Zapier vs Make (and n8n): which automation tool should you use?
Short answer: Zapier is quick to learn and lists the most apps, at 9,000+, and its price rises with the number of tasks you use. Make has a lower entry price, with plans from $9 a month for 10,000 credits, and lets you build complex flows on a visual map. n8n charges per workflow run instead of per step, and you can host it yourself for free, but it needs more technical skill.
You're comparing Zapier and Make and want to understand how task and credit pricing actually plays out for your real workflow volume, not just the headline price.
I'm Ranjit, and I run Blur Studio: 15+ years building software, 120 apps taken live, and clients who have gone on to raise $10M+. I build AI systems and processes that help businesses do a lot more with a lot less time. I also work differently from most of what else is out there, more on that further down this page. Say hello.
What is the difference between Zapier and Make?
Zapier builds automations as a list of steps. You pick a trigger, such as "new form entry", then add actions below it. It is quick to learn. Zapier calls each automation a Zap.
Make builds automations on a visual map. Each step is a circle, and you draw lines between them. That makes branches, loops and complex flows easier to see. Make calls each automation a scenario.
n8n also uses a visual map. Its main difference is that you can run it on your own server, and it counts each full run of a workflow as one unit.
How much do Zapier, Make and n8n cost?
Zapier pricing
- Free: $0 a month for 100 tasks, two-step Zaps and checks for new data every 15 minutes.
- Professional: Starts at $19.99 a month for 1 user, with multi-step Zaps.
- Team: Starts at $69 a month for up to 25 users.
- Yearly billing: Zapier says paying yearly saves 33%.
Make pricing
- Free: $0 a month with 1,000 credits.
- Core: From $9 a month on yearly billing, starting at 10,000 credits a month.
- Pro: From $16 a month on yearly billing, starting at 10,000 credits a month.
- Other plans: Teams and Enterprise. Make says paying yearly costs less than paying monthly.
n8n pricing
- Starter (cloud): €20 a month on yearly billing, with 2,500 workflow runs a month.
- Pro (cloud): €50 a month on yearly billing, with 10,000 workflow runs a month.
- Community Edition (self-hosted): Free. You run it on your own server.
- Business (self-hosted): €667 a month on yearly billing, with 40,000 workflow runs.
Zapier and Make price in US dollars. n8n lists its prices in euros.
How does each tool count usage?
This matters more than the headline price. The same workflow can use very different amounts on each tool.
- Zapier counts tasks: A task is used each time a Zap completes an action. The trigger does not count, and failed actions do not count. Zapier's own built-in tools, such as Filter, Formatter and Paths, do not count either.
- Make counts credits: Each action in a scenario uses credits, and most actions use 1. The Router step and error handling steps do not use credits. Some AI features can use more.
- n8n counts executions: An execution is one full run of a workflow. The number of steps does not change the count.
Here is a simple example. Say a workflow has a trigger and 4 actions, and it runs 1,000 times a month. On Zapier, that is about 4,000 tasks. On Make, each step that handles data usually uses 1 credit, so it is about 5,000 credits. On n8n, it is 1,000 executions. So Make's $9 Core plan, with 10,000 credits, would cover this workflow. On Zapier, pick the 4,000-task tier on its pricing page to see your real price. For long workflows that run often, n8n's way of counting can cost the least.
Zapier vs Make vs n8n side by side
| Zapier | Make | n8n | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free plan | 100 tasks a month, two-step Zaps | 1,000 credits a month | Free Community Edition if you self-host |
| Lowest paid plan | From $19.99 a month | From $9 a month, yearly | €20 a month (cloud, yearly) |
| What it counts | Tasks (each action) | Credits (most actions use 1) | Executions (each full run) |
| Apps | 9,000+ apps | 3,000+ apps | See n8n's integrations page |
| How you build | Step list | Visual map | Visual map |
| Self-hosting | No | No, cloud only, with on-prem agents on Enterprise | Yes |
Zapier also includes extras. It has Tables (2,500 records on the free plan) and AI Agents (400 activities a month on the free plan). Make's free plan includes 1 data store. These help you avoid paying for a separate tool for small jobs.
Choose Zapier if, choose Make if
- Choose Zapier if: You want the fastest setup and the widest app support. Zapier lists 9,000+ apps, so the odd tool your team uses is likely there. It suits owners who want to set up simple automations themselves.
