n8n vs Make.com (2026)
The Complete Comparison for Workflow Automation
Overview
Two platforms define the workflow automation space in 2026: n8n and Make.com. Both connect your apps and handle repetitive tasks, but they serve very different users. n8n is built for developers and technical teams who want maximum control, while Make.com targets business users who want results without touching code. This guide covers every angle n8n pricing, Make.com pricing, current n8n deals, AI capabilities, and a clear recommendation for each type of buyer.
What Is n8n?
n8n started as a side project in Berlin in 2019 and has grown into one of the most respected open-source automation platforms in the world. By August 2025, its valuation reached $2.3 billion with over $40 million in annual revenue. Enterprise clients include Vodafone and Delivery Hero.
- Open-source and self-hostable with a free Community Edition on GitHub
- Charges per complete workflow execution, not per individual step
- 1,200+ official integrations plus 2,900+ community-built nodes
- Native JavaScript and Python support inside any workflow node
- Leading AI automation capabilities: agents, RAG systems, multi-agent orchestration
- Active community of 40,000+ members and 45,000+ GitHub stars
- Startup deal offering 50% off the Business tier for qualifying companies
What Is Make.com?
Make.com formerly Integromat until its 2022 rebrand is a cloud-only automation platform built for marketers, operations teams, and business users who want to automate without writing any code. The platform processes over 100 million operations monthly across 180+ countries.
- Drag-and-drop visual canvas with animated data flows for immediate feedback
- 3,000+ maintained native integrations covering mainstream and niche business apps
- Credit-based pricing where each module step consumes at least one credit
- New users can build and launch their first automation within minutes
- AI Agents introduced in April 2025 with text categorization and summarization
- 24/7 priority support and enterprise-grade compliance on the Enterprise tier
- Exclusively cloud-hosted, no self-hosting option is available under any plan
Feature Comparison
The table below covers the key differences between n8n and Make.com across hosting, pricing model, integrations, AI, and flexibility.
| Feature | n8n | Make.com |
| Hosting | Cloud + Free self-hosted | Cloud only |
| Ease of Use | Moderate (technical users) | High (no code needed) |
| Native Integrations | 1,200+ official | 3,000+ maintained apps |
| AI Capabilities | Advanced agents, RAG, multi-agent | Basic text and document tools |
| Custom Code | JavaScript & Python (all plans) | JavaScript (Enterprise only) |
| Pricing Model | Per workflow execution | Per step / credit |
| Free Option | Community Edition (unlimited) | 1,000 credits/month (2 scenarios) |
| Self-Hosting | Yes — full data control | No |
| Startup Deal | 50% off Business plan | None |
| Scalability | Unlimited when self-hosted | Costs rise with volume |
AI Automation Capabilities
This is the sharpest difference between the two platforms in 2026. n8n leads the market in AI-native automation while Make.com handles simpler prompt-based tasks well.
n8n AI Features
- Dedicated AI Agent node with memory, tool reasoning, and multi-step planning
- Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) system support for knowledge-based agents
- Multi-agent orchestration — multiple AI agents working in parallel workflows
- MCP (Model Context Protocol) integration for connecting external AI tools
- Over 6,000 community-built AI workflow templates ready to deploy
- AI Workflow Builder (Beta) converts plain language into complete automations
Make.com AI Features
- Text categorization and sentiment detection inside scenarios
- Language identification and content translation modules
- Document data extraction for invoices, forms, and structured files
- Content summarization — useful for email triage and feed monitoring
- AI Agents introduced April 2025, but limited to sequential, single-agent patterns
Self-Hosting and Data Control
n8n can be self-hosted for free using its Community Edition. Teams with basic DevOps capacity run it on a VPS costing $6 to $40 per month and retain full control over data residency, access permissions, and compliance. This is essential for regulated industries, government environments, GDPR-sensitive operations, and healthcare.
Make.com cannot be self-hosted under any plan. All workflow data, execution history, and credentials are stored on Make’s cloud infrastructure. If your organization requires on-premise deployment, a private VPC, or an air-gapped environment, Make is not a viable option.
n8n Pricing
n8n pricing splits into two paths: self-hosted (free to use, you pay for servers) and cloud-managed (flat monthly rate). The platform charges per complete workflow execution a 10-step workflow running 100 times counts as 100 executions in n8n versus 1,000 operations in Make.com. At 80,000 operations per month, a team would pay roughly $720 per year on n8n Pro versus $3,500 to $7,000 per year on Zapier.
n8n Cloud Plans
- Starter :$24/month (or ~$20/month billed annually). 2,500 executions. Best for individuals and small production teams.
- Pro :$60/month (or ~$50/month billed annually). 10,000 executions. For growing teams with higher needs.
- Business :$800/month. SSO, version control, RBAC, and collaboration tools for companies under 100 employees.
- Enterprise :Custom pricing. Unlimited executions, on-premises deployment, and dedicated SLA support.
n8n Cloud discontinued its permanent free plan. All cloud tiers now require payment, with a 14-day free trial available on Starter and Pro.
Make.com Pricing
Make.com uses a credit-based model where each module execution consumes at least one credit. A two-step workflow uses 2 credits per run. A five-step scenario uses 5 credits. On the free plan’s 1,000 monthly credits, that equals roughly 200 workflow runs — enough for testing, not for sustained business use.
Make.com Plans
- Free — $0/month. 1,000 credits/month, 2 active scenarios. Testing only.
