--- title: "Make vs n8n: Which is Better in 2026? | App Stack Builder" description: "Make vs n8n compared for 2026 — pricing, free tiers, features, pros & cons. See which automation & workflows tool is the better fit for your startup." source: https://appstackbuilder.com/compare/make-vs-n8n retrieved: 2026-09-02 --- Automation & WorkflowsResearched · June 2026 # Make vs n8n: Which is Better in 2026? Make and n8n are two of the most powerful workflow-automation platforms of 2026, both far more capable than a linear tool like Zapier for complex flows — but they differ in who runs them and who builds them. Make (formerly Integromat) is a hosted, visual no-code platform with a drag-and-drop canvas, advanced branching, and operation-based pricing. n8n is a fair-code, self-hostable platform that sits between no-code and code, with a node editor, code steps, and the deepest native AI/agent tooling in the category. The core trade-off is hosted visual no-code (Make) versus self-hostable, developer-leaning, AI-native automation (n8n). Both handle branching, iteration, and data transformation well. Below: hosting & data control, builder & complexity, AI capabilities, pricing, and how to choose. Quick verdict Pick Make when you want a powerful visual no-code canvas, broad hosted convenience, and operation-based pricing that scales gently — ideal for teams that need complex branching without managing infrastructure or writing code. Pick n8n when you want to self-host for data control, drop into code when needed, or build sophisticated AI agents — its 2026 LangChain integration, 70+ AI nodes, and persistent agent memory are unmatched, and self-hosting makes high-volume automation essentially a flat server cost. In short: Make for hosted visual power, n8n for control, code, and AI-native workflows. ## Make vs n8n — Side by Side | | Make | n8n | | -------------- | ---------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------- | | Category | Automation & Workflows | Automation & Workflows | | Pricing | Free · paid from $9/mo | Free · paid from $20/mo | | Starting price | Free tier available | Free tier available | | Free tier | ✓ | ✓ | | Rating | 4.5 | 4.6 | | Best for | Automation & Workflows — no-code, integrations | Automation & Workflows — open-source, self-hosted | ## Make vs n8n: The Details That Matter ### 01Hosting & data control n8n can be self-hosted, so your workflow data and credentials stay inside your own environment (VPC) — it encrypts stored credentials, lets you configure execution retention, and manages permissions. Note it’s fair-code (Sustainable Use License), source-available with some commercial-use restrictions, not OSI open-source. There’s also n8n Cloud from \~$20/month if you don’t want to run it. Make is a fully hosted, managed platform — no infrastructure to run, but your automation data flows through Make’s cloud. That’s the convenience-vs-control trade: zero ops with Make, full data ownership with self-hosted n8n. n8n can be self-hosted for full data control (fair-code, not OSI open-source); Make is fully hosted — zero ops but data runs through its cloud. ### 02Builder & complexity Make’s visual scenario builder is genuinely powerful — routers, iterators, and aggregators let you construct complex branching and data transformations entirely without code, all on a drag-and-drop canvas. The trade is a steeper learning curve than Zapier. n8n sits between no-code and code: a node-based editor for visual building, with the option to drop into JavaScript/code steps when a flow outgrows the nodes. That makes it especially comfortable for technical users who want an escape hatch. Make is powerful pure no-code (routers/iterators/aggregators); n8n is node-based with a code escape hatch for technical users. ### 03AI capabilities (2026) n8n is the AI-native leader: n8n 2.0 (January 2026) added native LangChain integration, 70+ AI nodes, and persistent agent memory — no competing platform matches that depth for building multi-agent systems and sophisticated AI workflows. Make has invested in AI too — its Maia assistant builds scenarios from natural-language prompts, and Make AI Agents handle autonomous tasks — which is excellent for accessible AI automation, but n8n goes deeper for developer-built agentic systems. n8n leads AI depth (LangChain, 70+ AI nodes, agent memory); Make’s Maia + AI Agents make AI accessible but go less deep. ### 04Pricing n8n self-hosted is effectively a flat server fee regardless of execution volume — unbeatable for very high-volume automation (e.g. a VPS for tens of dollars a year handling 10K+ runs). n8n Cloud starts around $20/month if you prefer managed. Make uses operation-based pricing that’s very economical at volume — its Basic tier starts around $9/month for 10,000 operations, far gentler than per-task tools. You pay per module run, with no infrastructure to manage. n8n self-hosted is a flat server cost (cheapest at high volume); Make’s operation-based plans are economical and fully managed. ### 05How to choose Choose Make if you want hosted, no-code visual power with strong branching and don’t want to manage servers or write code — a great fit for ops teams building complex flows. Choose n8n if you need data to stay in your own environment, want to drop into code, or are building AI agents — its self-hosting and 2026 AI tooling