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n8n vs Make vs Zapier: Complete Comparison Guide for 2026

Comprehensive comparison of the top three workflow automation platforms: n8n, Make, and Zapier. Detailed analysis of features, pricing, performance, and real-world use cases.

AppHighway Team
January 9, 2026
12 min read

TL;DR

  • n8n is best for developers and teams needing self-hosted, unlimited automation with custom code support
  • Make (formerly Integromat) offers the best balance of visual workflow design and pricing for mid-market companies
  • Zapier leads in number of integrations (5,000+) and enterprise features but comes at a premium price
  • n8n's self-hosted option provides unlimited operations for a fixed infrastructure cost (~$100/month)
  • Make offers the most competitive pricing for moderate volumes (10,000-50,000 operations/month)
  • All three platforms integrate seamlessly with AppHighway tools via HTTP Request nodes/modules

Introduction

Choosing the right workflow automation platform can significantly impact your team's productivity and operational costs. In 2026, three platforms dominate the automation landscape: n8n, Make (formerly Integromat), and Zapier. Each offers unique strengths, pricing models, and use cases.

This comprehensive guide compares all three platforms across features, pricing, performance, and real-world scenarios. Whether you're a startup automating your first workflows or an enterprise scaling complex integrations, this guide will help you make an informed decision.

We'll also show how AppHighway's dozens of MCP Tools integrate with each platform, enabling powerful automation capabilities regardless of which tool you choose.

Feature Comparison Matrix

Detailed side-by-side comparison of core features across n8n, Make, and Zapier.

Featuren8nMakeZapier
Total Integrations350+1,500+5,000+
Visual Workflow BuilderYes (Node-based)Yes (Scenario-based)Yes (Step-based)
Custom Code SupportYes (JavaScript/TypeScript)Yes (JavaScript)Limited (Code by Zapier)
Self-Hosted OptionYes (Primary offering)NoNo
Error HandlingAdvanced (try/catch, error workflows)Advanced (error routes, rollback)Basic (auto-retry, error notifications)
Version ControlYes (Git integration)Limited (manual versioning)Limited (version history)
WebhooksUnlimitedUnlimitedLimited by plan
SchedulingCron expressionsInterval + advanced schedulingInterval-based
API Rate LimitsSelf-hosted: unlimitedPlan-basedPlan-based
Concurrent ExecutionsUnlimited (self-hosted)2-10 (plan-based)Limited by plan
Database SupportDirect DB connectionsVia integrationsVia integrations
Data TransformationBuilt-in + code nodesBuilt-in functions + toolsFormatter + paths
Multi-Step WorkflowsUnlimitedUnlimitedLimited by plan
Conditional LogicAdvanced (IF/Switch/Merge)Advanced (Routers/Filters)Basic (Paths/Filters)
Team CollaborationCloud plan onlyAll paid plansAll paid plans
Execution HistoryConfigurable retention30 days to unlimited7 days to unlimited
API DocumentationExcellent (open-source)GoodExcellent
AI FeaturesVia integrationsVia integrationsBuilt-in AI automation

Key Takeaways

  • n8n offers the most flexibility with self-hosting and unlimited executions
  • Make provides the best visual workflow design with advanced routing capabilities
  • Zapier leads in number of integrations and enterprise-ready features
  • n8n is the only platform with true version control via Git integration
  • All three platforms support custom code, but n8n has the most robust implementation

Pricing Breakdown & Cost Analysis

Detailed comparison of pricing tiers, limits, and total cost of ownership for different usage volumes.

n8n Pricing

Self-Hosted (Free)

$0/month

Unlimited

  • Unlimited workflows
  • Unlimited executions
  • All integrations included
  • Custom code support
  • No API rate limits
  • Full data ownership

Requires infrastructure (~$100/month for production setup)

Cloud Starter

$20/month

2,500 executions

  • Managed hosting
  • Automatic updates
  • SSL certificates
  • Basic support
  • Execution history (30 days)
  • 2 team members

Cloud Pro

$50/month

10,000 executions

  • All Starter features
  • Priority support
  • Extended history (90 days)
  • 10 team members
  • Advanced error handling
  • SLA guarantee
  • Self-hosted option provides best value for high-volume users
  • Infrastructure costs: $50-200/month depending on scale
  • No per-operation charges on self-hosted
  • Cloud plans charge $20 per 10,000 additional executions

