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Make.com vs n8n: Full Comparison in 2025
- Jarvy Sanchez
- Oct 8
- 6 min read
Make.com and n8n are both automation platforms used to connect applications and automate workflows. Make.com provides a cloud-hosted environment with a visual workflow builder. n8n is an open-source platform that can be self-hosted or run in the cloud, offering custom scripting and full control over deployment.
Let’s compare their features, pricing, and use cases to help you choose the platform that best fits your needs.
Why Compare These Two?
The no-code and low-code automation space has matured significantly. Platforms like Make.com and n8n now handle more than simple integrations, supporting complex workflows, API orchestration, and internal tooling. Their differences in architecture, hosting, and pricing make them suitable for different use cases.
Make.com is a cloud-first platform with a visual builder and prebuilt integrations, suited for teams that need quick setup and low maintenance. n8n is open-source, supports self-hosting, and provides advanced scripting capabilities, offering more control but requiring technical resources.
So, deciding between the two depends on your workflow complexity, hosting needs, budget, and how you plan to maintain the solution over time.
Key Differences at a Glance
Aspect | n8n | |
Approach | Cloud-based SaaS | Open-source with cloud or self-hosting |
Ease of Use | Visual, beginner-friendly | Technical, developer-oriented |
Pricing Model | Per-operation billing | Per-execution (cloud) or free (self-hosted) |
Hosting | Managed cloud only | Fully self-hostable |
AI Support | Built-in AI integrations | Customizable with LangChain, APIs, and custom nodes |
Target Users | Marketing teams, SMBs, startups | Developers, technical teams, privacy-focused orgs |
Philosophy & Target Users
Make.com focuses on simplicity and accessibility. Its visual editor makes it easy to design workflows using a drag-and-drop canvas. The platform targets non-technical teams that want to automate SaaS tools quickly without coding.
n8n, on the other hand, was built with developers and technical users in mind. It’s open-source, runs on your own infrastructure if needed, and integrates tightly with code-based logic. It appeals to teams that value control, data ownership, and extensibility over simplicity.
Pricing Model Overview
Make.com uses an operation-based model where each module execution counts as a credit.
Free: $0/month - up to 1,000 credits/month
Core: $10.59/month - 10,000 credits/month
Teams: $34.12/month - 10,000 credits/month
Costs scale with the number of credits and operations, and high-volume workflows can increase monthly expenses.
n8n offers two main pricing approaches: cloud-hosted and self-hosted.
Starter: $20/month billed annually (hosted by n8n)
Pro: $50/month billed annually (hosted by n8n)
Business: $667/month billed annually (self-hosted)
Self-hosted plans give teams full control over infrastructure but require managing maintenance, scaling, and backups. Cloud-hosted plans reduce operational overhead but include fixed subscription costs.
Hosting & Data Control
Make.com operates fully in the cloud. Data passes through its servers, which meet SOC 2 and GDPR compliance, but users have no control over where data resides or how it is processed.
n8n can be self-hosted or run in the cloud, offering full control over data location, privacy, and processing. The challenge is responsibility for maintenance, scaling, backups, and uptime.
Feature Comparison
1. Workflow Design & Interface
Make provides a visual drag-and-drop editor with a node-based canvas. It shows clear error states and includes a debugger that displays input and output at each step. This simplifies building and troubleshooting straightforward workflows.
n8n uses a graph-based interface where nodes connect via input/output pins.
Many configurations require manual JSON editing. This adds complexity but allows precise control, such as custom headers or chaining asynchronous tasks.
2. Integration Ecosystem
Make.com: Over 2,000 native integrations, mostly maintained connectors for SaaS applications such as Slack, Airtable, and Shopify.
n8n: Supports integrations with over 1,000 apps and services, including core nodes and community-built connectors. It also allows direct API calls, which makes it highly flexible for custom endpoints.
Make offers a larger library of prebuilt integrations. n8n offers more flexibility for custom or uncommon endpoints.
3. Logic, Scripting & Flexibility
Make supports basic conditional logic and data mapping. More complex transformations often require external services.
n8n offers a Function node for JavaScript, enabling custom logic and data manipulation. Custom nodes can be built in TypeScript and integrated into workflows. This allows combining multiple APIs and processes in one workflow.
4. Error Handling, Monitoring & Debugging
Make provides execution logs, error messages, and configurable retries. Email alerts can be set for failures.
n8n’s error handling is manual. Logs are available in the UI or via stdout. Retry logic must be added in the workflow. Self-hosting allows integration with monitoring tools such as Datadog or Sentry.
5. Collaboration & Team Features
Make offers role-based access, shared workflows, and environment separation in higher-tier plans. Version history is limited.
n8n Cloud provides team management and audit logs. Self-hosted n8n workflows can be version-controlled via JSON exports and Git, enabling integration into CI/CD processes.
