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Zapier vs Make vs n8n: Best No-Code Automation Platform

The broadest app library, the most granular visual control, or open-source self-hosting — three no-code automation platforms built on very different philosophies.

Facts checked as of August 2026 — pricing and features in this space change often, so double-check the official site before subscribing to anything.

	ZapierZapier	MakeCelonis	n8nn8n
Free tier	Yes — 100 tasks/mo	Yes — 1,000 operations/mo	Yes — self-hosted Community Edition is free (only server costs apply)
Entry paid tier	Professional — $19.99/mo billed annually (750 tasks/mo)	Core — $9/mo billed annually (10,000 operations/mo)	Starter cloud tier — around $21–24/mo (2,500 executions/mo)
Pricing model	Per task	Per operation — generally cheaper at scale than Zapier's task model	Per execution (cloud) or free if self-hosted
Standout feature	Largest app/integration library by far (7,000+ apps), plus a bundled AI agent-building layer	Visual, node-based scenario builder with more granular branching control than Zapier	Open-source and self-hostable, native AI-agent workflow building; unlimited workflows/users on all cloud tiers
Best for	Non-technical business users and SMBs wanting the broadest app coverage and fastest setup	Technically-inclined teams and agencies wanting visual workflow control at a better price per operation	Developers and technical teams wanting self-hosting, data control, and AI-agent workflow building

The Short Version

All three connect apps and automate workflows, but they sit at different points on the simplicity-versus-control spectrum. Zapier has the broadest app library and the gentlest learning curve, at a real price premium. Make offers more visual, granular control at a generally better price per operation once you're doing anything complex. n8n is the only genuinely open-source, self-hostable option of the three, which matters a lot if data control or cost at scale is the priority — and it's recently attracted serious enterprise validation.

Where Zapier Wins

Zapier's 7,000+ app library is far larger than either competitor's, and its setup is the most approachable for someone with no automation background. Its newer "AI by Zapier" layer, now bundled into paid plans, extends this into building simple AI agents without leaving the same interface.

Where Make Wins

Make's visual, node-based scenario builder gives more granular control over branching logic than Zapier's more linear zap structure, and its operations-based pricing is generally cheaper once you're running anything complex at real volume. It's a better fit for technically-inclined users comfortable with a bit more setup complexity.

Where n8n Wins

n8n is the only one of the three you can self-host entirely — a real advantage for data-sensitive workflows or simply avoiding per-operation costs once you have your own server. Its 2026 SAP investment (more than doubling its valuation to $5.2B) and embedding inside SAP's own Joule Studio AI agent builder is a strong signal of enterprise-grade credibility for a self-hostable tool.

Pricing at a Glance

Make is the cheapest to start at $9/month, n8n's cloud tier runs around $21–24/month (or free if self-hosted, aside from server costs), and Zapier is the priciest entry point at $19.99/month for meaningfully fewer tasks than Make's operations allowance at a similar price.

Our Verdict

For the fastest setup and broadest app coverage with no technical background needed, Zapier is worth the premium. For more complex, branching workflows at a better price, Make is the stronger technical choice. For anyone needing self-hosting, data control, or building AI-agent workflows on open-source infrastructure, n8n is the only one of the three built for that.

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