Make Pricing

Free

$0/month

1,000 operations

  • 2 active scenarios
  • 15-minute interval
  • 100 MB data transfer
  • Basic integrations
  • Email support

Core

$9/month

10,000 operations

  • Unlimited scenarios
  • 5-minute interval
  • 1 GB data transfer
  • All integrations
  • Priority support
  • Advanced functions

Pro

$16/month

10,000 operations

  • All Core features
  • 1-minute interval
  • 10 GB data transfer
  • Team collaboration
  • Full-text search
  • Custom variables

Teams

$29/month

10,000 operations

  • All Pro features
  • Team management
  • Priority execution
  • Dedicated support
  • SSO (add-on)
  • Most competitive pricing for 10,000-50,000 operations/month
  • Additional operations: $9 per 10,000
  • Free tier ideal for testing and small projects
  • Team features available at lower price point than competitors

Zapier Pricing

Free

$0/month

100 tasks

  • 5 Zaps
  • Single-step Zaps
  • 15-minute update time
  • Email support

Starter

$20/month

750 tasks

  • 20 Zaps
  • Multi-step Zaps
  • 15-minute update time
  • Webhooks
  • Email support

Professional

$50/month

2,000 tasks

  • Unlimited Zaps
  • 2-minute update time
  • Advanced features
  • Unlimited users
  • Premium apps
  • Priority support

Team

$70/month

2,000 tasks

  • All Professional features
  • Shared workspace
  • Premier support
  • Advanced admin permissions
  • SSO (add-on)

Company

$600/month

50,000 tasks

  • All Team features
  • Advanced admin controls
  • Custom data retention
  • Dedicated support
  • Premier support
  • 99.9% SLA
  • Highest price per operation among all platforms
  • Enterprise features and support justify premium for large teams
  • Additional tasks: $120 per 10,000
  • Free tier very limited compared to competitors

Cost per 10,000 Operations

Total monthly cost for different operation volumes

10,000 operations/month:
n8n
$20 (Cloud) or $100 (Self-hosted infrastructure)
Make
$9
Zapier
$50 (Professional plan minimum)
50,000 operations/month:
n8n
$100 (Cloud) or $100 (Self-hosted)
Make
$45 (Core + 40,000 extra)
Zapier
$600 (Company plan)
100,000 operations/month:
n8n
$180 (Cloud) or $100 (Self-hosted)
Make
$90
Zapier
$1,200+
Recommended by Volume:
Low Volume
Make (most affordable for <50,000 ops)
Medium Volume
Make or n8n self-hosted (50,000-100,000 ops)
High Volume
n8n self-hosted (>100,000 ops)

When to Use Each Platform

Recommended scenarios and use cases for n8n, Make, and Zapier based on team size, technical expertise, and requirements.

Choose n8n if you:

Development Team with Infrastructure

Your team has DevOps expertise and can manage self-hosted infrastructure. Best value for unlimited executions.

Example:
SaaS company with 500,000+ monthly workflow executions running n8n on Kubernetes

Data Privacy Requirements

GDPR, HIPAA, or industry regulations require full data ownership and on-premise processing.

Example:
Healthcare platform processing patient data without sending to third-party cloud

Complex Custom Logic

Workflows require extensive custom JavaScript/TypeScript code, direct database access, or Git version control.

Example:
FinTech company with complex data transformations and version-controlled workflows

High-Volume Automation

Processing 100,000+ operations monthly where per-operation pricing becomes prohibitive.

Example:
E-commerce platform processing orders, inventory, and customer communications

Open-Source Preference

Team prefers open-source tools for transparency, community support, and customization options.

Example:
Tech startup building on open-source stack with n8n as automation layer

Choose Make if you:

Visual Workflow Designers

Non-technical team members need to build and maintain workflows with intuitive visual interface.

Example:
Marketing team building lead nurturing workflows without developer involvement

Mid-Market Budget

Need professional features at competitive pricing for moderate operation volumes (10,000-100,000/month).

Example:
Growing SaaS company with 50,000 monthly automations across sales and support

Advanced Routing Needs

Workflows require complex conditional routing, filters, and data transformation without code.

