
- Support response can be slow on lower tiers
Our verdict
Feature lists won't settle this one; both platforms can build almost any workflow. The decision comes down to two things: how each one bills, and whether you're willing to self-host. Use the Quick answer, cost table (1k / 10k / 50k) and 3-year TCO above — then read the billing caveats below.
The billing unit is the whole game
- Make bills in credits — standard module runs generally consume one credit, while some Make AI features use variable credits. A 15-module standard scenario that runs 1,000 times is roughly 15,000 credits.
- n8n bills per execution — one full workflow run counts once, whether it has 5 nodes or 50.
That means workflow shape matters. A multi-module workflow can consume many Make credits per run while n8n Cloud generally bills one workflow execution. AI modules and retries can change actual usage; measure both before choosing.
Simple, short scenarios flip it: Make's free and low tiers are generous when workflows are 2–4 modules, and its per-operation price is tiny at small scale.
Self-hosting: n8n's trump card
n8n's Community Edition is source-available and free with unlimited executions on your own server — a $5/month VPS runs serious automation loads. Make has no equivalent. If your team can run Docker, Cloud TCO above is the ceiling, not the floor: self-host drops execution fees to $0. That's also the honest caveat: self-hosting means you own updates, backups and uptime. The cost table shows n8n Cloud so SaaS quotes stay comparable to Make.
AI workflows
n8n treats AI agents as first-class citizens: native LangChain agent nodes, vector stores, RAG pipelines, and a template library where 67% of new templates already use AI nodes. Make has AI modules and an assistant, but agentic patterns (tool-calling loops, multi-agent handoffs) fit n8n's model more naturally. Most of the ready-made AI agent templates you'll find — including ours — ship as n8n JSON.
Hidden costs and limits
- n8n Cloud caps active workflows on lower tiers (5 on Starter) — automation-heavy teams hit that before they hit execution limits.
- Make credits can rise when scenarios include iterators, retries or variable-credit AI modules; model a worst-case month in the automation cost calculator.
- n8n's learning curve is real: expressions, JSON wrangling and node debugging. Make's UI is friendlier for marketers.
When to choose neither
Two apps, one trigger, no logic — Zapier's free tier or a native integration does it with less friction (see Zapier vs Make). Enterprise governance needs (SSO, audit logs, SOC2 reporting) point to Workato instead.
Choose n8n if workflows are complex or AI-driven, someone on the team is technical, or you want the self-hosted free option in your back pocket. Choose Make if visual simplicity for non-developers matters more and your scenarios stay short.
If the real pain is slow lead response (not tool price), model incremental gross profit with the lead recovery ROI calculator before you buy more seats.
Pricing sources
- n8n pricing — verified 2026-07-01
- Make pricing — verified 2026-06-12
FAQ
Is Make cheaper than n8n?
Yes. Make starts at $9/mo versus $26/mo for n8n (per month, 10,000 credits, billed annually). Over a year that is a $204 difference at entry tier.
Which is easier to use, n8n or Make?
Based on our scoring, n8n is easier to get started with (ease-of-use 3.8/5 vs 3.7/5).
Which has more features, n8n or Make?
n8n scores higher on feature depth (4.7/5). Key differentiators: Executions-based pricing: one execution = whole workflow run, any number of steps; 500+ integrations plus HTTP request node for anything else; Code nodes (JavaScript/Python) inside visual flows.
What is the 3-year TCO of n8n vs Make?
At ~10,000 units/mo on verified tiers, n8n is about $2,340 over 3 years ($65/mo) versus Make at $324 ($9/mo). Make saves roughly $2,016 across 3 years before add-ons. Volumes = tasks (Zapier) / credits (Make) / executions (n8n Cloud). Billing units differ — same numeric volume is not the same workload. n8n Community self-host is $0 for executions (VPS only); table shows Cloud.
Full reviews: n8n review · Make review
Related comparisons
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