Hosting & Deployment Options
Self-hosting with n8n
n8n can be deployed on various environments, including a VPS, AWS ECS, or Kubernetes. Official Docker images are updated regularly. Self-hosting gives you control over:
Data location and residency.
Network and security policies.
Scaling (for example, with Kubernetes autoscaling).
SSL, authentication, and logging.
This approach requires managing updates, backups, and infrastructure performance. Without sufficient technical resources, this can be a constraint.
Managed Cloud in Make
Make provides a cloud-hosted service where the platform handles infrastructure, scaling, updates, and security. This removes the need for infrastructure management and allows teams to focus on building workflows.
The limitation is reduced control. Runtime customization is not available, and changes to pricing or features depend on Make’s roadmap.
Pricing & Cost Structures
Make.com pricing:
Plan | Price per Month | Credits Included | Notes |
Free | $0 | 1,000 credits | Basic access |
Core | $10.59 | 10,000 credits | Entry paid plan |
Pro | $18.82 | 10,000 credits | Recommended for growing teams |
Teams | $34.12 | 10,000 credits | Designed for collaborative use |
Enterprise | Custom | Custom | Contact sales |
n8n pricing:
Plan | Price/M (Billed Annually) | Hosting Type | Notes |
Starter | $20 | Hosted by n8n | Entry level plan |
Pro | $50 | Hosted by n8n | Includes additional features |
Business | $667 | Self hosted | Full infrastructure control |
Enterprise | Custom | Hosted or Self hosted | Contact sales for details |
AI, Agents & Advanced Use Cases
Both platforms support AI automation, but they differ in approach:
Make:
Pre-built modules for OpenAI, Google AI, Anthropic and others.
Quick setup for text generation, classification and summarization.
Limited flexibility for custom prompting or chaining models.
n8n:
Native LangChain support.
Connects to vector databases such as Pinecone and Weaviate.
Builds retrieval-augmented generation pipelines.
Supports autonomous agents and custom JavaScript logic.
Full API access for tailored AI workflows.
Make is quicker to deploy for standard AI tasks, while n8n offers deeper customization for advanced use cases.
User Experience & Learning Curve
Make is designed for non-technical users. Its intuitive interface, templates, and tooltips let you build workflows quickly with a low learning curve.
n8n assumes familiarity with APIs, JSON, and basic programming. New users may require some time to grasp concepts such as item linking and error propagation, although the documentation is thorough.
For advanced flexibility, n8n allows custom functions and scripting, webhook triggers with signature validation, private npm package extensions, and workflows that run on a schedule or are event-driven.
Make.com - Pros and Cons
Pros | Cons |
User-friendly visual interface | Operation-based pricing can grow quickly |
Over 2,000 native integrations | No self-hosting option |
Reliable cloud hosting with SLA | Limited scripting and logic flexibility |
Good for linear SaaS-heavy workflows | Vendor lock-in |
Templates and guided setup | Smaller scope for custom workflows |
n8n - Pros and Cons
Pros | Cons |
Open source and self-hostable | Steeper learning curve |
Over 1,000 integrations and API flexibility | Smaller native app library |
Full control over hosting and data | Requires DevOps for self-hosting |
JavaScript extensibility | Less polished UI |
Supports hosted by n8n option | More manual error handling and monitoring |
Which One Should You Use?
Choosing between Make.com and n8n depends on your technical needs, team skills, and workflow requirements.
Skills: Make suits non-technical teams; n8n suits teams with developer or DevOps support.
Data control: n8n self-hosting offers full control.
Workflow complexity: Make works for simple integrations; n8n handles complex logic and custom APIs.
Costs: Make.com uses operation-based pricing; n8n offers fixed plans or self-hosting.
Also consider using both: Make for quick prototypes, and n8n for production workflows. Choose the tool that aligns with your capabilities and priorities.
You can also connect to our team for expert guidance, custom workflow development, and integration support to make your automation strategy more efficient and effective.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Make AI and n8n?
Make AI provides pre-built modules for AI tasks such as text generation, classification, and summarization, with quick setup but limited flexibility. n8n supports advanced AI use cases through native LangChain integration, custom JavaScript logic, API calls, and connections to vector databases for retrieval-augmented generation.
Do I need coding knowledge to use these platforms?
Make is designed for non-technical users and works well without coding. n8n requires some coding knowledge, familiarity with APIs, and basic programming for advanced workflows.
Can I switch from Make to n8n or vice versa?
Yes. You can migrate workflows, but they will require reconfiguration since the platforms differ in architecture, hosting, and workflow design. Many teams prototype in Make and move to n8n for more control and complexity.
Which is more cost-effective for large or complex workflows?
n8n is generally more predictable for large workloads, especially with self-hosting, as it uses fixed pricing. Make’s operation-based pricing can become costly at scale.
Is self-hosting always better for privacy and control?
Self-hosting with n8n offers full control over data location, privacy, and infrastructure, but it requires technical resources for maintenance, scaling, and security. It is not always necessary - cloud hosting can be sufficient for many teams.