- Core — $10.59/month (annual). 10,000 credits/month. Entry point for individual use.
- Pro — $18.82/month (annual). Priority execution and custom variables added.
- Teams — $34.12/month (annual). Team roles, management, and access controls.
- Enterprise — Custom pricing based on volume and compliance requirements.
Side-by-Side Pricing Table
| Platform | Plan | Monthly | Annual | Executions / Credits | Best For |
| n8n | Community (Self-hosted) | Free | Free | Unlimited | Developers with a server |
| n8n | Starter (Cloud) | $24/mo | ~$20/mo | 2,500 executions | Individuals, small teams |
| n8n | Pro (Cloud) | $60/mo | ~$50/mo | 10,000 executions | Growing teams |
| n8n | Business (Cloud) | $800/mo | Contact sales | High volume + SSO | Companies under 100 staff |
| n8n | Startup Deal | 50% off Business | 50% off Business | Business features | Startups under 20 staff |
| Make.com | Free | $0 | $0 | 1,000 credits/month | Testing only |
| Make.com | Core | $10.59/mo | $10.59/mo | 10,000 credits | Light individual use |
| Make.com | Pro | $18.82/mo | $18.82/mo | Priority execution | Small teams |
| Make.com | Teams | $34.12/mo | $34.12/mo | Team management | Collaborative teams |
| Make.com | Enterprise | Custom | Custom | Custom credits | Large organizations |
n8n Deals and Ways to Save
Several legitimate routes exist to reduce what you pay for n8n in 2026:
Annual Billing
Switching from monthly to annual billing saves approximately 17% across Starter, Pro, and Business plans. On Pro, that is roughly $120 saved per year with no change in features.
Startup Plan — 50% Off Business
Companies with fewer than 20 employees and under $5 million in funding qualify for 50% off the Business plan. This unlocks SSO, RBAC, version control, unlimited executions, and advanced AI tools at half price. One of the most valuable n8n deals for early-stage teams — valid for one year or longer while requirements are met.
14-Day Free Trial
Starter and Pro cloud plans include a 14-day free trial with no credit card required. Self-hosted Business and Enterprise plans also have a trial period for full feature evaluation.
Community Edition — Always Free
The Community Edition is free forever for self-hosted use. With managed hosting providers starting around $2.99 to $6.99 per month, teams run unlimited automations at a fraction of any cloud subscription cost.
Partner and Platform Discounts
Platforms like JoinSecret periodically offer n8n promo codes worth up to 20% off annual plans. Freelance Stack has offered 30% off for 12 months through an exclusive partnership deal. Checking these before subscribing is worthwhile.
Pros and Cons
| n8n Pros | Make.com Pros |
| ✔ Free to self-host with unlimited executions | ✔ No code needed — anyone can start immediately |
| ✔ Charges per workflow run, not per step | ✔ 3,000+ plug-and-play integrations |
| ✔ Native JavaScript and Python in all workflows | ✔ Visual canvas makes data flows immediately clear |
| ✔ Full data ownership when self-hosted | ✔ Fastest time-to-launch for standard automations |
| ✔ Best AI agent platform in 2026 (RAG, multi-agent) | ✔ Zero server maintenance — fully managed cloud |
| ✔ 50% off startup deal for companies under 20 staff | ✔ Broad template library for popular use cases |
| n8n Cons | Make.com Cons |
| ✘ Steeper learning curve for non-developers | ✘ Cannot be self-hosted — data lives on Make’s servers |
| ✘ Self-hosting requires ongoing DevOps effort | ✘ Costs spike sharply at high operation volumes |
| ✘ Cloud execution caps hit polling workflows fast | ✘ Custom code restricted to Enterprise plan only |
| ✘ Interface less polished than Make or Zapier | ✘ AI tools are basic compared to n8n in 2026 |
Which Platform Is Right for You?
Choose n8n if you:
- Have a developer or technical resource who can manage setup and maintenance
- Need self-hosting for data privacy, GDPR compliance, or cost control at scale
- Are building complex, AI-powered, or high-volume workflows
- Need to integrate with internal APIs, legacy systems, or niche tools
- Qualify for the 50% startup deal on the Business plan
- Operate in a regulated environment requiring audit logs and data sovereignty
Choose Make.com if you:
- Have a non-technical team that needs automation without writing any code
- Want to connect mainstream SaaS tools quickly with plug-and-play integrations
- Run low-to-moderate volume workflows where credit-based pricing stays affordable
- Prefer a fully managed cloud platform with zero infrastructure overhead
- Need to launch automations within hours rather than days
- Value a broad visual template library for marketing and operations tasks
Final Verdict
n8n and Make.com serve different stages of the automation journey. Make.com is the better on-ramp visually polished, fast to deploy, and genuinely accessible to people without technical backgrounds. n8n is where automation matures: powerful, cost-efficient at scale, and dominant for AI-native and developer-led workflows.
The pattern that plays out across thousands of teams is consistent: they start on Make.com, hit its complexity ceiling or face escalating costs as volume grows, then migrate to n8n self-hosted and reduce their bills substantially while gaining flexibility. That trajectory tells you where each platform is strongest.
For non-technical teams with straightforward needs and a budget under $35 per month, Make.com is the right choice today. For developers, data-heavy pipelines, AI agent systems, or any team that values data ownership, n8n particularly the self-hosted Community Edition paired with the startup deal or annual billing offers unmatched value in 2026.
