Make vs n8n

Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, and ratings

Analysis reviewed Live tool data as of 2026-09-29
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At a glance

DimensionMaken8n
PricingFreemium (usage-based)Freemium (execution-based)
Integrations3,000+ apps500+ integrations
DeploymentCloud onlyCloud or self-host (Docker)
Key strengthVisual scenario builder with sub-scenariosCode-level control, traceable AI agents
Best forMarketing/ops teams integrating SaaS toolsIT/SecOps/DevOps teams needing control & audit
ComplianceGDPR, SOC 2, SOC 3SSO/SAML/LDAP, audit logs, RBAC

For business teams wanting a polished, no-code canvas to connect thousands of SaaS apps with advanced visual logic, Make is the safer bet. For engineers and IT/SecOps teams who need self-hosting, code-level flexibility, and deep auditability, n8n wins. If you live in spreadsheets and want to plug-and-play, start with Make; if you're building AI agents and need traceability, go n8n.

Try MakeTry n8n
Make
Make

Visual AI automation platform for building workflows and AI agents across 3,000+ apps

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n8n
n8n

n8n is visual AI workflow automation with JavaScript and Python escape hatches, self-hostable and traceable end to end

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Pricing
Freemium
Freemium
Plans
$0/mo
$9/mo
$16/mo
Custom
$0
20€/mo, billed annually
50€/mo, billed annually
667€/mo, billed annually
Custom
Popularity
4.8k views
5.8k views
Skill Level
Intermediate
Intermediate
API Available
Platforms
Web
WebAPI
Categories
🤖 Automation & Agents
🤖 Automation & Agents🕸️ Agent Frameworks & Orchestration
Features
Drag-and-drop scenario builder for visual workflow design
3,000+ pre-built app connectors plus custom API actions
Routers, filters, aggregators, and iterators for data transformation
Make AI Agents that take action across connected apps
Library of ready-made AI agents to deploy and adapt
Make MCP Server linking AI models to business actions
Maia by Make: build automations and agents via natural conversation
Build by prompt, drag-and-drop, or via MCP
Agentic automation that adapts in real time to business needs
Make Grid for managing your whole automation landscape visually
Error handling with rollback
Real-time execution logs and monitoring
Sub-scenarios for modular workflow design
Data stores for persistent workflow state
Enterprise security: SSO, encryption, GDPR, SOC 2 Type II, SOC 3
Visual drag-and-drop canvas with inputs and outputs beside each step's settings
JavaScript and Python code steps anywhere in a workflow
500+ pre-built integration nodes plus custom HTTP and GraphQL requests
Import cURL commands to create API nodes
MCP support for legacy systems and MCP-speaking tools
Build and update n8n workflows from inside your own AI app via MCP
AI agent builder with multi-agent setups and RAG pipeline support
Swap cloud or offline models without rebuilding workflows
Traceable AI reasoning — inspect prompt, response, and next action per execution
Human-in-the-loop approvals and rule-based guardrails for AI actions
Structured input and output enforcement to control data flow to and from AI steps
Native AI evaluation against real data plus a prompt testing framework guide (Sept 2026)
Re-run single steps, replay or mock data, and debug via the logs view
Queue mode with multiple instances and external S3 storage
Self-hosting via Docker, on-prem, and air-gapped deployments
Integrations
OpenAI
HubSpot CRM
monday.com
NetSuite
Salesforce
Slack
Canva
Perplexity AI
DeepSeek AI
GitHub
Google Sheets
HubSpot
Notion
Jira
PostgreSQL
Microsoft Graph
Datadog
Asana
ServiceNow
Zoom
Anthropic

What real users say: Make vs n8n

Not marketing copy and not our opinion — a structured sweep of public discussion (reviews, forums, communities and video comments), showing what people praise and what they complain about for each tool.