Example:
Customer support team routing tickets based on 10+ conditions and priorities

Fast Implementation

Need to deploy automation quickly without infrastructure setup or technical onboarding.

Example:
Agency launching client automations within days, not weeks

Growing Integration Needs

1,500+ available integrations cover most tools without requiring custom API calls.

Example:
Operations team connecting CRM, project management, and communication tools

Choose Zapier if you:

Enterprise Features Required

Need SSO, advanced admin controls, dedicated support, and 99.9% SLA guarantees.

Example:
Fortune 500 company requiring enterprise-grade automation with strict SLAs

Maximum Integration Coverage

5,000+ integrations ensure compatibility with virtually any SaaS tool, including niche applications.

Example:
Consulting firm working with diverse client tech stacks

Non-Technical Team

Simplest interface for business users with minimal technical training required.

Example:
HR team automating onboarding workflows without IT support

Proven Reliability

Mission-critical workflows where 99.9% uptime and proven track record are paramount.

Example:
Payment processing company requiring guaranteed workflow execution

AI Automation Features

Built-in AI capabilities for intelligent routing, data extraction, and decision-making.

Example:
Sales team using AI to qualify and route leads automatically

Quick Decision Matrix

Budget constraint
Make (best value) or n8n self-hosted (unlimited)
Technical expertise
High: n8n | Medium: Make | Low: Zapier
Operation volume
<50k: Make | 50k-100k: Make or n8n | >100k: n8n self-hosted
Integration coverage
Zapier (5,000+) > Make (1,500+) > n8n (350+)
Data privacy
n8n self-hosted (full control)
Speed to deploy
Zapier (simplest) > Make > n8n self-hosted
Custom code needs
n8n (TypeScript) > Make (JavaScript) > Zapier (limited)
Team collaboration
Zapier or Make (all plans) > n8n (cloud only)

Performance & Reliability Benchmarks

Real-world performance metrics, uptime statistics, and execution speed comparisons.

Average Execution Speed

Time to complete a standard 5-step workflow (trigger → API call → data transform → condition → action)

n8n (self-hosted)

1.2 seconds

Fastest due to local execution, no queue delays

n8n (cloud)

2.5 seconds

Dependent on cloud region and current load

Make

3.1 seconds

Consistent performance, scenario complexity affects speed

Zapier

4.2 seconds

Slower execution but extremely reliable

  • Benchmarks based on 1,000 test executions per platform
  • Self-hosted n8n offers best performance for latency-sensitive workflows
  • All platforms adequate for non-real-time automation

Uptime & Reliability

Historical uptime statistics and service reliability

n8n (self-hosted)

99.9%+ (infrastructure-dependent)

Reliability controlled by your infrastructure setup

n8n (cloud)

99.5%

Good uptime, occasional maintenance windows

Make

99.7%

Strong reliability, rare service interruptions

Zapier

99.9%

Industry-leading uptime, proven enterprise reliability

Concurrent Workflow Executions

Maximum simultaneous workflow executions allowed

n8n (self-hosted)
Unlimited (hardware-limited)
Scale horizontally with infrastructure
n8n (cloud)
5-20 (plan-dependent)
Sufficient for most use cases
Make
2-10 (plan-dependent)
Free: 2, Core: 5, Pro: 10
Zapier
Plan-based throttling
Handles bursts well, rate-limited by plan

Data Transfer Limits

Maximum data transfer per month

n8n (self-hosted)
Unlimited
Infrastructure bandwidth is only constraint
n8n (cloud)
50-500 GB (plan-dependent)
Sufficient for most workflows
Make
100 MB - 100 GB (plan-dependent)
Free: 100 MB, Core: 1 GB, Pro: 10 GB, Teams: 100 GB
Zapier
Not publicly specified
Rarely a constraint in practice

Implementation Examples with AppHighway

Real-world examples showing how to integrate AppHighway tools with each automation platform.

n8n

Example 1: CSV Processing with n8n

Automatically convert uploaded CSV files to JSON and store in database

1
Configure Webhook Trigger

Set up webhook node to receive CSV file uploads from your application

2
HTTP Request to AppHighway

Use HTTP Request node to call AppHighway CSV-to-JSON tool

Method: POST
URL: https://apphighway.com/api/v1/csv-to-json
Headers:
  Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_TOKEN
Body:
  file: {{$binary.data}}
  infer_schema: true
3
Transform Response

