n8n vs Zapier vs Make (Integromat): Which Automation Platform Is Right for You?

In today’s fast-paced digital world, automating tasks is not just a luxury — it’s a necessity. Whether you're a solo entrepreneur, a small business owner, or a developer, automation platforms can save you time, reduce errors, and allow you to scale operations without hiring more people.

Three of the most popular no-code/low-code automation platforms today are:

• n8n
  
  

• Zapier
  
  

• Make (formerly Integromat)
  
  

But how do they compare? Which one should you choose?

Let’s break it down based on features, pricing, flexibility, ease of use, and use cases.

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🚀 What Are These Platforms?

Platform	Description
n8n	Open-source, developer-friendly automation tool with local and cloud deployment.
Zapier	Market leader in no-code automations (Zaps) with a user-friendly interface.
Make	Visual and modular automation platform ideal for complex workflows.

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⚙️ 1. Ease of Use

🔹 Zapier

• ✅ Very beginner-friendly
  
  

• 🧩 Drag-and-drop interface
  
  

• 🧠 Thousands of pre-built templates
  
  

• ❌ Less flexible with complex logic
  
  

🔹 Make

• ✅ Visual flow builder (looks like mind maps)
  
  

• ✅ Easier to understand complex branching and loops
  
  

• ❌ Slight learning curve for beginners
  
  

🔹 n8n

• 🛠 More technical and designed for developers
  
  

• ✅ Visual editor with nodes and data previews
  
  

• ❌ Requires setup if self-hosting
  
  

• ❌ Not ideal for non-tech users out of the box
  
  

🏆 Winner (Ease of Use): Zapier

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💸 2. Pricing

Platform	Free Plan	Paid Plan Starts At	Notes
Zapier	100 tasks/month	$19.99/mo	Limited multi-step workflows
Make	1,000 operations/month	$9/mo	Generous free tier
n8n	Unlimited (self-hosted)	$20/mo (Cloud)	Free forever if self-hosted

🏆 Winner (Pricing): n8n (if self-hosted) or Make (for generous free cloud plan)

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🧠 3. Flexibility and Power

🔹 Zapier

• Best for linear, straightforward workflows
  
  

• Limited conditional logic and iterations
  
  

🔹 Make

• Handles complex logic (if-else, loops, iterators)
  
  

• Can branch, filter, and aggregate data
  
  

• Works well for APIs and multi-step scenarios
  
  

🔹 n8n

• Most flexible of all
  
  

• Native JavaScript and code support
  
  

• Handles OAuth, webhooks, and complex conditions
  
  

• Easily integrates with APIs and databases
  
  

🏆 Winner (Flexibility): n8n

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🔌 4. Integrations

Platform	Number of Apps
Zapier	6,000+
Make	1,300+
n8n	400+ (but you can create custom nodes easily)

Notes:

• Zapier wins with pre-built apps and templates.
  
  

• Make has a strong set of core apps.
  
  

• n8n lets you call any API, even if no official node exists.
  
  

🏆 Winner (Integrations): Zapier (out-of-the-box), n8n (custom APIs)

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🧑‍💻 5. Developer Friendliness

Feature	Zapier	Make	n8n
Custom Code (JS)	✅ (limited)	✅	✅✅✅
API/Webhook Support	✅	✅✅	✅✅✅
Self-hosting	❌	❌	✅✅✅
Database Access	❌	✅ (via HTTP)	✅✅✅

🏆 Winner (Dev Friendly): n8n

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✅ When to Choose Each Platform

Use Case	Best Platform
You're a beginner who wants quick results	Zapier
You want powerful automation with a visual flow builder	Make
You’re a developer or tech-savvy user who needs full control	n8n
You want to self-host or build internal tools cheaply	n8n
You need complex routing or looping workflows	Make or n8n

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🔐 Security & Hosting

• Zapier & Make are cloud-hosted SaaS — you don’t control where the data is stored.
  
  

• n8n allows self-hosting, which means:
  
  

• Full control over your data
  
  

• Can be run on local servers, VPS, or Docker
  
  

• Ideal for enterprise or privacy-conscious users
  
  

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🌐 Real-World Examples

Scenario	Platform
Send a Slack message when you get a form submission	Zapier
Create a CRM record, enrich it via API, and assign a task	Make
Process CSV uploads, transform data, and insert into MySQL	n8n
Build a webhook-triggered AI assistant for emails	n8n

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🧠 Final Thoughts

Choosing the right automation platform depends on:

• Your technical skills
  
  

• Budget
  
  

• Workflow complexity
  
  

• Data sensitivity
  
  

 If you just want things to work quickly, go for Zapier.
If you're looking for visual power and modular logic, Make is fantastic.
If you want full control, scalability, and developer freedom, n8n is your best bet.

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