Make

94 mentions across 7 sources · 31% positive — critical (averaged across 7 sources)

Hacker News, YouTube, Product Hunt, App Store, Stack Overflow, Lemmy, Tech Press

What users praise

  • • Powerful drag-and-drop workflow builder with routers, filters, and iterators.
  • • Deep customization beyond Zapier, letting users fine-tune data transformations.
  • • 3,000+ app integrations covering major business tools like Slack and OpenAI.
  • • Sub-scenarios and modular design keep complex automations organized.

What frustrates them

  • • Mobile app crashes repeatedly and lacks core scenario management.
  • • Learning curve is steep for non-technical users, despite 'easy' marketing.
  • • Support response times can be extremely slow, with tickets sometimes ignored.
  • • Name 'Make' is too generic, causing confusion about what it does.

Researched Aug 18, 2026

n8n

105 mentions across 7 sources · 56% positive — mixed (averaged across 7 sources)

Hacker News, YouTube, Product Hunt, App Store, Stack Overflow, GitHub, Lemmy

What users praise

  • • Self-host with Docker or n8n Cloud—full control over your data.
  • • Execution-based pricing, not per-step, unlike Zapier.
  • • Visual canvas with JavaScript/Python code steps anywhere.
  • • 500+ integrations and MCP support for legacy systems.

What frustrates them

  • • Not actually open source—Commons Clause restricts commercial use.
  • • Steep learning curve for non-technical users.
  • • UI is clunky and unintuitive, especially for beginners.
  • • Scaling workflows from test to production is problematic.

Researched Aug 18, 2026

Who should pick which

  • Marketing ops manager
    Pick: Make

    You need to connect HubSpot, Salesforce, and Canva without coding. Make's 3,000+ connectors and visual drag-and-drop let you build lead generation and CRM workflows in minutes, and sub-scenarios keep complex logic organized.

  • IT Ops engineer
    Pick: n8n

    You're automating onboarding and incident response. n8n's self-hosting via Docker gives you full data control, and you can embed JavaScript/Python for custom logic. Audit logs to SIEM are critical for compliance.

  • SecOps analyst
    Pick: n8n

    You need to enrich threat intelligence with SOAR-like workflows. n8n's traceable AI agents and human-in-the-loop approvals let you validate actions before they run, and RBAC keeps sensitive data secure.

  • Solo founder building a product
    Pick: n8n

    You want to automate without breaking the bank. n8n's open-source model lets you self-host and avoid per-step costs. You also get the flexibility to build custom AI workflows with RAG and MCP.

  • Operations lead at a mid-size company
    Pick: Make

    You need to integrate many SaaS tools quickly but don't have deep coding skills. Make's visual interface with routers and iterators lets your team build complex workflows without engineering support, and its compliance certifications (SOC 2) are a plus.

Frequently Asked Questions

Make vs n8n: which should you choose?

For business teams wanting a polished, no-code canvas to connect thousands of SaaS apps with advanced visual logic, Make is the safer bet. For engineers and IT/SecOps teams who need self-hosting, code-level flexibility, and deep auditability, n8n wins. If you live in spreadsheets and want to plug-and-play, start with Make; if you're building AI agents and need traceability, go n8n.

Can I use n8n for free with full features?

Yes, n8n is open-source, so you can self-host via Docker and use all features without paying license fees. You only pay for your infrastructure and any premium add-ons like n8n Cloud if you choose it.

Does Make support AI agents?

Yes, Make offers AI agents (Make AI Agents) that can take actions and adapt in real time. They are part of the platform and can be integrated into your workflows.

Which tool is better for regulated industries?

Make has SOC 2 and SOC 3 certifications out of the box, which helps with compliance. n8n offers audit logs and RBAC, but you may need to implement additional controls to meet standards like HIPAA on self-hosted setups.

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Explore each tool further

Make
View Make reviewMake alternatives
n8n
View n8n reviewn8n alternatives

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Last reviewed: August 13, 2026