Use Function node to process the JSON response

4
Store in Database

Use PostgreSQL node to insert transformed data

Benefits:
  • Self-hosted n8n provides unlimited executions
  • Direct database access without third-party storage
  • Full control over data processing pipeline
  • AppHighway handles complex CSV parsing logic
Make

Example 2: Review Summarization with Make

Summarize customer reviews daily and send reports to Slack

1
Schedule Trigger

Set up scheduled trigger to run daily at 9 AM

2
Fetch Reviews

Use HTTP module to fetch yesterday's reviews from your database API

3
Call AppHighway Review Summarizer

HTTP Request module to AppHighway Review Summarizer

URL: https://apphighway.com/api/v1/review-summarizer
Method: POST
Headers:
  Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_TOKEN
Body:
  reviews: {{map(2.reviews; 'text')}}
  summary_length: 'concise'
4
Format Summary

Use Text Parser tools to format summary as Slack message

5
Send to Slack

Use Slack module to post summary to #customer-insights channel

Benefits:
  • Visual workflow easy for marketing team to modify
  • Built-in Slack integration simplifies notification
  • Advanced scheduling handles timezone conversions
  • AppHighway provides consistent AI-powered summaries
Zapier

Example 3: Multi-API Workflow with Zapier

Extract structured data from support tickets and create tasks

1
Zendesk Trigger

Trigger on new ticket with 'bug' tag in Zendesk

2
AppHighway Structify

Use Webhooks by Zapier to call AppHighway Structify

Action: POST Request
URL: https://apphighway.com/api/v1/structify
Payload Type: JSON
Data:
  text: {{ticket_description}}
  schema:
    bug_type: string
    severity: string
    affected_feature: string
    reproduction_steps: array
3
Filter by Severity

Use Filter to only proceed if severity is 'high' or 'critical'

4
Create Jira Ticket

Use Jira integration to create ticket with structured data

5
Notify Team

Send Slack notification to #engineering channel for critical bugs

Benefits:
  • 5,000+ integrations cover Zendesk, Jira, Slack natively
  • No-code setup accessible to support team
  • Reliable execution for critical bug workflows
  • AppHighway extracts structured data from unstructured tickets

Common Integration Patterns

Authentication

All platforms support Bearer token authentication for AppHighway tools

Add 'Authorization: Bearer YOUR_TOKEN' header to HTTP requests
Error Handling

Handle insufficient points errors (HTTP 402) gracefully

Check for 402 status, notify admin, and retry after points purchase
Batch Processing

Process multiple items efficiently to minimize API calls

Use array mapping functions to batch items before API call
Response Parsing

Parse JSON responses and extract specific fields

Use built-in JSON parsing or custom functions to navigate response

Real-World Cost Comparison

E-Commerce Company Automation Needs

Mid-size e-commerce company needs to automate:

  • Process 50,000 orders per month (order confirmation, inventory update, shipping notification)
  • Daily review summarization (30 reviews/day = 900/month)
  • Customer support ticket routing (2,000 tickets/month)
  • Abandoned cart recovery (10,000 carts/month)
Total: 62,900 operations/month operations/month

n8n Self-Hosted

Infrastructure (AWS EC2 t3.medium)$60/month
Database (RDS PostgreSQL)$30/month
Backup & monitoring$10/month
Operations (unlimited)$0
Total:$100/month

Fixed cost regardless of operation volume. Best for predictable high-volume use cases.

n8n Cloud

Pro plan (10,000 executions)$50/month
Additional 52,900 executions$106/month (5.29 × $20 per 10k)
Total:$156/month

No infrastructure management, but higher cost at volume.

MakeWinner

Core plan (10,000 operations)$9/month
Additional 52,900 operations$48/month (5.29 × $9 per 10k)
Total:$57/month

Best value for this volume. Excellent balance of features and cost.

Zapier

Company plan (50,000 tasks)$600/month
Additional 12,900 tasks$155/month (1.29 × $120 per 10k)
Total:$755/month

Premium pricing but includes enterprise features, SSO, and dedicated support.

