ZAPIER VS MAKE VS N8N
Three no-code workflow automation platforms compared for solopreneurs and small businesses who need to connect their tools and automate repetitive tasks.
Zapier
Leading no-code automation platform connecting thousands of apps with AI
n8n
Open-source workflow automation with self-hosting option and AI capabilities
Make
Visual automation platform for building complex workflows and integrations
/// THE_VERDICT
Zapier wins for entrepreneurs with an 8.7 consensus score — its massive integration library of 7,000+ apps and dead-simple setup make it the safest choice for non-technical founders who need automation yesterday. Make earns 8.3 with significantly more powerful visual workflow building and better pricing for complex multi-step automations. n8n at 8.4 is the power user's dream with self-hosting options and unlimited customization, but its steeper learning curve makes it less suited for time-pressed entrepreneurs.
SCORE BREAKDOWN
DEEP DIVE
Zapier
Leading no-code automation platform connecting thousands of apps with AI
/// JUDGE_SUMMARIES
"Zapier dominates no-code automation with 8,500+ app integrations and the addition of Zapier Agents — autonomous AI teammates that reason, search, and execute multi-step goals — alongside Copilot for natural language workflow building and Canvas for visual system mapping. The per-task pricing model starting at $29.99/mo for Professional scales to $5,999/mo for 2 million tasks, making it increasingly expensive for high-volume automation compared to operations-based alternatives."
"Zapier makes it simple to connect apps and automate repetitive work with guided, no-code setup. Its AI-assisted builder helps you draft workflows quickly, but costs can climb as you scale task volume and multi-step automation."
"Zapier (2026) remains the king of connectivity, now reinvented as an 'AI Orchestration Platform.' With 7,000+ integrations and the new 'Zapier Central' for AI agents, it is the easiest way to inject AI into existing workflows, even if it carries a premium price tag."
/// STRENGTHS_WEAKNESSES
Entrepreneurs and businesses wanting to automate workflows across their app stack
n8n
Open-source workflow automation with self-hosting option and AI capabilities
/// JUDGE_SUMMARIES
"n8n offers the deepest automation capabilities of any workflow platform with 1,200+ integrations, native AI nodes for OpenAI, Anthropic Claude, Google Gemini, and local LLMs via Ollama, all available for free when self-hosted with unlimited executions. Cloud pricing starting at EUR24/mo for the Starter plan and jumping to EUR800/mo for Business with SSO makes the hosted option less compelling, but the self-hosted model delivers 70-90% cost savings for technically capable teams."
"n8n is a flexible automation platform for entrepreneurs who want control over logic, data, and execution—especially if you self-host. It’s powerful for custom workflows and AI-enabled steps, but setup and maintenance require technical comfort."
"n8n (2026) is the ultimate automation tool for technical entrepreneurs. Its fair-code model and native AI Agent nodes (included in all plans) make it the most powerful and cost-effective way to build complex, self-hosted AI workflows."
/// STRENGTHS_WEAKNESSES
Technical entrepreneurs who want maximum automation control with self-hosting and AI workflows
Make
Visual automation platform for building complex workflows and integrations
/// JUDGE_SUMMARIES
"Make excels at complex, multi-step automations with a superior visual scenario builder, native AI modules for OpenAI, Anthropic Claude, and Google Gemini, and an operations-based pricing model starting at $10.59/mo that delivers significantly better value at scale. The 2026 addition of unused operations rollover on paid plans saves $50-100/mo for seasonal businesses, though the steeper learning curve and mixed support reviews remain notable friction points."
"Make is a powerful visual automation platform that lets you build complex, multi-step scenarios with routing, filters, and data transformation. It rewards careful setup with flexible workflows, but the concepts and interface take time to learn."
"Make (2026) is the engineer's choice for automation. It has embraced AI agents and even added support for the Model Context Protocol (MCP), making it the most technically capable platform for building complex, reliable, and cost-effective AI workflows."
/// STRENGTHS_WEAKNESSES
Technical users and businesses needing complex, cost-effective workflow automation
PRICING COMPARISON
| Zapier | n8n | Make | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Tier | ✓ 100 tasks per month with 5 single-step Zaps | ✓ Free self-hosted; cloud free tier with limited executions | ✓ 1,000 operations per month on free plan |
| Pro Price | $20/mo | $20/mo cloud | $9/mo |
| Team / Enterprise | $69/mo | $50/mo cloud | $16/mo |
RELATED BATTLES
/// SYS_INFO Methodology & Disclosure
How we rate: Each AI model receives the same structured prompt asking it to evaluate each tool across profession-specific criteria on a 1-10 scale. Models rate independently — no model sees another's scores. Consensus score = average of all three judges. Agreement level = score spread.
Profession criteria: Tools are evaluated on criteria specific to entrepreneurs workflows, including quality, ease of use, pricing value, and domain-specific capabilities.
Affiliate disclosure: Links to tool signup pages may earn us a commission. This never influences AI ratings.