- Choose Make if: Your workflows have branches, loops or many steps, and you want a low entry price with 10,000 credits a month. Its visual map makes complex flows easier to check.
- Choose n8n if: You have a technical person, you run high volumes, or you need your data to stay on your own servers.
n8n vs Zapier: is n8n worth the extra effort?
n8n can be far cheaper at high volume, because it counts runs instead of steps. Self-hosting can also help when you must control where data goes.
But self-hosting is real work. n8n's own setup guide asks for Docker, a tool for running software on a server. Its simplest install runs on Linux or macOS, or on Windows through an add-on called WSL. Someone then has to keep the server updated, backed up and secure. If nobody on your team can do that, use n8n's cloud plans, or choose Zapier or Make.
What are the limits of Zapier and Make?
Both tools are good at moving data from one app to another. They are less good at a few things.
- Long chains are hard to debug: When a 20-step flow fails, finding the broken step takes time.
- Usage costs grow with volume: A busy business can move into much higher plan tiers.
- Logic lives in many places: Business rules spread across dozens of Zaps or scenarios, and only one person may understand them.
- They are not a database: Zapier Tables and Make data stores work for small jobs, but not as the main home for your business data.
When does neither fit and a custom tool make sense?
For most small businesses, Zapier or Make is the right choice. Start there. A custom build makes more sense in these cases.
- Automation is core to how you serve clients: If a failed step means a lost job or an angry customer, you want code you can test and monitor.
- You are paying for very high volume: At some point, a small custom service costs less than a top-tier plan.
- You need AI steps with your own rules: For example, an AI agent that reads incoming emails, checks your job system and drafts a reply for a person to approve. See how to build an AI agent.
- Your data must stay under your control: Rules or clients require you to know exactly where data goes.
My guide to business process automation explains how to map the work first.
How would Blur Studio approach your automations?
I often start by cleaning up what you already have in Zapier or Make. Many businesses only need fewer, clearer automations with someone checking that they still work. When a custom build is the better fit, I write the automation as code, connect it to your systems and add alerts for when something fails. I also connect AI to the tools you already use. The automations and the accounts stay in your name. See my page on AI integration services for more. If you want a flat-priced, fully owned alternative to Zapier specifically, see my guide to Zapier alternatives.
Need something completely custom?
Everything above is a path to get it running quick and cheap. But sometimes the honest answer is that none of those quite fit, and what you actually need is something custom that you own, built uniquely for your business from the ground up, with AI thoughtfully designed into the parts of it that your processes actually benefit from. An asset that grows in value, not a generic, one-size-fits-all boilerplate that's an expense with a lock-in. This is a complete bespoke build, and it's something I do very well. Get in touch to know more.
Questions people ask
Is Make cheaper than Zapier?
Make has the lower entry price. As of October 2026, Make's paid plans start from $9 a month with 10,000 credits, according to Make's own comparison page. Zapier's Professional plan starts at $19.99 a month, and the price rises with the task tier you pick. Check both tools at your real monthly volume.
Is n8n better than Zapier?
n8n is often cheaper for long workflows that run often, because it counts each full run as one execution. Zapier is easier to learn and lists 9,000+ apps, so it suits owners who want to do it themselves.
Is n8n free?
The self-hosted n8n Community Edition is free, but you need to run it on your own server and keep it updated. n8n's cloud plans start at €20 a month on yearly billing.
What is the best Zapier alternative for a small business?
Make is a strong Zapier alternative, because its entry plan costs less and its visual map handles complex flows well. n8n is a good choice if you have a technical person or need to self-host.
Can Zapier or Make replace custom software?
They can replace a lot of manual copying between apps. They do not replace a proper database, a client portal or software that must run without fail, so those jobs often need a custom build.
Why would a busy workflow cost so much more on Zapier than on Make?
Zapier bills every completed action as a task, so a multi-step Zap running thousands of times a month adds up fast. Make bills in credits, and most actions cost one credit, so the same workflow often lands at a fraction of the Zapier bill, covered with real numbers above. The gap gets bigger the more steps and the more volume your workflow has.
Roughly what does this cost?
As a broad reference, fixes and finishes start at around $1,500, and new builds start higher, always a fixed price agreed in writing before I start, never an hourly rate. My AI app cost guide explains what actually drives a quote up or down.
Is my project too small for this?
No. Most of the owners I work with have no tech team at all, that is the whole point. If the smarter move is a cheap software subscription instead of custom software, I will tell you that on the first call, even though it means I do not get paid.