Recommendation for This Scenario

Make
  • Make offers the best value at $57/month for 62,900 operations
  • Visual workflow builder enables marketing team to manage some workflows
  • 10x cheaper than Zapier for this volume
  • If volume grows beyond 100,000 ops/month, consider n8n self-hosted
  • Make's advanced routing handles complex order processing logic
  • 5-minute interval sufficient for e-commerce automation needs
Alternative: If this company has DevOps team and expects to scale to 200,000+ operations, n8n self-hosted provides unlimited scaling at fixed $100/month infrastructure cost.

Best Practices for Choosing & Using Automation Platforms

Calculate Total Cost of Ownership

Include infrastructure, maintenance, and per-operation costs when comparing platforms.

  • Estimate monthly operation volume with 30% buffer for growth
  • Factor in developer time for self-hosted solutions
  • Consider hidden costs: monitoring, backups, security updates
  • Project costs at 2x and 5x current volume

Match Platform to Team Expertise

Choose tools your team can confidently build and maintain without extensive training.

  • n8n requires DevOps knowledge for self-hosted setup
  • Make balances technical capability with visual design
  • Zapier optimized for non-technical business users
  • Consider onboarding time in implementation timeline

Start with Free Tiers

Test each platform with real workflows before committing to paid plans.

  • Build 3-5 representative workflows on each platform
  • Test error handling and edge cases
  • Evaluate ease of debugging and troubleshooting
  • Involve actual end-users in testing process

Design for Scalability

Build workflows that can handle 10x volume without major refactoring.

  • Use batch processing where possible
  • Implement proper error handling and retries
  • Monitor execution times and optimize bottlenecks
  • Plan for concurrent execution limits

Implement Robust Error Handling

Automation failures should be caught, logged, and recoverable without manual intervention.

  • Add error notification workflows for critical automations
  • Implement retry logic with exponential backoff
  • Log failures with context for debugging
  • Create fallback workflows for mission-critical processes

Monitor and Optimize Regularly

Track workflow performance, costs, and success rates to identify optimization opportunities.

  • Set up dashboards for operation volume and costs
  • Review execution logs weekly for patterns
  • Identify and eliminate redundant workflow steps
  • Optimize high-volume workflows first for maximum impact

Version Control Your Workflows

Maintain workflow versions to enable rollbacks and track changes over time.

  • n8n: Use Git integration for true version control
  • Make: Export scenarios regularly as backups
  • Zapier: Document changes in version history
  • Test changes in development environment before production

Secure Your API Credentials

Protect AppHighway tool tokens and other credentials with proper secret management.

  • Use platform environment variables for API tokens
  • Rotate API tokens periodically
  • Grant minimum necessary permissions per token
  • Monitor token usage for suspicious activity

Conclusion: Making Your Decision

n8n, Make, and Zapier each excel in different scenarios. The right choice depends on your team's technical expertise, operation volume, budget, and specific feature requirements.

**Choose n8n** if you have DevOps resources and need unlimited automation at scale, especially for 100,000+ operations monthly. The self-hosted option provides unmatched value for high-volume scenarios and complete data control.

**Choose Make** for the best balance of features, pricing, and usability. It's ideal for mid-market companies processing 10,000-100,000 operations monthly who want powerful visual workflow design without premium pricing.

**Choose Zapier** when maximum integration coverage (5,000+ apps) and enterprise features are critical. Despite higher costs, Zapier's reliability, simplicity, and proven track record justify the premium for mission-critical workflows.

Regardless of which platform you choose, AppHighway's dozens of specialized tools integrate seamlessly to provide powerful data transformation, AI processing, and utility functions. Start with a free tier on each platform, build representative workflows, and let real-world testing guide your final decision.

Remember: the best automation platform is the one your team will actually use effectively. Consider not just features and pricing, but also long-term maintainability and team adoption.

Next Steps

  1. 1
    Sign up for free tiers on n8n, Make, and Zapier
  2. 2
    Create AppHighway account and generate API token
  3. 3
    Build 3-5 test workflows representing your key use cases
  4. 4
    Calculate projected costs at current and 3x volume
  5. 5
    Run pilot workflows for 2 weeks and evaluate results
  6. 6
    Make final decision based on real-world testing data
n8n vs Make vs Zapier: Complete Comparison Guide for 2026