n8n vs Make.com: Which Should You Choose?

Both n8n and Make.com (formerly Integromat) are powerful automation platforms that can transform how your business operates. But they're built on fundamentally different philosophies, and choosing the wrong one can cost you time, money, and flexibility.

I've built production systems with both platforms. Here's my honest comparison based on real-world experience—not marketing materials.

The Quick Answer

Head-to-Head Comparison

Factor	n8n	Make.com	Winner
Pricing Model	Self-hosted: Free unlimited Cloud: Workflow-based	Operation-based (per action)	n8n
Learning Curve	Moderate-Steep	Gentle	Make.com
Pre-built Integrations	400+	1,500+	Make.com
Custom API Handling	Excellent (HTTP + Code nodes)	Good (HTTP module)	n8n
Self-Hosting	Yes (Docker, npm)	No	n8n
Visual Editor	Node-based canvas	Flowchart-style	Tie
Error Handling	Granular control	Built-in retry logic	n8n
Documentation	Good, community-driven	Excellent, polished	Make.com

Pricing: The Real Difference

This is where the platforms diverge most dramatically.

Make.com: Pay Per Operation

Make.com charges based on "operations"—essentially each action your workflow takes. A simple workflow that:

1. Watches for new emails (1 operation)
2. Extracts data (1 operation)
3. Updates a spreadsheet (1 operation)
4. Sends a Slack notification (1 operation)

...uses 4 operations per email. Process 1,000 emails/month = 4,000 operations.

n8n: Unlimited When Self-Hosted

Self-hosted n8n is completely free with unlimited executions. You only pay for your server (typically $5-20/month on DigitalOcean or similar).

n8n Cloud exists too, with pricing based on workflows rather than executions, but self-hosting is where n8n really shines economically.

Ease of Use

Make.com: Designed for Everyone

Make.com's interface is polished and intuitive. The flowchart-style editor makes it easy to visualize what's happening. Their integration "modules" come with pre-configured fields—just fill in the blanks.

Non-technical users can build useful automations within hours of signing up. The platform holds your hand through common scenarios.

n8n: Designed for Power Users

n8n assumes you're comfortable with concepts like JSON, APIs, and basic programming logic. The node-based interface is powerful but requires more understanding to use effectively.

That said, once you understand n8n's paradigm, you can build things that would be difficult or impossible in Make.com. The learning investment pays dividends.

When to Choose Make.com

• You're new to automation — The learning curve is gentler
• You need a specific integration — Make.com has more pre-built connectors
• You don't want to manage infrastructure — It's fully managed
• Your volume is predictable and moderate — Pricing works if you're not processing millions of operations
• You need to ship fast — Quicker to prototype and deploy

When to Choose n8n

• High volume workflows — Self-hosted = unlimited executions
• Custom API integrations — n8n's HTTP and Code nodes are more flexible
• Data privacy requirements — Self-hosted keeps data on your servers
• Complex business logic — Better support for conditionals, loops, and error handling
• You have technical resources — Someone to manage the self-hosted instance
• Budget constraints — $10/month vs. potentially hundreds

Real-World Use Cases

Use Case 1: Lead Capture and CRM

Scenario: Website form submission triggers CRM entry, email sequence, and Slack notification.

Verdict: Make.com — Pre-built integrations for most CRMs make this a 30-minute setup. Unless you're processing thousands of leads daily, Make.com's pricing is reasonable.

Use Case 2: Inventory Sync Across Platforms

Scenario: Sync inventory levels between Shopify, Amazon, and a warehouse management system every 15 minutes.

Verdict: n8n — High-frequency syncs mean high operation counts in Make.com. Self-hosted n8n handles this for a flat monthly cost regardless of volume.

Use Case 3: Custom API Orchestration

Scenario: Pull data from a proprietary API, transform it, push to multiple destinations with complex error handling.

Verdict: n8n — The Code node lets you write JavaScript for complex transformations. Error handling is more granular. Custom APIs are first-class citizens.

Use Case 4: Marketing Team Automations

Scenario: Marketing team wants to automate social posting, email campaigns, and analytics reporting.

Verdict: Make.com — Non-technical marketers can build and modify their own workflows. The visual interface is more accessible for teams without developers.

The Hybrid Approach

Here's a secret: you don't have to choose just one.

Many of our clients use both:

• Make.com for quick wins and marketing automations
• n8n for high-volume and custom integrations

The platforms can even trigger each other via webhooks. Use the right tool for each job.

My Recommendation

For most businesses starting their automation journey, begin with Make.com. The faster time-to-value and gentler learning curve mean you'll see ROI sooner.

As your needs grow—higher volumes, custom integrations, tighter budgets—add n8n to your stack. Self-host it, migrate your high-volume workflows, and enjoy unlimited executions.

The best automation strategy isn't about picking a winner. It's about understanding your needs and matching them to the right tool.