make it the developer and AI-automation favorite. ## Pros & Cons ![Make](https://www.google.com/s2/favicons?domain=make.com&sz=128) [Make](https://appstackbuilder.com/tools/make) * ✓Powerful visual builder * ✓Great value (ops-based) * ✓Advanced branching/logic * ✓Generous free tier * ✗Steeper learning curve than Zapier * ✗Fewer integrations than Zapier ![n8n](https://www.google.com/s2/favicons?domain=n8n.io&sz=128) [n8n](https://appstackbuilder.com/tools/n8n) * ✓Self-hostable & developer-friendly * ✓Native AI/agent automation * ✓No per-task pricing self-hosted * ✓Code when you need it * ✗Self-host needs ops * ✗Smaller integration library than Zapier ## Key Features Compared ### Make * ✓Visual scenario builder * ✓1,000 ops/month * ✓Branching & filters * ✓1,000+ app integrations ### n8n * ✓Self-host free * ✓Node-based editor + code * ✓Native AI/agent nodes * ✓Unlimited workflows ### Choose Make if… * ✓You want a powerful visual no-code canvas with routers, iterators, and aggregators. * ✓You prefer a fully hosted platform with zero infrastructure to manage. * ✓You value operation-based pricing that stays economical as volume grows. * ✓You want accessible AI automation via Maia and Make AI Agents without writing code. [Make review & pricing ](https://appstackbuilder.com/tools/make) ### Choose n8n if… * ✓You want to self-host so workflow data and credentials stay in your own environment. * ✓You’re technical and want to drop into code when a flow outgrows the visual nodes. * ✓You’re building sophisticated AI agents and want native LangChain, 70+ AI nodes, and agent memory. * ✓You run high automation volume and want a flat server cost instead of per-run pricing. [n8n review & pricing ](https://appstackbuilder.com/tools/n8n) ## Frequently Asked Questions Is Make better than n8n?⌄ Pick Make when you want a powerful visual no-code canvas, broad hosted convenience, and operation-based pricing that scales gently — ideal for teams that need complex branching without managing infrastructure or writing code. Pick n8n when you want to self-host for data control, drop into code when needed, or build sophisticated AI agents — its 2026 LangChain integration, 70+ AI nodes, and persistent agent memory are unmatched, and self-hosting makes high-volume automation essentially a flat server cost. In short: Make for hosted visual power, n8n for control, code, and AI-native workflows. What is the difference between Make and n8n?⌄ Make — Visual automation platform (formerly Integromat) with powerful branching and a generous operations-based free tier. n8n — Open-source, self-hostable workflow automation with native AI/agent nodes — fair-code and developer-friendly. Both are automation & workflows tools; the comparison table above breaks down pricing, free tiers, and what each is best for. Make vs n8n: which is cheaper?⌄ Make pricing: Free · paid from $9/mo. n8n pricing: Free · paid from $20/mo. Confirm current pricing on each tool's official site, as plans change. Which is rated higher, Make or n8n?⌄ In our catalog, Make rates 4.5 out of 5 and n8n rates 4.6 out of 5, so n8n has a slight edge on reviews. Is n8n or Make better for AI automation?⌄ n8n, for depth — n8n 2.0 (January 2026) added native LangChain integration, 70+ AI nodes, and persistent agent memory, which no competing platform matches for building multi-agent systems. Make’s Maia assistant and AI Agents make AI automation accessible without code, but n8n goes further for developer-built agentic workflows. Can I self-host n8n but not Make?⌄ Correct. n8n is fair-code (source-available) and self-hostable, so your workflow data and credentials can stay in your own environment; Make is a fully hosted platform only. Note n8n is not OSI open-source — its Sustainable Use License includes some commercial-use restrictions. Which is cheaper, Make or n8n?⌄ At high volume, self-hosted n8n — it’s essentially a flat server fee no matter how many automations run, so a cheap VPS can handle large workloads. Make’s operation-based pricing (from \~$9/month for 10,000 operations) is very economical and fully managed, making it cheaper than per-task tools while avoiding any ops burden. Is Make easier to use than n8n?⌄ For non-developers, generally yes — Make is pure no-code with a visual canvas, while n8n leans toward technical users with its node editor and code steps. That said, Make’s builder has a steeper learning curve than Zapier, and n8n’s code escape hatch is a real advantage once flows get complex. Research & sources · last verified June 2026 * [Zapier vs Make vs n8n 2026 (Digital Applied)](https://www.digitalapplied.com/blog/zapier-vs-make-vs-n8n-2026-automation-comparison) * [Make vs n8n vs Zapier detailed guide 2026 (Intuz)](https://www.intuz.com/blog/make-vs-n8n-vs-zapier-detailed-comparison) * [n8n vs Make vs Zapier 2026 (Digidop)](https://www.digidop.com/blog/n8n-vs-make-vs-zapier) * [Automation tool comparison 2026 (Automation Atlas)](https://automationatlas.io/guides/automation-tool-comparison-2026/) See more options in our guide to the [best automation & workflows tools for startups](https://appstackbuilder.com/categories/automation). ## Still not sure which to pick? Get a free, AI-powered tech stack — including the best automation & workflows pick for your budget and team — in 60 seconds. [Build my stack free ](https://appstackbuilder.com/)