n8n vs Make: Open-Source Meets Visual Automation

n8n's open-source model allows full self-hosting for data privacy and cost control. Make is cloud-only with no air-gapped option.

Self-hosting requires Docker/Ops knowledge.

n8n's native AI nodes (LLM agents, vector stores, RAG) are deeper and more flexible than Make's AI functions, which are primarily API wrappers.

Make's visual builder makes simple AI steps easier to set up.

Make's drag-and-drop scenario builder with visual data mapping and inline transformations is more intuitive — especially for complex branching and error handling — than n8n's node editor.

n8n's editor has improved significantly in 2.0 but still lags Make's visual polish.

Make's 1,800+ native integrations outnumber n8n's 400+. For teams that need pre-built connectors, Make has better coverage.

n8n's HTTP node and code nodes can compensate for missing integrations, but require more work.

n8n's self-hosted Community tier is free with unlimited workflows. Make's lowest paid tier at $10.59/mo for 10K operations scales predictably, but per-operation pricing adds up with complex scenarios.

n8n Cloud at $24/mo for 2,500 executions can be more expensive than Make's $10.59/mo entry tier for light usage.